Identity Reflection

Individuals grabble with different identities as they choose which groups values their different identities. Per Bloomaert (2015) “people define their “identity” in relation to a multitude of different niches and by orienting to a multitude of “centers” of normative order” (p.154). It is possible for our identities to change over time as our values changes. For instance, some people move from being atheist to Christians while others become more environmentally inclined with an increase knowledge of global warming. When choosing what to write about for this paper, my accent was no doubt at the top of the list, as a day rarely goes by without someone either complementing or criticizing it.

            Unlike some identities that people adopt over time, I had no control over my accent neither did I choose to have the accent. Cameroon is a former British and French colony and I grew up in a predominantly French speaking region. Apart from French and English, I speak pidgin English and my local dialect. Given that most people I grew up around speak almost the way I do, it has never crossed my mind that someday I will be told I had an accent. At the time, I did not consider my accent as an identity that will could be used to set me apart from others or will be used to identify me as an outsider. It was not until I arrived the United Stated that people started either complementing or criticizing my accent.

            It took a while for me to get comfortable with the way I spoke as people often regarded me as an outsider. Given that I did pronounce most words like most Americans do, some people found it attracting and wanted to know more about me and where I come from while others were impatient with me and will often be rude when asking me to repeat something I just said. Personally, in the same way that my accent served as an advantage to me, it was also a disadvantage. However, over time, I have learned not to consider my accent as a disadvantage because everyone has an accent to some respect. For instance, a Cameroonian will consider as having an accent if the American was visiting Cameroon.

After traveling to the United State, it became apparent to me that what I considered as normal was not normal. I was repeatedly called out because of my accent. My first few months in the US were the hardest especially given that very few people said they could understand me and will would rarely pay attention to me what I had to say. Coupled with all the cultural shocks I was experiencing, my accent only made things worse. My so-called accent affected my communication with others. I only engaged communication with those who sounded like myself. I had a circle of friends that I spoke only with them and I spoke to any other person only when it was necessary. As such, I seldom participated in class activities because some of classmate would say they did not understand me. However, as soon as accepted my accent for what it was and started talking slowly to everyone who was patient enough to listen to me, my grades in class went up. Over the years, I have made a conscious effort to talk slowly so that I could be understood. This has proven to be successful as far less people complain about not being able to understand me. Inasmuch, I have maintained my accent for the most part, I learned to be patient with those who still have a hard time understanding me especially at work. After identify my accent, most patients are more interested in knowing where the accent is from as well as about my country. I see this as advantage because I can educate them about my country which most Americans do not know. Rakic et al (2011) explain that “a fundamental characteristic of person perception and categorization is that people react to the first available and meaningful information to categorize others” (p.16).

The way I interact with those that share my accent is very different from those that have a hard time understanding me when I talk. I am less restrained when I am talking to someone from my country. This is because like me, they have the same accent and will pick up what I am trying to say. However, if I was to talk to someone with another identity, I will be more restrained and will try to articulate my words so they can understand me.

 

Cameron is found in the Central part of Africa. Some geographers will say it is part of West Africa. It is flanked to the west by Nigeria, east by Central African Republic, to the north by Chad and to the south by Gabon and the Republic of Congo.

Cameroon is one of two bilingual countries in world. This is because it is French and British colony. Cameroon is made up of 10 regions among which eight are predominantly French speaking while the other two (North West and South West regions) are English speaking. Cameroon has more than 250 different languages and is a culturally rich country.

 The red symbolizes unity, as well as the centered yellow star. Green represents hope and the yellow prosperity. These colors combined form the official Pan-African colors.

 My parents hail from the North Western region of Cameroon in general but precisely from Akum. We are a very dynamic tribe popular known as "Small London". We share almost the same dialect and culture with other neighboring tribe. This is part of the Bamenda landscape.

 Each tribe has a traditional or staple meal and that of my tribe is called "achu and yellow soup"

Achu is made from cocoyam which is a leguminous plant. This plant commonly found in the grass field part of Cameroon. The cocoyam is cooked peeled and pounded to form a soft dough










The yellow soup is made from a mixture of mashed palm kernel, limestone and a combination of several spicy ingredients.

Achu and yellow soup is always eaten without any silverware hence its nickname "one finger round the world". It is taboo and disrespectful to each achu with any silverware.


Bonne Appetit!!!!





Like other cultures, the people of Akum "Small London" and neighboring tribes share the same traditional regalia. This regalia is so pretty that it has been used to represent Cameroon on the international level. It has been used our Olympic athletes consecutively for the last two Olympic games.

It is worn usually on very special outings and occasions. There are different variations of this entire but the colors cannot be mistaken. Most Cameroonians living in the US usually wear it on Commencement ceremonies, during the visit of a dignitary of a tribe or a Chief, cultural or tribal gatherings and in rare cases just to showcase our culture.

The picture on top (my brother, his wife, my mother and their kids, my wife and I and my niece) is when we had a visiting Cameroonian priest at our parish. The one to the right, is my very beautiful wife and I posing at our yearly traditional convention. The picture below could be anyone of you in the same outfit. PRETTY RIGHT!!!

This outfit is worn by almost every tribe in the North West Region of Cameroon.










Like many other tribes in the North West Region, the Akum people have a Paramount Chief. He is highly respected not only by the Akum people but by other sub chiefs and chiefdom around Akum. It is taboo to give a handshake to a Chief. In order to greet a chief, one has to bow and clap three times before greeting the chief using his title. In my culture, it is an honor to have the chief visit your home and when he does, he is always accompanied by his inner council and is always offered a sit at one corner of the house where not everyone can approach.

The chief hardly leaves his palace. When he does, it is on very special occasions like the death of an important clansman. Such ceremonies are usually marked by a lot of traditional dances. The children of the deceased, each have to invite a traditional dance group to come and pay homage to both the deceased and the chief. At time, dance groups from other regions in Cameroon are invited especially if the deceased was married to someone from another region.

Such festivities could last for days depending on rank of that individual in the village. The Chief might not be present during the entire length of the ceremony which may last for days but there is a special hut made for him that only a few nobles can go in.

 There is so much about the culture of the Akum people and North Westerners in general which I will like to showcase given the rich nature of our tradition. But these are some of the typical aspect about my culture that standout.