This was a tribute to Bate Besong, which Kwasen Gwangwa'a read on the day of Bate Besong's Book Launch, several hours before their demise
Before the introduction of television in Cameroon, Bate Besong was well known by regular readers of Cameroon Tribune through his popular column: "The Writer as Tiger" in which he highlighted the visionary role of writers, x-raying some leading writers as models.
The radio and later on television were to follow suit in popularising Besong the artist, the writer and his works.
His prominent media appearances include FOCUS ON ART- Bate Besong, 41 minutes, February 1990, FOCUS ON ART- Book Launch- Nol Alembong and Bate Besong, 59 minutes, 1991, FOCUS ON ART- Cameroon Anglophone Writing Workshop I and II, 71 minutes, February 1993, and 59 minutes, November 1994 respectively.
These media appearances and other avenues made Bate Besong's works hitherto considered obscure or difficult, to become fairly accessible to interested readers and scholars.
Friend Or Foe
Bate Besong easily makes friends especially when academic and artistic interests or pursuits merge. However, in his enigmatic character, BB is equally fast at denouncing what he considers as dishonesty or betrayal, even to the extent of considering a former friend or mentor, a permanent foe or traitor.
God, Demi-God, Dictator
From the venom of his pen, the vigour of his artistic vision, the doggedness of his cynicism and an almost permanent mocking laughter, Bate Besong may seem to the feeble minded, a god, demi-god or a dictator. To some sceptics and cynics, he may appear as a dreamer.
Witness the sometimes omniscient and cosmic historico-politico cum socio-economic analogies and references that pervade his works. In his commitment as a visionary, BB's personality as the artist-dictator (all writers or artists are dictators in a way!) overwhelms that of Besong the man, who sees every other person as a subject, a receptacle to be filled with Besongian lore.
That is why BB is usually very quick to seek for redress or apology from any one who hurts him but reluctant or "ignorant" to do same when at the guilty end.
This dichotomy in Bate Besong's person brings into sharp focus the controversy and contradictions surrounding BB's writings, be they pamphlets, lampoons, essays, articles, poems, dramas, docudrama or play things.
Once a friend or a model to BB, no one needs depart from virtues and values dear to him (BB), for such (person) will easily come under his (BB's) ridicule.
And the same BB will sometimes chant dithyrambs for persons denounced earlier but who by some acts of generosity, courage and love, impact positively on the life of the people.
As a friend, Bate Besong never hesitates to share moments of leisure over a drink or two. And do not offend him by refusing his offer(s)! He may not talk to you for the rest of the day. But once that is over, nothing bad needs recalling, except with a view to correcting it.
(C) The Post
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