- On the outskirts of Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, members of the local Yanda community say the construction of a large multisports complex has left them without their traditional forest lands, where their ancestors were buried.
- The forest previously provided Yanda families with trees, plants and animals for their food and medicine.
- The land, they say, was razed for the construction of the Paul Biya Omnisports Complex, which hosted the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations; today, the stadium stands empty.
- The Yanda community is asking the government for compensation, but the people have no formal titles to their ancestral lands — a common problem for traditional communities in similar situations seeking land rights or compensation for their eviction.
OLEMBÉ, Cameroon — About 10 kilometers (6.3 miles) north of the Cameroon capital of Yaoundé, local members of the Yanda community say the construction of a stadium has resulted in the clearing of their ancestral forest, depriving roughly 600 people — 52 families — of their land and their means of livelihood. Announced as a major project to modernize Cameroon’s sports infrastructure, the Yanda say the construction quickly turned into a tragedy for their community.
The forest, once a source of food for the Yanda people, was razed to the ground, locals say, wiping out their cultural and economic landmarks. A decade later, the people are still awaiting payment from the government, which they say should total 3 billion CAF francs (nearly $5 million today) in compensation for the loss of almost 150 hectares (370 acres). Now, as the Paul Biya Omnisports Stadium struggles to fulfill its economic promises and runs on empty, members of the Yanda community continue to clamor for what they view is long overdue justice.
The Yanda are among more than 250 traditional ethnic groups and subgroups in Cameroon. The community had been settled in Olembé for generations, living in harmony with their environment. Their forest, which was not known by any formal name, provided them with most everything they needed: food, natural remedies and a culturally significant living space. Among the plant species essential to their daily lives were the iroko (Milicia excelsa), moabi (Baillonella toxisperma Pierre) and sapele (Meliaceae), trees precious for their medicinal properties and their wood. The forest also abounded in wild species such as the palm weevil and pangolin, which had been major sources of protein for families (though pangolin hunting was banned in 2017). Fruit picking, such as plums and wild mangoes, often punctuated the seasons.
But then, everything changed. The government announced an ambitious project: the construction of complex housing a 60,000-seat stadium designed to modernize the country’s sports infrastructure with spaces for football, tennis and swimming as well as concerts and other events. Residents say the project, meant to stimulate the local economy and attract international events,