Paper long abstract:

Since Cameroon’s independence, the socio-economic and political dynamics within the country have played a pivotal role in shaping the "diasporization" of several ethnic groups, with the Bamiléké community of the West Region emerging as a dominant force within the contemporary Cameroonian diaspora. A sociological examination of this diaspora reveals that the ethnicization of the political landscape, coupled with systemic socioeconomic marginalization and governance policies enacted over the past several decades, has significantly propelled the diasporic movements of this community. This paper offers a critical exploration of the transformative nature of mobility within the Bamiléké diaspora, analyzing how migration practices have evolved in tandem with shifts in the socio-political and economic landscape of Cameroon. The paper traces the historical trajectory of Bamiléké migration, spanning from the forced labor conditions during the colonial period to the voluntary diaspora movements observed in the post-independence era. Furthermore, the paper contextualizes the migration patterns of Bamiléké within the broader framework of the 1980s economic crisis and the subsequent political climate of the 1990s, which reshaped migration routes and presented both challenges and new opportunities for the diaspora. These mobility shifts are not framed merely as crises; rather, they are understood as adaptive responses to the evolving socio-political environment. The study asserts that migration should be recognized as an essential, ongoing aspect of human life and flourishing, particularly in the Global South, rather than as a mere consequence of crisis or a problem to be managed.