Road Companion to Democracy and Meritocracy

written by Godfrey B. Tangwa

Further Essays from an African Perspective

Each of the essays in this book is marked by a certain simplicity and clarity, a seriousness tinged with humour, masking a profundity that are unmistakably characteristic of Godfrey B. Tangwa alias Rodcod Gobata, one of the leading critical minds amongst Cameroonians. The essays are centered on the theme of democracy and meritocracy which the author believes to be the pre-conditions for genuine development in Africa. The immediate focus of these essays is Cameroon, a country remarkable for experimenting with French/English bilingualism and for having a political dictatorship which claims, wrongly or rightly, to have transformed itself into a democracy; but they are equally relevant to other countries in Africa and beyond. Each of the essays stands alone but they are all telling various aspects of the same story from various angles at various times using different modes of expression. Anyone who seeks a glimpse of understanding of the trouble with Africa and particularly with Cameroon, 10 years into the 21st century, would read this book with great profit.

Godfrey B. Tangwa

Godfrey B. Tangwa was born in Nso, North West Region of Cameroon. He attended secondary school at St. Joseph’s College Sasse, Buea, and successively educated at the Nigerian universities of Nsukka, Ife and Ibadan. He lectured at the University of Ife, from 1978-1986, and joined the University of Yaounde in 1987 as a Senior Lecturer. He is currently Professor at the Department of Philosophy which he headed from 2004 to 2008. He is a member of the International Association of Bioethics, has served on its Board of Directors from 1997 to 2003, and was Vice-President of the Association from 1999-2001. He is a member of several academic associations and of many scientific and ethics review committees around the world. He is also a prolific writer and his publications in academic journals, magazines and newspapers span a wide range of issues.