The Bernard Fonlon Revolution: If Gold Should Rust, What will Iron Do?

By Bate Besong
Paper Read During The Commemoration Of The 19th Anniversary Of The Passing Away Of Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon - Djeuga Palace Hotel, Yaounde,24th November 2005

WILLIAM FULBRIGHT has argued that literary agitation, like practical political instigation, which edges on dissent or rebellion is “an act of faith”. Accordingly, and, as I have already shown elsewhere, although Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon (a man who was so exceptionally handsome), was, an intellectual pillar of fire; a Prometheus among his peers; indeed, something of a twentieth century Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and classical biologist, his neo-classical treatise on literary composition have, neither, received accolades nor endorsement from me.

Professor Fonlon, however, using, his towering, super-human intellect, fulfilled, the noble revolutionary role of critical-activity in the identification and exposition of truth for the good of Cameroonian humanity. He agreed with the “Talented Tenth” garden variety scholar – I refer to the American philosopher, Dr. W.E.B du Bois- and the French existentialist thinker, Jean Paul Sartre – that the primary task of the intellectual as an agitator and instigator was the rehumanization of a dehumanized polity capable of undercutting the material foundations of social injustice thereby facilitating the realization of socialist democracy.

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Comments

[alfred Matumamboh]

Besong has it all,immense scholarship;unrivalled intellectual creativity;unparalleled imaginative wit and a clinically sharp satire that relentlessly exposes and devastates its object like a ton of dynamite.Can the demented political askaris masquerading as academics escape the powerful force of this genuine scholar`s pen?Demolition expert par excellence.

[Ndim Bernard Ngouche]

Bate Besong has proven beyond doubts that there is a genuine intelectual in Cameroon who is capable and willing to transform a polluting society like ours with the pen and his powerful creative mind.He like most genuine intellectuals does not go seeking for vain power and glory at the expense of the chaffing masses. Brovo fellow sabesan and mentor