African Roots and Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Detroit, MI USA lead by Professor Anita M. Diop visits the University of Dschang located in Dschang, which is in the Western Region of Cameroon.
The purpose and overall theme of this visit is strengthening partnerships through the YCLPDP – Youth Cultural Language Preservation Discovery Program as an independent Study Class with the Department of African Globalized Studies lead by Professor Jean R. Kouesso. Each working collectively and individually towards the African Renaissance.
In this age of Geo-politics, we find it necessary to make each African on the continent and abroad aware of the shift. In education we find our gift and talent to impact the future. The YCLPDP was designed so youth of today will enable themselves to take control of the narrative of Africa’s Identity, sovereignty, self-determination, and self-direction, learning vital skills of conducting primary source interviews, collecting data, publishing their findings in written form or other multi-media format for later distribution and storage at the University and our New African Thought Youth Training Institute and Research Center.
During this visit we toured the campus of the University of Dschang, the City, Dschang Museum of Civilization, Slavery Sites, artisans of the Tukah Mask, village Elders, Chiefs, notables, as well as the Dean, Vice Rector, Faculty and staff of the University of Dschang.
Our team was immersed in the Dschang Community cultural sharing activities, which involved attending a Notables’ Funeral Rites, Twin Naming Ceremony, appearing on the Radio Yemba, visiting personal homes and sightseeing key locations in the City of Dschang.
Itinerary and Brief Summary of Each Day
Tuesday (February 10)
1) 10 or 11 am meeting Dean (Department of African Studies and Globalization)
2) 12pm – Professors
1) Strengthening relationships
2) African Day – May 25, 2026
3) 3pm - Vice Rector
The ARHF team was introduced to the Dean of the Department of African Studies and Globalization, the Professors and the Vice Rector and was received with a very warm welcome. We discussed the YCLPDP program history and it’s evolution and it’s importance as an interdependent study class and the impact it will make on the students, staff and other personnel who will participate.
Further outreach was mentioned in the form of recruiting students worldwide to participate in the YCLPDP from countries as Benin with the University of Abomey-Calavi and others to enrich the learning experience for the students.
Wednesday (February 11)
1) 10:00 am Sightseeing around town
2) 2:00 pm Dschang Museum of Civilization
3) 4:00 pm Professor’s Kouesso Hospitality and Welcome Dinner
The ARHF team lead by Professor Kouesso took a tour around the City of Dschang and visited the Dschang Museum of Civilizations. We ended the day with a Welcome Hospitality Dinner featuring many local dishes at professor Kouesso’s home.
Thursday (February 12)
1) 9:00 am Heads of Department Meeting – Introducing Professor Diop and the YCLPDP Program
2) 4:00 PM Nza ‘Bamendou Slavery Site
The ARHF team was introduced to the Heads of the Departments of the University of Dschang, and we had a lively discussion regarding the YCLPDP, slavery, colonization, and the way forward for the University and ARHF strengthening partnerships and identifying students to participate in this class.
We finished the day at a slavery site in Nza ‘Bamendou. We visited the site where the military made their strategies to strike their victims, the forest where the captives were held and the relatives of their descendants.
Friday (Friday 13)
Radio Yemba 6:30-8:00 pm
Topics of Discussion:
1) ALWCC – African Languages Week Coordination Committee – February 21-28 African Languages Week Promotion
2) YCLPDP – Youth Cultural Language Preservation Discovery Program in partnership with University of Dschang, Department of African Studies and Globalization
Professor Anita M. Diop was interviewed by talk show host Tatah Barbara Marthe on Radio Yemba to promote and recruit students for the upcoming YCLPDP. She was also given the history behind it’s existence, which dates back a few decades. Professor Kouesso was an instrumental part of the founders of the station.
Saturday - (February 14)
1) Twins Naming Ceremony Village
2) Notable Burial Rites
3) End of Activities
We participated in community cultural events in the outlaying villages of Dschang. The first was a Twins naming Ceremony, which blesses the twins for long life and prevent them from”going back”. At the entrance of the property, purification symbols of salt, and palm oil greeted each guest. The parents are called Tainy and Mainy as the father and mother of the twins.
The festivities began with consuming traditional meals and drink. Then the ritual starts with some herbs for cleansing, some are ingested while others wash the body. Various instruments are used to make music and singing and dancing begins. The community shares coins during this ceremony, the energy grows intense and finally it is done. This is one small part of the practices for the blessings upon the twins, these kinds of celebrations can last for a week.
As we witness birth rites, we now witnessed death rites of a notable person or KING. The procession begins with the highest racking King with the lowers one to follow. The walk in and begin to music and dancing. No one can sit until the highest ranking King gives the ok. They must continue to play the drums, sing and dance until he motions enough.
This ends our cultural immersion in Dschang, we hurry back to the Bus Depot to take our voyage back to Yaounde.
We returned safely.
RESOLUTION:
The YCLPDP is approved and we resolved, that the African Roots and Heritage Foundation in partnership with the University of Dschang, Department of African Studies and Globalization will launch it's pilot independent study class through the YCLPDP - Youth Cultural Language Preservation Discovery Program this April 1 - May 25, 2026 at the University of Dschang.
Students can now register here on the university's website.