I was born and raised in Cameroon. According to some historical facts, Cameroon like most African countries is a former colony of the Germans, French and British. I am one of the glaring examples of an African who has tapped into both the Western and African values as an essential combination to construct a life of liberty, justice and peace for one another. I pride myself on the universal human principles while at the sametime, I respect divergent views on religion, politics and culture. At these cross roads, I recognize with profound humility our common humanity cross-culturally.
I am very fluent in English language and slightly in French, and moderately in one of our Cameroon languages known as Mankon-Ngemba. I have spoken truth to power during the last ten years of my life since in Cameroon and here in the United States. This is because I consider it as a virtue as well as one of the tools to influence positive change and transformation of society locally and internationally. The main point of speaking truth to power is to stir and disturb the conscience of humanity especially those who will power and influence so that they could do what is right.
I am the third child in a family of eight. My parents were not literate and lived in the countryside were they both worked as local farmers and business people to raise us. Life was hard because of the corrupt political system, in which we were raised. So, they toiled day and night to make a living. Even though my parents did not have the opportunity to go to school, they made a commitment to educate us. Imagine yourself being raised by your parents under these circumstances? This is the kind of society, in which I was raised, a world were truth is twisted because of selfish and corrupt leadership. While other societies believe “In God We Trust”, Cameroon believes “In dictatorship We Reign”. How does one educate people in this kind of society? I tried but the system came after me. I have not given off.
Our social context was plagued by poor living standards as a result of ignorance and deprivation of truth. We were born poor and we lived in a poor community. It was not a choice. It was forced down our throat by dictatorship were survival is by chance and coincidence. You fight for yourself because society is like a jungle instead of a beloved community. Our only source of hope was the beauty of nature that surrounded our effort to survive.
I love nature because of that. The presence of the Judeo-Christian churches only gave us hope for eternal life but no liberty and social justice. The political system is still corrupt and inherently abusive. My family was an extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends in the cities. So, I used to live in the city, too because I would visit my relatives. That means I was swinging between the countryside and the city where I also attended college. My classmates and schoolmates were a huge influence in my life, too. Some of them were a positive influence on my life in many ways because they were kind to me.
The turning point in my life is being educated, which led me to strike a chord with the virtue of truth. This in turn, helped me to free myself from oppression. I took the greatest risks of my life trying to free others because it was not about me. Life to me is about advancing the common good and after freeing myself, I believed that I must free others through my education, knowledge, wisdom and commitment.
What I mean is freedom from my mentality and mind set. It is not just the fact that I am in the United States. When you are educated about the truth, you 'll be free but if you don't know the truth, you'll either be oppressed or be an oppressor. There are people who know the truth but they are still oppressed because they definitely need help from somewhere else. Do you see my point? Yes, I agree that truth is complex but there is truth, anyway.
In fact, my parents and grandparents are the most significant and important persons in my life. They impacted my life very positively and taught me the virtues of suffering, handwork, patience, endurance and determination through their own very exemplary lives. My parents did not give up no matter how hard it was.
My father was a very positive person who knew that the system was not his fault. My life was not a bed of roses. It was infested with hardship because we had to suffer under a bad and corrupt government in order to survive. Therefore, I grew up mentally tortured but not mentally deranged and brain drained or washed. Of course, I am very alert and sensitive mentality. This is how I have always appreciated education as a force for good in our world.
When I finished high school in 1991, my classmates and friends were convinced that I would major in journalism in college. In fact, I did not really love to be a journalist because they were not treated fairly by the dictatorial regime in our country. Yet, I was concerned by the injustices and inequalities in our society. So I entered Seminary.
My theological education equipped and provided me with the tools to recognize the injustices of society and confirmed the oppressive systems. I felt strongly that the church needed be reformed. So there was a constant struggle for liberation from an oppressive government in an unholy alliance with the church. Life was a real experience with a bitter reality. Nothing could be more educative to me than the fact that I was immersed into all these realities.
It is in this complex setting that I experienced personal growth and development through my confrontation with falsehood but it helped me to discover the truth. My encounter with truth, education, hard work gave me a positive and hopeful human spirit of resiliency. There were some great moments of fun, too, if we waive aside any other problem as inconsequential! Yet, life is about finding our purpose and true meaning so that we can shine the light on the dark spots that hurt others.
I believe very strongly that our ultimate goal in life is to do good and bequeathed it with honor to those who will inherit it. I am sure if it is possible, I must leave the world a better place. I have seen people changed and society developed because I do stir the conscience of people with the truth. That is why I have not given up. I will keep going and I invite you to be part of something bigger than yourself.
Thanks for reading
Jonathan F. Awasom
1) Pastor, Reformer and voice of Truth
2) Freedom Fighter and Politician
3) Civil Rights Advocate
4) Human Rights Campaigner
5) Peace Advocate for Peaceful Transition of power
6) Senior Community Organizer and voice for the voiceless
7) Scholar, Consultant and Truth Speaker to Power
To GOD BE THE GLORY
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