There have been mixed reactions on social media following the recent outing of Cameroonian National Footballer, Martin Hongla, which was perceived by many as hate speech.
In the course of a conversation on Snapchat, the football player was asked if his wife hails from the Bamileke tribe. A question whose reply left many wondering.
The 25-year-old stated that in his family, they do not marry women from the Bamileke tribe. His words: ” We don’t marry ‘bami’ in our home”.
“I’ll tell you again, we don’t marry Bami people. What’s wrong with you?” Martin Hongla insisted after a social media user expressed disappointment.
“To hear that from a player on the National team where there are several ethnic groups including the Bamileke, is very disappointing,” the user said.
The declaration sparked a wave of indignation since it was perceived as an act of promoting hate speech.
As a result, a good number of Cameroonians on social media platforms have expressed their feelings vis-a-vis the recent outing of the Indomitable Lions football player.
“We must get rid of such mentalities, namely not marrying someone only because he or she is Bassa, Bulu, Ewondo, or Bamileke. It’s called tribal hatred,” said Tsowa Pythagore.
According to him, what structures the behavior of an individual is their education, family values, socialization, and environment… What normally prevails in marriage is the consent of the spouses, their behavior, their compatibility, and understanding between the two families.
However, some social media users stated that Hongla’s act was a normal one, void of any tribalistic characteristics. Barbara Bekker said, “What bad thing did he say? This is experienced in several tribes here in Cameroon. He just said out loud what many practice quietly!”
Meanwhile, to Ama Camar, Tribalism will never end because everyone has their story. This is what many experience every day. Many have not married their soulmate because of tribalism, she said.
This comes shortly after a renowned Cameroonian TV host faced backlash for referring to one of Cameroon’s biggest English towns as a village during an online brawl with another renowned Cameroonian rapper.
