Renowned Writer Describes Late Shadrach Ambanasom As Most Prolific, Best Known Literary Critic

Prof. Shadrach A. Ambanasom (Picture: Camerooinfo.net)

By Kesah Princely & Regis Che, In Buea

Professor of African Literature and Dean in the University of Buea’s Faculty of Arts has decorated late scholar and writer, Professor Shadrach Atege Ambanasom as one of the most intelligent and critical literary figures in Cameroon.

In an exclusive interview with TWIF NEWS in Buea recently, Professor John Nkemngong Nkengasong regretted the fact that such a crucial personality as Professor Ambanasom was no more.

The scholar, novelist, poet, critic and teacher took ill and died in hospital earlier on Friday August 28, 2020.

The University of Buea Don and administrator revealed that the deceased Professor had made invaluable contributions to the development of African literature.

“Professor Shadrach Atege Ambanasom is the most prolific and best known literary critic, with plethora of publications which have been important in highlighting the prevalence, significance and contribution of Anglophone literature to the body of Cameroonian Literature,” he intimated.

“His works cut across genres and subject matter, but with special focus on English Romanticism and Anglophone Cameroon Literature,” he added.

The deceased Professor of African literature once opined that “the future of Cameroon Literature is Anglophone”.

His novel, Son of the Native Soil, according to scholars such as Professor Nkengasong, served as an excellent contribution to Cameroonian (African) culture, philosophy and worldview.

Professor Shadrach Atege Ambanasom was born in Ngie, Momo Division of the North West region in 1950. He did not end at just writing books, he equally taught in the classroom. He served as an academic in the University of Bamenda.

The literary icon would be remembered for his many outstanding publications which include: The Cameroonian Novel of English Expression, Perspectives on Written Cameroon Literature in English; Education of the Deprived: Anglophone Cameroon Literary Drama; Bernard Fonlon as a Literary Essayist.

Professor John N. Nkengasong, himself a renowned writer whose books are in many shelves across the nation, and beyond, bemoaned the death of his colleague, but is however consoled with the fact that many of great Cameroonian writers such as Shadrach A. Ambanasom, Bernard Fonlon, Linus T. Asong and Bate Besong have left behind great legacies for the younger generation.

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