Reviewed by Sam Nuvala Fonkem
Francis B Nyamnjoh. Africa's Media: Democracy And The Politics Of Belonging. London, ZED BOOKS; Pretoria, UNISA PRESS, 2005. 308 pages.
Nyamnjoh's work is a critical and painstaking examination of the role the media have played in promoting democracy and empowering civil society since Africa waged what the author aptly labels as Africa's second liberation struggle in the 1990s. Africa's first liberation struggle no doubt was the one waged in the 1950s against colonialism and apartheid in the 1960s and 70s. The struggle under review is more sociological and psychological in nature, and mainly confined within the geographical space of African nation-states.
It is a study of how the state, the media and the public have interacted to promote or hinder the growth of liberal democracy as a political concept or ideology that can ensure the general well being of society.
In examining the roles played by the main protagonists in the democratisation process, the author discovered that efforts by governments to encourage the independent media have been inadequate while the performance of the media themselves have been limited. He avers that the root cause of these shortcomings can be traced to a prevalent enthno-centricism and an obsession with belonging, which makes a mockery of participatory democracy.
While African leaders have demonstrated an infatuation with power and an incurable penchant for perpetuating their rule irrespective of the sovereign wish of their people, the media on the other hand, have "assumed a partisan and highly politicised, militant role in Africa."
In pursuit of political entrenchment, African governments do not only stand accused of substituting themselves for the state, but also of manipulating, muzzling or simply suppressing the independent media. In their desperate efforts to control media content and orientation, government typically employs, as journalists, only those it has taken time to mould into mouthpieces and uncritical proponents of official rhetoric and precepts.
Both sides of the government media divide equally stand accused of dividing citizens into the righteous and the wicked, depending on their party-political leanings, ideologies, and regional, cultural or ethnic belonging.
Five out of the nine chapters of the book focus on the Cameroonian situation for the obvious reasons that Cameroon is not only one of the geographically and ethnically diversified countries in Africa, but also, because, "the state, the media and their relationship in Cameroon are particularly interesting and informative towards understanding media, belonging and democratisation in Africa. Cameroon is the only country in Africa with a dual colonial heritage of French and English cultures of democracy and media traditions…"
Nyamnjoh's findings can be amply validated by the following case that appropriately reflects the theme of his book. The French language newspaper, Le Messager of Monday, November 21, 2005, carried the following headline:
"Nominations à la CRTV
Comment l'état a impose ses "hommes" à Vamoulke.
"Le travail de ISMA, basé sur l'examenr des appels à candidatures des postulants aux postes de direction a été disqualifié.
"Le directeur-général de la CRTV c'est incline devant les options de l'état-proprietaire."
"Appointments at CRTV (Cameroon Radio Television).
How the government imposed its "men" on Vamoulke.
"The work of ISMP on the scrutiny of candidatures for the posts of directors was rejected.
"The General Manager of CRTV has succumbed to the dictates of the proprietor -state"
After close to sixteen years of mismanagement of CRTV by an obsequious megalomaniac exhibitionist, called Mendo Ze, President Paul Biya appointed a professional journalist Amadou Vamoulke to take over as General Manager in January 2005.
In a bid to implement transparency and good governance, Vamoulke, shortly after his appointment, advertised managerial positions in the corporation to potential candidates who were required to submit CVs and memos as to what they intended to accomplish if given the opportunity.
his approach did not go down well with the establishment, which suspected it as a ploy to put aside "all the president's men despite the fact that Vamoulke had handed over the business of professional evaluation to the Higher National Institute of Public Management, ISMP."
With regard to the issue of belonging, which is a sub-theme of Nyamnjoh's book, it is a baffling realisation, as the author has accurately determined that the political, cultural, historical and economic parameters, which define the notion and sentiment of belonging could be very elusive indeed, and scientifically insufficient to identify who belongs to what and for whom.
For example, Amadou Vamoulke is an early product of the International Higher School of Journalism (Ecole Supériéure Internationale de Journalism de Yaounde - ESIJY which was later nationalised and dubbed the Advanced School of Mass Communication - ASMAC in English and ESSTIC in French).
On the point of his alma mater, he belonged. After graduating from ESIJY in 1974, Vamoulke worked with the state-owned national daily newspaper, Cameroon Tribune, where he eventually became Editor-in-Chief.
Ten years after a brilliant performance at the paper, he was appointed General Manager of the National Printing Press (Imprimerie Nationale) where he drudged for ten years and resigned because of lack of job satisfaction. He later joined a private industrial firm in mid 1990 until his recent appointment to head CRTV.
To top it all, Vamoulke is a member of the Central Committee of the ruling CPDM party! In short, he belongs. He has the right credentials, yet his attempts to innovate were frustrated by the very regime he has served and is loyally serving. Could it be that he might not have belonged to the right tribe or religion?
This detailed explanation only goes to authenticate the author's perspicacity in the treatment of his subject matter and one cannot conclude this review without mentioning other innovative areas of his research on the most modern information and communication technology, like the Internet and the most ancient agency mode of communication such as rumour.
Just like in fame of his earlier publications, the author displays perfect mastery of his subject matter and his sustained interest in media sociology has certainly qualified him as an authority in that field.
Nyamnjoh's latest book has dug into the relevant literature regarding the role of the media and democratisation from the colonial era to the present. And by dint of his insightful scholarship, has set the groundwork and standards on which further media studies will be based in the foreseeable future.
Sam-Nuvala Fonkem (Freelance journalist; currently part-time lecturer at Journalism and Mass Communication Department, University of Buea, Cameroon.
E-mail [email protected])
An exceptionally rich and thought-provoking work. Nyamnjoh gives us a vivid, well researched picture of the new African media landscape, while asking probing questions about both journalistic practice and the meaning of democracy."
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