In the Season of Talking Drums: Cameroon’s Dance with Destiny: 12 October 2025

 

Citizens play a crucial role in addressing social and political issues by participating in the electoral process.

One of the most effective ways to influence change is by voting. All eligible Cameroonians are required to register and cast their votes at the polls.

Each vote serves as a tool that enables citizens to express their discontent and promote positive change in leadership.

By voting, individuals can help elect leaders committed to improving the quality of life for all citizens.

In a democratic system, the electorate’s power during elections is significant, providing an opportunity to turn hopes and aspirations into reality.

Engaging in the electoral process is vital for achieving desired reforms and a better future.”

The Atmosphere:

The winds of transformation whisper through Cameroon’s valleys, rustling the leaves of ancient trees that have stood witness to decades of governance.

The land, rich with the echoes of ancestors like Ahidjo and Foncha, now hums with the voices of a people yearning for renewal, filled with anger, and grasping for opportunities of change.

The 2025 presidential election stands as a beacon of hope, a moment where the weary hands of history may finally turn the page to a new chapter of hope, diversity and economic transformation.

For over forty years, the nation has walked a path of partially fulfilled promises, deferred dreams, and stifled aspirations, weighed down by economic hardship.

The rivers that once carried prosperity now murmur with the grievances of a people who have long awaited justice, equity, the restoration of dignity and participatory democracy.

It seems the people are eager for change from both the government and the opposition, and now they are seemingly angry that they might not get that change and must face a choice between Biya and Chiroma. Will either of them satisfy their desire for change?

 

Nota Bene:

Yet, in the heart of every Cameroonian, there remains an ember—small but fierce like the simmering molten lava in the crevices of Mount Cameroon—of hope mixed with despair and anger.

This hope fuels the anticipation of the bursting of change, the belief that the ballot can reshape destiny, from despair to hope and prosperity.

A Nation at the Crossroads

 

Cameroon stands at a crossroads, where the past and future meet in a delicate dance.

The incumbent has held power since 1982, a tenure that has spanned across generations.

His leadership, marked by political dominance and economic struggles, has left many questioning the nation’s direction.

The streets of Douala, Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Buea pulse with conversations about the future, accompanied by rising anger.

Will this election mark the dawn of a new era, or will the cycle of this system persist, keeping us in a state of uncertain stability?

The people’s voices rise in unison, demanding accountability, justice, and leadership that serves the collective good.

The vibrant and determined youth refuse to inherit a nation shackled by yesterday’s mixed failures.

They seek leaders across the political spectrum who will not merely govern but uplift, inspire, and restore the dignity of a people whose resilience has been repeatedly tested.

 

The Power of the Ballot

In the hands of every eligible voter lies a weapon more powerful than any force of oppression—the ballot.

It is the ink with which the people may rewrite their story, the tool through which they may reclaim their voice.

Voting is not merely a civic duty, but an assertion of existence —a declaration that the people will no longer be silenced.

Though fraught with challenges, the electoral process remains the most potent avenue for change.

Cameroonians must rise and cast their votes with the conviction that their voices matter.

The streets must not be filled with lamentations alone; they must echo with the footsteps of citizens marching toward polling stations, determined to shape the future.

A Call to Unity

The divisions that have plagued Cameroon—political, ethnic, regional, Anglophone and Francophone divide—must not define its destiny.

The election is not merely about choosing a leader; it is about forging a collective vision for the nation.

The people must stand together, transcend barriers, and recognise that their strength lies in unity.

The long-fragmented opposition has begun to coalesce, recognising that only through solidarity can they challenge the status quo.

Maurice Kamto, a prominent opposition figure, initially garnered support from multiple parties, yet he stumbled and ushered in a shift in the opposition political landscape.

The failure of new candidates to emerge, along with the persistence of voices tainted by the past, offers diminishing possibilities.

Yet, though angry, the people must make a choice and, at the same time, maintain the peace.

The people must scrutinise, question, and demand transparency from those who seek to lead.

 

The Role of the Youth

The youth of Cameroon are the architects of tomorrow.

Their energy, intellect, and passion must not be wasted in idle complaints but channelled into action.

They must engage in political discourse, challenge narratives, and hold leaders accountable.

Protests, informed discussions, strategic mobilisation, and unwavering determination must fill the streets.

Education on electoral processes, governance, and civic responsibility must be prioritised and put into action.

The youth must understand that change is not a distant dream but a reality that begins with their participation.

They must be vigilant, ensuring their votes are counted, their voices heard, and their future secured.

 

A Nation’s Prayer for Renewal

As the sun sets over the hills of Cameroon, casting golden hues upon the land, the people whisper prayers for renewal.

They pray for leaders who will not exploit but uplift, will not silence but listen, and will not divide but unite. They pray for an election free from manipulation, where the people’s will prevails.

The spirits of our ancestors watch, their wisdom woven into the nation’s fabric, remind the people that Cameroon is not merely a land but a legacy, a story yet to be written.

The people must rise, not in anger but in resolve, not in despair but in hope.

Yet anger is born of despair, and despair is a catalyst for change, driving us to do what must be done for renewal in the face of past failures.

 

The Future Awaits

The 2025 presidential election is more than a political event; it is a defining moment in Cameroon’s history.

It is an opportunity to break free from the chains of stagnation and usher in leadership that reflects the people’s aspirations.

The road ahead is uncertain, but the people must walk it courageously, knowing their destiny is in their hands.

Finally:

 

The ballot is no mere leaf plucked from the tree of bureaucracy—it is the sacred calabash passed from hand to hand in the village square, each mark upon it a whisper from the soul of the people.

And when the people chant their truth, even the ancestors lean in to listen, for the wind carries their voices beyond the hills of memory.

On the twelfth moon of October, in the year two thousand and twenty-five, the land shall gather at the crossroads.

There, beneath the baobab of democracy, a pot shall simmer.

Into it shall fall the bitter roots of fear, the fiery peppers of anger, the sour herbs of anxiety, and the sweet yams of hope.

Stirred by the wooden spoon of choice, this stew shall bubble with uncertainty, its aroma thick with possibility.

None can tell if the taste will heal or haunt, for the tongue knows not the flavour until it meets the broth.

But the elders say: “The soup of tomorrow is cooked with the fire of today.”

So, Cameroon, like a lone traveller wrapped in raffia and resolve, steps barefoot onto the mat of fate, ready to sip from the bowl that history has placed before her.

 

Thanks,

 

Justice Dr Tatsi