At 7th KITAL lecture: Prof Talla Kashim’s proclivity for African oral tradition extolled.

The lecture was part of the 5^th conference of Cameroon English Language and Literature Association, CELLA, which held under the theme: “Multiculturalism and multilingualism”.

The KITAL lecture was delivered by Prof David T. Kusi, with the theme: “Decolonising colonial reflexes of subordination: A reflection of Kashim Ibrahim Talla’s proclivity for the African oral tradition”.

Prof David T. Kusi did a review of what Prof Talla Kashim has been able to realise in this domain. 

He said: “The general idea is that even in the post-colonial period and in contemporary Cameroon, we still have reflexes of colonialism that are engraved in the way we do our things; in the educational system, politics and even in the socio-economic management of the country”. 

“So, Prof Tala Kashim picks up the oral tradition which he thinks is very important, because it’s imbued with moral values. He postulates that if it is integrated into the educational system, our children will learn about our culture and as a result, would end up knowing the moral values incarnated in those tales,” he added. 

This, Prof Kusi noted, “is because there are tales that end up telling us the difference between good and evil and we know that our context is so highly dominated by evil, corruption, bribery… and all these issues have rendered Cameroon miserable and made it to stagnate”.

“Prof Talla Kashim is thus advocating that we get back to our roots and it is only through culture that we can project the society to a better future,” Prof Kusi added.

Prof Kusi also stated that African societies can reclaim their identities and form a path for the future. 

He noted that Prof Talla, in his works, “decries corruption, violence, graft, favouritism, and portrays as an African intellectual who cannot be neutral in the face of violence, betrayal, embezzlement and monopolisation of power”. 

Prof Kusi also said the venerated Prof Talla emphasises the teaching of oral history in schools and proposes extant integration of orature in Cameroon’s educational system to include the various diverse cultures.

In his reaction after Prof Kusi’s lecture, Prof Talla praised CELLA’s commitment “to its responsibility of honouring and immortalising prominent and illustrious academics and scholars who, like great potentates, have, during their active careers as University dons, raised language, literature, and theoretical discourse to enviable heights”.

“I urge the leadership of CELLA and their team to continue to work together in this same spirit of unity or purpose and action to achieve greater heights” for the association.

Prof Talla, however, regretted that: “We live in a country in which meritocracy and servant leadership are anathema; a country in which altruism and abnegation are shunned; a country in which mediocrity and egregious egomania are given centre-stage”. 

“In such a bleak and debilitating environment one cannot help but commend CELLA for its commitment, dedication and devotion in promoting English Language and Literature in Cameroon,” he said

Prof Paul Mbangwana speaking after 1^st PMAL lecture 

Prof Talla, the man

It should be noted that CELLA has described Prof Talla as “a rare intellectual gem, a critical thinker and one of the finest scholars of Literature in Cameroon. He is also the undisputed Doyen of Oral Literature Studies in the country”. 

Throughout Prof Talla’s 32 years of active service (1978-2010) and 13 years of continued collaboration (2010-2023) with the Ministry of Higher Education, he has taught thousands of students, mentored several young scholars, and taken Cameroon and African Literature (both oral and written) to fresher heights.

He used his prolific academic and professional experience to serve the Ministry of Higher Education and has made invaluable contribution in the promotion of the ethics and deontology of higher education in Cameroon. 

Many of his contemporaries and professional colleagues attest to the fact that Prof Talla is a devoted educator, a seasoned academic, a primary thinker and an astute literary critic.

Prof Talla Kashim is currently the Rector of HIBMAT University Institute of Buea, HUIB, a position he has been occupying since 2015. He is a Visiting Professor at several national and international Universities. 

He has successfully supervised several M.A. theses and Ph.D. dissertations at the Universities of Buea, Yaounde I, Dschang, and Bamenda. He is still teaching and supervising postgraduate students in these universities. 

Prof Paul Mbangwana honoured

Meanwhile, the 7^th KITAL lecture was preceded by the 1^st Paul Mbangwana Lecture, PMAL. It was in honour of another referred academic, Prof Paul Mbangwana. 

The lecture titled: “Prof Paul Mbangwana: A great head and a great heart”, was delivered by Prof Samuel Atehsi, who said: “Prof Mbangwana did not end at the level of teacher, but applied his heart in the matter”.

Describing Prof Mbangwana as a teacher of great skill and integrity, Prof Atehsi said “people who love with the love of God are scarce”. 

Reacting after the 1^st PMAL lecture, Prof Mbangwana said “the occasion has touched me so much that I believe after listening to presentations on my person that I understand that I have been living a life appreciated by many”. 

“The greatest think I have learned in my career is that you continue to grow and the sky is your limit,” Prof Mbangwana said.