Independence or Nothing

Foreword I wrote on FR GERALD JUMBAM’S NEWEST BOOK

“In this work of profound theological implications, Jumbam, an erstwhile seeming Conservative, has not only come to sympathize with the Catholic Church’s liberation theology but also has fashioned his own, African-like theology and baptized it “the theology of self-determination”. At the core of this theology is the good news—the radicalism of the gospel message, especially that of the beatitudes, which is famous for its denunciation of all political and social structures that dehumanize the human person. Here, Jumbam is not afraid of standing for what looks like a theological theory which uses faith as an instrument of revolution. Instead he believes the theology of self-determination should be used by people of faith to bring oppressed and marginalized human beings to the knowledge of a just and benevolent God, the God who is the refuge of the poor and afflicted… I am convinced that Jumbam’s writings have a message for humanity. His writings are supported by history. They exude moral and ethical principles learnt from moral theology classes and backed by a lived experience. His writings preach nonviolence at all times, and have no space for brutality and oppression. The independence of the Southern Cameroons he espouses in his writings is something historical, legal, and God-sent. He has never sought for any political post or been a member of any of the pressure groups. He is independent of mind, and this gives him a unique poise to write like one who is morally responsible. He sympathizes with humanity and people’s sufferings. The chapters that we have before us therefore are works written within a context. These writings have touched a great many Southern Cameroonian lives… and thus each address a particular problem and is addressed to a particular person or people. We should read Jerry Jumbam because his writings bring in to sharp relief the conundrum the people of Southern Cameroons are facing. No other Cameroonian writer dissects the problem of oppression with such intimate and fierce grace, and no other so embodies the union of Anglophone culture and politics that have saved the culture from utter rot. The problem of 1972 continues into 2017; the promise of liberation—fullfledged sovereignty—still calls to us; the people are heeding the call, and there is no turning back”.

– By Anthony-Claret Onwutalobi, culled from the FOREWORD of the book