THE TELEVISION CULTURE
The appearance in 1985 of television in Cameroon was an overwhelming event. The broadcast of the CPDM congress in Bamanda was the first images Cameroon had on its screens. This marked the birth of the Cameroon television (CTV) , which was coming along to shaken the established habits of many Cameroonians; bringing in the "television culture" to the people. This was an imported cultural trait to our cultures. Thus, the Bakossi even gave it a name in their maternal language, defining a TV set as "ntièu é ndengue-ndengue, meaning the "shadow box". Like most Cameroonian cultures, they saw the television ( TV ) as a reflection of the human shadow.
Television was an emancipating tool for many Cameroonians. It permitted many to have a different vision of the world. Seeing what's happening elsewhere, how people behaved, their ways of acting and feeling which greatly influences ours.
Nowadays, we're subjected to a great variety of TV channels with world wide coverage. Editorial lines vary from informative channels to sports, educative, cultural, pornographic and leisure channels.
Television has further become a social ill in our society. We grab and digest all what's shown on TV screens. It's inconceivable that in a country whose legislation kicks against homosexuality for example, we find TV channels such as MTV portraying homosexual scenes. This is disgusting and degrades our value as human beings. The more children watch such programmes, the more such practices become normal and are inscribed in our sub consciences such that some are encouraged to test them and others harbour a lukewarm attitude over it.
Television is out primarily for informative and educative purposes. It's an efficient tool for the canalisation of the minds of the youths. Something can be done to put our youths on the right path. TV is not just to watch R.Kelly, Beyonce , 50 Cents and company. Its also documentaries, information (which is primordial when living in the 21st century) and educative oriented shows. Every youth should be responsible when watching TV. 40% of our TV time should be used in watching what you feel will contribute in the realisation of your professional and social dream; 30% for information around the globe and 30% for leisure. Respecting these TV rules will give an impetus to an emergence in society. A word for a wise is sufficient…
Some youths watching an educative TV program projected by Jeuneration Sud
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