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| Cameroonian Emeritus Professor,Kashim Tala Photo Credit/Chris Ambe |
By Christopher Ambe
Kashim Ibrahim Tala, 78, is a Cameroonian Emeritus Professor of African Literature.
This indigene of Bamendankwe, Bamenda I subdivision,Mezam Division of the Northwest Region of Cameroon, was the first person to obtain a Doctorate Degree from the then University of Yaounde in 1982 .
Although retired from the University of Buea in 2010, Professor Tala who is a lover of books, teacher, writer, essayist, and moralist is not tired. He is still very active contributing to nation-building, in various ways.
Professor Tala holds-and strongly too- that “Any teacher who fails to arouse in his or her students, a thirst for knowledge and the search for truth should count himself or herself a failure.”
On November 4th and 5th November 2022 the Cameroon English Language and Literature Association (CELLA) during its annual international conference in Buea, honored and celebrated Professor Tala for his enormous contribution to building “the bank of knowledge” through his teaching, research and mentorship and as the first Cameroonian to have earned a PhD in African Literature in Cameroon.
Having
obtained an M.Phil Degree from the University of Leeds in England, Professor
Tala was recruited in 1978 by the University of Yaounde as an Assistant Lecturer.
“I became the first person to obtain a Doctorate Degree from the University of Yaounde in 1982 under the tutelage of the iconic and venerable Emeritus Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon”, Professor Tala told the Buea CELLA conference, drawing deafening applause from the audience of dons.
His quest for more knowledge the same he bagged his PhD led him to the Pennsylvania State University in the USA where he did his postdoctoral studies in Oral Literature.
But a patriotic Professor Tala, upon completion his postdoctoral studies, returned to Cameroon in 1984 to continue what he knows best: teaching.
He taught and served as an administrator in the Universities of Yaounde,Dschang and Buea, rising through the professional ranks from Assistant Lecturer and Lecturer through Associate Professor to Professor. He also occupied several administrative positions in the University system and rose to the rank of Vice Rector at the University of Dschang,Cameroon.
Professor Tala retired from active service in 2010 and was same year elevated to the rank of Emeritus Professor.
Retired but not tired
Conscious that retirement from one place or job could offer employment elsewhere, Professor Tala since 2010 engaged in postgraduate teaching, research,supervision,mentoring and chairing of panels in the universities of Buea, Dschang,Yaounde 1, Bamenda and Maroua-all in Cameroon.
He is currently Member of Council of the University of Bamenda and the Rector of the HIBMAT University Institute of Buea (HUIB).
Role Model
Does Professor Tala have a role model? “ I had as a role model, my academic godfather and master, the eminent avator,classical philosopher ,and internationally acclaimed and erudite scholar Bernard Nsokika Fonlon”,he told the Buea CELLA conference, adding that “ I have also tried as much as is humanly possible to be guided by one of his cherished precepts:
My central aim in life is to become an educator and inspirer of youths. To succeed in this, I must strain for the fullest possible measure of this two-fold culture of head and heart: for the young worship high scholarship and cannot resist the pull of noble character.”
Legacy
Professor Tala has taught thousands of students, mentored many young scholars, nurtured many fledging oralists and inspired those who almost fell by the way side.
“I am happy to note that among my former students are illustrious colleagues who have proven themselves as devoted scholars, seasoned academics and astute literary critics who are continuing in my path.
They are Professors: Nol Alembong(Vice-Chancellor,University of Buea),Enongene Sone Mirabeau(Professor of Literary Studies ,Department of English ,Walter Sisulu University,SouthAfrica) and Professor Neba Divine Che, of E.N.S ,University of Yaounde I,”he noted.
It is worthy of note that Professor Tala has met and interacted with such internationally celebrated and iconic oral literature scholars such as Isidore Okpewho,Chidi Maduka,Kofi Agivi,Philip Noss,Oyekan Owomoyela,Douglas Killian,Karen Keim,Tunde Okanlawon,Grahan Furniss Thomas Thomas Hale- all of who have taught him “the value of oral literature as a serious academic discipline in the current age.”
Secret of Success
Professor Tala says :“The secret of my success is my dear wife ,Julie Enjema Ndive,epouse Tala( retired High School teacher of English ) who has endured me for 55 years and has been my faithful companion through the ups and downs, thick and thin, storms and stress,twists and turns and all the vagaries and inscrutable vicissitudes of life.
“She is God’s gift to me”
Professional Experience
From 2015 - date, Professor Tala is Rector, HIBMAT University Institute of Buea(HUIB);2021-date:Board Member ,University of Bamenda(UBa);2007-2010:Director,Center for African Languages and Culture, University of Buea;2000-2003:Vice-Rector,University of Dschang;1999-2005:Technical Adviser, University of Dschang;1997-1999:Director of Academic Affairs, University of Buea;1993-1997:Director of Students Affairs,University of Buea;1989-1993: Secreatry-General,Buea University Centre.
Publication & Supervision
Professor Tala has published fifteen books and thirty-five articles in Peer-reviewed International Journals.He has supervised fifteen candidates who successfully defended their PhDs and twenty-seven who successfully defended their master’s degrees.
Professor Tala, who was born on July 24, 1944 in Bamendankwe(Mezam Division),is married to a native of Bova-Buea(Fako Division) and the couple is blessed with five children
As a rights actvists, he hates injustice and corruption.
In his leisure time this Catholic Christian likes reading, listening to good music, walking around and site-seeing.
Professor Tala loves Cameroonian dishes like achu and corn fufu.
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