The Commonwealth and us

WHAT DOES THE COMMONWEALTH DO?

Commonwealth Day is celebrated in member countries of the group each year. The event which fell on the 9th of March was celebrated this year, 2015, under the theme `A Young Commonwealth`.

The organization`s official website said: “Commonwealth Day is celebrated across the Commonwealth by young people, schools, communities and civil society organizations on the second Monday in March every year. It provides an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of Commonwealth organizations. The day is marked by a range of activities, including a multi-faith Observance at Westminster Abbey in London, United Kingdom. Each year a theme is chosen for Commonwealth Day.”

The source went on to explain that “Commonwealth is also a family of dynamic countries at the forefront of innovation, growth and contributing global value. As a diverse and increasingly connected global network, we bring fresh perspectives and new ideas.” It also quoted the Secretary General of the body, Kamalesh Sharma, as pointing out that the idea of the `Young Commonwealth`, “recognizes the capacity, contribution and potential of young people, who play a vital role at the heart of sustainable development and democracy,"

That is what the Secretary General says. But what does a closer look at the Commonwealth reveal about the “world family”, so to speak? To begin with, the terminology, ‘Commonwealth’, speaks for itself. It is some pooling together of ‘wealth’, so to speak, with the word ‘wealth’, being used in the wide sense. Here is a word community of up to 54 countries with a total population of two billion inhabitants, standing tall as one person to uphold what they have in common.

The 2013 theme was ‘opportunity through enterprise’. Through a combination of world music, testimonies and dance – to name some of the activities – the event celebrated economic innovation, shared commitment towards youth, as well as social and sustainable enterprise. The 54-strong family therefore used the event to promote global understanding on leading issues, international cooperation – all of that in an effort to promote and improve the life of its citizens.

Over and above everything, of course, is the overriding and overarching aspect of the English Language that runs across all the 54 member countries. Even so, the Commonwealth also proudly showcases member countries` own indigenous languages as well as other cultural assets. That is why at the 2012 celebration, the agenda included specific aspects such as a food exhibition comprising meals of Commonwealth countries preset at the event.

While member countries away from London mark Commonwealth day in their own countries with members of the diplomatic corps being united, the highlight is usually the ceremony presided at in London by Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II. During the 2013 edition the Queen was at a multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey in the British capital, also attended by representatives of Commonwealth countries and a thousand school-aged children.

The key question about all of this, though, is, what specific benefits do member states in general, and Cameroon in particular, draw from the Commonwealth? Firstly, the organization which in Cameroon falls under the Ministry of External Relations and whose activities are coordinated by the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations, charged with the Commonwealth runs a number of organizations which have benefited citizens of member states.

These include the heads of states summit, the league of Commonwealth universities, Commonwealth writers, Commonwealth elections monitoring, exchange visits and of course, the numerous job opportunities available to its member country citizens worldwide. Interestingly, when a one-time director of the Commonwealth in Cameroon, Dr Nkobena Fontem was asked what was the key problem Cameroon faced in the Commonwealth at the time, he said the country as a member was not taking up its allotted quota of job offers announced by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

One big advantage for Cameroon which has both French speakers and English speakers and also uses both languages as its official languages is that the Commonwealth is not just for Anglophone Cameroonians. It is for all Cameroonians, the Francophones inclusive. By the same token, the Francophonie is not only for Francophones either. It is for all Cameroonians, the Anglophones inclusive.

If one criticism were to be made, it would be that the government does not publicize the Commonwealth enough to Cameroonians. Apart from a few erratic manifestations such as Commonwealth day, the organization or even the notion of it is till largely elusive to the average Cameroonian. On that score, the authorities need to go back to the drawing board and do some homework.

FOOTNOTE

This article is adapted from a paper I broadcast on Foundation Radio in Bamenda, Headquarters of Cameroon`s North West Region on the 13th of March 2013. The radio is one of the components of the Fomunyoh Foundation whose CEO is the US-based Dr. Chris Fomunyoh.