Risdoh & Mr Manteur: the White French biology teacher at Lycee Leclerc.

Risdoh held the key to the paradise of prosperity of her family. And she did not disappoint. She was committed to her studies, until she reached form 4 at Lycee du General Leclerc and she was preparing to write the BEPC, the French equivalent of the General Certificate of Education (GCE Ordinary level). Then she came across a native White French biology teacher at Lycee Leclerc. This White French man, who was a biology teacher, was about 40 years old and knows French-speaking Africa very well. Even though he was a staff of Lycee du General Leclerc, he was not paid by Cameroon’s ministry of National Education. He was paid by the French ministry of Cooperation and he was attached to the French ministry of National education. He was the French answer to the American Peace corp. And the French called their own expatriates sent to French-speaking Africa and some times to none French-speaking Africa: “cooperant”.

The French cooperants were very different from the American Peace Corps, who even though well paid than their Cameroonian counter parts, if they were attached to the sector of education, they led a very simple life style. But the French cooperant showed that, they were White people and rich. Hence while French cooperants especially the males were not appreciated by their Cameroonian colleagues because of their insolence, they were appreciated and adored by school girls and other women. And at the Lycee Leclerc, besides the college principal, the French White cooperant was the only member of the teaching Corp who had a brand new car. Furthermore, he was not living in the populous neighbourhoods where his colleagues were living. He was living in a residential area and his home was exuding wealth.

He had a parabolic antenna and a colour television set, both appliances that were at that time, out of reach to the majority. In addition, in his house, since he had a parabolic antenna, he received images of French television stations and never cared to watch programmes or even local news from Cameroon’s own state television station: Cameroon Radio and Television Corporation (CRTVC). More, regularly, after his lessons of biology, he invited students to his home to come and watch scientific television programmes, which were in connection with biology. And in some occasions, lucky students were asked to spend the week end. Those who were lucky to spend the week end, spent it eating French cheese, testing and even drinking French wine and all other French goodies, that only the rich and powerful in Cameroon who had the opportunity to travel to France had the privilege.

The openness or kindness of the French biology teacher transformed the students of his class at Lycee du General Leclerc. It drove them mad. And some began murmuring amongst them that, if Manteur, an ordinary secondary school teacher could lead such a prince-like life here in this difficult Cameroon, then in his native France, he must be a king who lacks nothing.