By Henry Metome
The 11th of February celebration in Cameroon, also known as Youth Day, has a rich history dating back to 1961. On this day, the British Cameroons in the south voted to join French Cameroon, while the northern part chose to join Nigeria.
In 1962, the West Cameroon government, led by Prime Minister John Ngu Foncha, introduced Youth Day to replace the national day, which was celebrated on October 26. The first Youth and Sport Day was held on October 26, 1962, and was later moved to February 11 in 1964.
The celebration was initially intended to honor the youth of West Cameroon and their role in the country’s future.
Over time, it evolved into a national holiday, recognized by the federal government in 1966. Today, Youth Day is celebrated across Cameroon with parades, cultural dances, singing, and sports events.
The holiday serves as a reminder of the importance of youth in Cameroon’s development and their potential to drive positive change. It’s a day to empower and encourage young people to take an active role in shaping their country’s future.
Empire Day in Southern Cameroons.
The history of 11th February is closely linked with “Empire Day” in the southern Cameroons.
Empire Day was a significant celebration in the Southern British Cameroons, a British trust territory that existed from 1922 to 1961.
Empire Day was celebrated annually on May 24th to commemorate the birthday of Queen Victoria, the British monarch who oversaw the expansion of the British Empire.
The celebration was introduced in the Southern British Cameroons during the colonial period, as a way to promote British culture, values, and loyalty among the local population.
On Empire Day, schools, government offices, and other institutions would hold special events, such as: Flag-raising ceremonies, Parades and marches, Speeches and lectures on British history and values, Cultural performances, such as traditional dances and music, Sports competitions and games
The celebration was also an opportunity for the British colonial authorities to showcase their achievements and promote their vision for the territory’s development.
However, with the growing nationalist movement in the Southern British Cameroons, Empire Day became increasingly seen as a symbol of colonial oppression. As the territory moved towards independence, the celebration of Empire Day was eventually phased out, and it was replaced by new national holidays, such as Youth Day on February 11th.
