About LA'AKAM
La’akam is the most sacred place of the Bamiléké, and it belongs to all of them. It is where the most illustrious Bamileke ancestors are buried and honored, and it is the place where princes are trained to be kings.
La’akam is also a call to excellence throughout one’s life. In the face of adversity, it has been used by generations of Bamiléké as a rallying point to think deeply about our survival as a culture. It was in this spirit that we created La’akam in October 2019: to remember the genocide of the Bamiléké and to build the strength of our people.
This vision of La’akam can be thus summarized in one question: WHEN WILL THE BAMILEKÉ BRING ABOUT THEIR RENAISSANCE? La‘akam inspires the Bamileke to not only survive, but to create the conditions for their flourishing.
This renaissance must emerge from the center of Bamileke civilization, and it begins in the sacred house that is found in all Bamileke communities. This is the forum where Bamileke sons and daughters come together to participate in society and contribute to the key issues facing the people.
To achieve this, we say in La’akam that there is neither English nor French Bamiléké; not Muslim, Christian, or animist Bamiléké; neither UPC, CPDM, nor MCR Bamiléké. There is only ONE BAMILEKE PEOPLE, descendants of the land of Tikar, indivisible, united by blood, who—like all the peoples of the world—seek to pursue happiness, live their dreams, and help the next generation to build a better world.
