About the author
Hans M. Fonka holds a PhD in Sociolinguistics from the University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon. He is a lecturer and coordinator of English in the Department of English at The University of Bamenda. His research interests focus on Contact Languages, especially Pidgins and Creoles (Cameroon Pidgin Creole), Language Learning, Language and Communication, Spoken English, and Varieties of English.
He has several publications as book chapters and articles in national and international Journals. As a literary mind, Fonka taught literature in secondary and high schools prior to his recruitment in the University. His interest in creative writing can be seen in his poems published in Songs for Tomorrow: Cameroon Poetry in English. This is his maiden poetry collection in Cameroon Pidgincreole.
Dei don Breik
Book category: Language/poetry
Number of pages: 79
Year of publication: 2024
ISBN: 978-9956 -30-720-3
In this multi-thematically and ideologically rich collection of poems in Cameroon Pidgin English, Hans Fonka represents, through apt imagery a society that dabbles with issues of double standard, corruption, deceit, political vampirism, religious fanatism amongst others.
Dei Don Breik combines both literary and linguistic genres as Fonka uses one of the most widely used, yet the least orthographically developed Cameroonian language to penetrate all the segments of society. By using Pidgin, he fosters and strengthens the view that Cameroon Pidgin English has a writing system that can be used for artistic ventures. Shaped by the poet’s experience, Dei Don Breik paints a deplorable post independence Cameroon marked by crises resulting to man’s insensitivity to human plight. The poet’s use of subtle satire is meant to provoke a sense of consciousness in the various actors in society.
Prof Ngong Toh Kelvin - The University of Bamenda