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The Wilderness in the Forest: Grim and Concentric Reformulations in the works of Bole Butake and Makuchi

Mforbe Pepetual Chiangong (University of Bayreuth)

Email: pmforbe@yahoo.fr

 

ABSTRACT:

If it is true what environmental specialists say that the forest is a source of livelihood that needs to be jealously conserved and protected, then Bole Butake and Makuchi all Cameroonian creative writers, have enough reason to uphold environmental degradation as a matter of import in their creative works. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the above Cameroonian creative writers are concerned with environmental protection in a selection of their works. Environmental degradation as these authors present it, is not only blamed on local ignorance of the environment and the protection of water catchment, but also on external forces amongst them, authoritarian rulers.

This paper evaluates the praxis that these authors have adopted so far, to help environment friendly patrons to conserve the biodiversity in Cameroon, through the dramatic arts, a short story and a children’s theatre for environmental education (in some villages in the North West Region of Cameroon). In the analysis I would argue that Butake’s involvement of children (between ages 10-13) in environment protection through theatre for development is a new, fundamental and effective approach. His method is a rebirth and a rejuvenation of what has been denigrated in Makuchi’s creative universe. Reference will also be made to the cultural exchange in these works and an evaluation of the impact of both African and western cultures to advance or defame the biodiversity.

• Butake, Bole. “Dance of the Vampires” in Lake God and Other Plays. Yaounde: Edition Cle, 1999.
• Butake Bole & M. Pepetual Chiangong. Theatre for Development workshop on Children’s Theatre for Environmental Education, North West Province, Cameroon, 2002–2003.
• Makuchi. “The Forest will Claim You Too” in Your Madness not Mind: Stories from Cameroon. Ohio: Ohio Centre for International Studies, 1999.