Cameroon, a pioneer in public speaking in Africa and the French-speaking world

Figure 1 – Cameroon National Oratory Team 2019 – Ouagadougou

Along with Rwanda, Cameroon was one of the first French-speaking countries in Africa to take part in a global public speaking competition in English (WUDC 2010, Gaborone, Botswana). Cameroon’s national public speaking umbrella organisation, the Cameroon Debate Association, was founded in 2009 in the town of Dschang, at least four years before the birth of the French Debate Federation ‘’Fédération Française de Débat (FFD)’’. The Cameroon National Oratory Team (ENOC 237) will represent Cameroon at the 1st Diaspora African Debate Academy (Accra, September 2024) and the ‘’3ème Rencontres Internationales de Débat et d’Eloquence Francophone’’ 3rd International Debate and Eloquence Event (Paris, October 2024) as part of the XIXth Francophonie Summit.

Our achievements

Figure 2 – 2nd and 3rd prize at the Pan-African Moot Court Competition in Lagos
  • Nigeria2009 : Cameroon, 2nd and 3rd prizes in the Pan-African Moot Court Competition in
  • Botswana 2010 : Cameroon, the first French-speaking African country to take part in the WUDC.
  • Zimbabwe 2011: Cameroon, silver medal in Public Speaking, continental championship, PAUDC. Germany 2012: Cameroon, Bronze medal in Public Speaking, World Championship in English
  • Egypt 2013-2015: CDA, Scholarship from the ‘’Université de la Francophonie’’, Professional management training for one of its members
  • Belgium 2015: CDA/RIPAO, winner of the 2nd World Forum on the French Language (Liège) thanks to the transmedia project for secondary schools Africa Gawlo.
  • Egypt 2015-2017: CDA, Scholarship from the Université de la Francophonie, Professional training in Management for one of its members. First master thesis on public speaking and media in Africa.
  • Ghana 2016: CDA, Winner of the Ashoka Foundation International Prize for the 100 best social innovation projects in the world, Africa Gawlo Project.
  • France 2017: Cameroon, Vice-Champion of the world of eloquence and parliamentary debate at the University of Paris-Sorbonne
  • Burkina-Faso 2019: Cameroon, Participation in the 4th edition of the Pan-African Debates Cup supported by the First Ladies of sub-Saharan Africa, COPAD.
  • Cameroon 2019: Start of collaboration with the French Embassy in Cameroon, setting up of the PARADE humanitarian project, which has become a humanitarian association.
  • Cameroon 2020: 1st Prize for Social Innovation thanks to the MBURUKU digital project, a digital platform for participatory financing and an integral part of the PARADE project
  • Cameroon 2021: Start of collaboration with the Crisis and Support Centre of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, via the French Embassy in Cameroon. Phase 2 of the PARADE humanitarian project.
  • Cameroon 2022: Start of collaboration with German Cooperation in Cameroon through the establishment of the PADIC development project.
  • Cameroon 2023: Establishment of the very first plant to process cassava tubers into by-products in the Municipality of Dschang, thanks to collaboration with GIZ.
  • Ghana 2024: Participation in the 1ère African Diaspora Debate Academy, Morehouse College & Debaters Without Borders, Accra, September 2024
  • France 2024: Participation in the 3rd International Francophone Debate and Eloquence, Paris, October 2024

Upcoming international meetings

As soon as possible, Cameroon would like to host at least five (05) international meetings a year in various oratory disciplines. Tours are also planned to historic countries such as Egypt, France and the USA, with which Cameroon has maintained special relations.

Our main requirements for international competitions are:

  • Provision of three (03) training courses per year for 20 participants who are members of the Cameroon National Oratory Team (NOC 237)
  • Coverage of 20 plane tickets/year
  • International hosting
  • Transport & catering in the host country
  • Visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Free medical check-ups and health insurance for coaches, speakers and technical staff
  • Audio-visual logistics for documentary productions
  • Equipment for the national team
  • Documentation and miscellaneous supplies (dictionaries, encyclopaedias, specialised dictionaries, computers, dictaphones, etc.)
  • Scholarships for the best speakers so that they can continue after the competitions in the best study conditions in Cameroon or elsewhere, if necessary.
  • Financing the social projects of the best ENOC winners 237
  • And so on.

If you would like to support us in any way, please contact us by phone/WhatApp +237 676 23 95 06/ 671 67 47 43/ 698 94 87 99 and/or by email at cocam@debatecameroon.org , office@debatecameroon.org with « SPONSORING COCAM 2025 » in the subject line.