Journalists, academics, religious leaders, social workers, communication professionals and other community stakeholders have been urged to use language that promotes peace, unity and mutual respect as Cameroon continues to grapple with social divisions and conflict.
The call was made during a two-day training workshop on linguistic civility organized by the Emerald Communications and Social Science Research Center in Bamenda. The event took place at the Nkwen Baptist Center in Bamenda, Mezam Division, in the North West Region from October 16 to 17, 2026.
The workshop brought together participants from diverse professional, cultural, and social backgrounds to examine how language can either strengthen relationships and promote peaceful coexistence, or fuel hatred, division, and violence.
Organizers said the initiative was designed to address hate speech by encouraging people to disagree without resorting to insults, intimidation or language that undermines the dignity of others.
The initiative was conceived against a backdrop of growing societal divisions. According to Dr. Emmanuel Bah Tokoh, a communication and language expert and the CEO of the Emerald Communications and Social Science Research Center, these divisions span ideological, political, religious, and cultural lines.
He explained that although conflicts may be rooted in marginalization, economic inequality, political rivalry and unemployment, language often becomes the means through which these tensions are expressed and intensified. According to him, bringing people from different backgrounds together to acquire linguistic civility tools offers an opportunity to change how disagreements are handled in public and private spaces.
The goal, Dr. Emmanuel Bah Tokoh said, is to promote a society in which people can engage with one another respectfully despite their differences. The distinguished senior journalist noted that the training was not limited to journalists and media practitioners.
Community leaders, religious leaders, public speakers, social media influencers, content creators, teachers and social workers were also involved because of their influence on public opinion and community relations.
He said the workshop also provided an opportunity for academics and researchers working on language and conflict to translate their research findings into practical action. One of the resolutions adopted at the end of the training, he disclosed, was to extend the program beyond Bamenda to other parts of Cameroon, subject to the availability of financial resources.
Dr. Bah Tokoh said the organizers intended to work with grassroots development actors, politicians and other opinion leaders to promote responsible communication across the country.
Language Can Build or Destroy Nations
Prof. Confidence Ngam, a lecturer at the University of Bamenda, highlighted the role of language in shaping national identity, unity and stability. In his presentation, he examined how language can create a sense of belonging, strengthen social cohesion and inspire people to work towards common goals. He also warned that irresponsible language can deepen divisions and contribute to the breakdown of societies.
Drawing lessons from African experiences, including Rwanda and Nigeria, he stressed the importance of understanding how divisive rhetoric can contribute to conflict and human suffering. Prof. Ngam encouraged participants to recognize that nation-building is not the sole responsibility of government officials.
Ordinary citizens also have a role to play through their daily interactions and the words they use. He cautioned against expressions that label fellow citizens as outsiders or suggest that they do not belong to the same national community.
For him, linguistic civility should become part of everyday life, helping Cameroonians recognize one another as members of the same society regardless of their backgrounds. He also called on Christians to take a leading role in promoting hope, reconciliation and social cohesion, while rejecting tribalism, nepotism and favouritism.
Religious and Community Leaders Urged to Use Their Platforms Responsibly
Dr. Talah Bernard, a teacher and researcher, focused on Pulpit Language Ethics, drawing attention to the influence of religious leaders and other public speakers. He argued that the concept of the pulpit extends beyond churches to every platform from which a person exercises influence over others.
According to him, leaders and public speakers must understand the responsibility that comes with their positions and ensure that their words build people rather than manipulate, exploit or destroy them. He warned that the misuse of authority through public speaking can lead people to make harmful decisions, abandon educational opportunities or fall victim to exploitation.
Dr. Bernard urged participants to be more conscious of how they communicate, particularly when addressing people who may be less willing or able to challenge someone in a position of authority. He also encouraged listeners to question messages that appear manipulative rather than accepting everything said by influential people without reflection.
“Power without ethics is equal to disaster,” he stressed, calling for greater accountability in the use of language.
He maintained that communication should be guided by ethical principles that protect people’s dignity and help prevent conflict.
Tackling Violence through Responsible Communication
For Nsono Josophine Nweimalu, one of the participants and Founding Coordinator of the PEARL Foundation, Child Protection Specialist and gender-based violence advocate, the workshop provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of communication in preventing harm, particularly within families, churches and intimate relationships.
She linked the importance of linguistic civility to concerns about femicide and violence against women and girls in Cameroon. Nweimalu said the training reinforced the need for individuals to examine their own reactions and become more deliberate in how they communicate when tensions arise.
She encouraged participants to use language that is respectful and does not dismiss another person's views or experiences. She also emphasized the importance of listening without rushing to judge or condemn others.
According to her, people can express their opinions without insisting that their own perspectives are the only valid ones. She said this approach could help reduce tensions and prevent disagreements from escalating into situations where violence becomes a possibility.
Sports Sector Also Needs Linguistic Civility
Dr. Animbom Helon, a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education and Animation at the University of Bamenda, described the workshop as timely, saying the discussions had revealed the need for people to address issues they may previously have struggled to express.
He said the lessons had already prompted him to reconsider how he communicates with his students and how he could promote more respectful interactions in the sports sector. Dr. Animbom pointed out that tensions can arise between coaches and athletes, players and sports administrators, as well as between supporters and other stakeholders.
He expressed the hope that participants would take the lessons beyond the training room and share them with people in their respective fields. He also called on the organizers to make future editions more inclusive by reaching people at the grassroots, including footballers, motorcycle taxi riders and other groups whose daily interactions can sometimes lead to disputes. He said extending the program to these communities could help improve relationships and reduce unnecessary conflict.
Health Communicators Called to Consider the Impact of Their Words
Clementina Njang Yong, Head of Communication at CBC Health Services, said linguistic civility was particularly relevant to communication professionals because the way information is presented can influence relationships and public behaviour. She stressed that communicators must consider not only the truth of their messages but also how those messages are delivered and the possible consequences for their audiences.
Referring to the lessons drawn from the Rwandan genocide during the workshop, she underscored the dangers of communication that fuels hatred rather than encouraging peaceful coexistence.
Njang Yong said communication should serve a constructive purpose and should not be driven by hidden motives or used to cause unnecessary harm. She also highlighted the importance of responsible language in health communication, warning that poorly delivered information can affect people's emotional and psychological well-being.
In workplaces, families and communities, she urged people to think carefully before speaking and consider how their words might affect colleagues, children, neighbours and other members of society. She called on communicators and ordinary citizens alike to make peaceful communication a daily practice.
Taking the Message beyond the Workshop
The Bamenda training sought to encourage participants to apply the principles and techniques of linguistic civility in their workplaces, homes, religious institutions, professional associations and online interactions.
By bringing together people with different experiences and perspectives, the Chief Executive Officer of Emerald Communications hopes to create a wider network of advocates for respectful communication and peaceful coexistence.
The planned expansion of the program to other parts of Cameroon will depend on available resources, but Dr. Emmanuel Bah Tokoh said they remained committed to taking the message to more communities.
The central message emerging from the two-day workshop was that language is not merely a means of expressing opinions. It can shape relationships, influence public attitudes and either deepen divisions or help build a more inclusive society.
For the participants, the challenge now is to put those lessons into practice, ensuring that disagreements do not become grounds for hatred and that communication serves as a tool for understanding, unity and peace.
#Laarry Times
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