YAOUNDÉ – Following a tradition that has spanned over a decade, primary school students from Centre Educatif Bastos passed through the gates of the Reunification Monument today. From outdoor civic lessons to historical immersion, here is a look back at a day dedicated to national unity.
It is an unchanging ritual. Under the vigilant supervision of a dozen educators, the young learners left their usual classrooms behind for a life-sized history lesson. This school field trip—a pillar of the institution's civic and moral education program—aims to anchor Republican values in the minds of future generations.
A Masterpiece Born of a Shared Vision
Erected between 1973 and 1976 under the leadership of former President Ahmadou Ahidjo, the Reunification Monument celebrates the historic union of October 1, 1961, between the Republic of Cameroon and Southern Cameroons (formerly under British mandate).
The site is the result of an exceptional artistic collaboration between three major figures:
Mgr Engelbert Mveng: Designer of the spiral tower and the cultural representations.
Armand Salomon: The French architect who constructed the main monument.
Gédéon Mpando: The renowned Cameroonian artist and creator of the secondary monument.
The Symbolism of Unity: Between Spirals and Wisdom
During the visit, students admired the main tower, a 7-meter-high conical spiral structure. This monument is a feat of symbolism: its summit represents the perfect meeting point between the Anglophone and Francophone cultures.
the exploration continued through the building's three levels:
The Basement: A circular hall adorned with murals by Mgr Mveng.
The Ground Floor: Decorated with wooden frescoes by the artist Etolo Eya.
The Four Pillars: Engraved with scenes depicting the lives of populations from Cameroon's five cultural zones.
The children's attention was particularly drawn to the monumental statue by Gédéon Mpando at the entrance. It depicts an elderly man carrying five children and brandishing the torch of Liberty. For these students, the imagery is powerful: it represents the passing of the torch from ancestral tradition to modernity.
"This monument is not just a concrete structure; it is the open book of our nation," remarked one of the teachers during the tour.
A Half-Day of Learning and Sharing
Far from being a simple walk, this outing was packed with activities. After a well-deserved snack, the students watched a performance of the play "Bobo et mange-tout" before concluding the day with civic education workshops.
The schoolchildren left the site with heads full of memories and a strengthened sense of patriotism. The date has already been set for next year to continue this essential duty of remembrance.
By the Press Club | Published December 12, 2025