The dividends of environmental protection

Ayang Frederick Enoh discusses the struggle of a traditional chief to get his subjects plant trees.

Climate change and efforts to safeguard the environment from further degradation remain topical in all parts of the world today.

Thus, Lieutenant Colonel Ayang Frederick Enoh’s drama piece, “Green Hills,” revisits the urgent need to ensure environmental protection against a backdrop of entrenched traditional hunting and farming practices that entail the burning of bushes.

Probably drawing inspiration from the 1992 UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the military officer, playwright and actor, makes use of popular theatre to conscientise and move community people to action.

“A soldier has the judicious task of protecting the land; a writer also has the arduous tasks of protecting the land by creating works that advance the visions and ideals of his or her respective community,” writes Dr Joyce Ashuntantang in the foreword.

“One of the major crises of our times is the awareness that we need to protect our environment or else it will not be able to sustain us in the foreseeable future,” she adds.

In the story, a traditional chief or Fon - a man of consensus - does not dictate solutions to the problems of environmental degradation to his subjects.

As a result of ignorance, some people suggest offering sacrifices to ancestors to resolve the problem. However, Joseph, a 25-year-old lad who has studied in the West, joins in the Fon’s crusade by warning against the advent of the desert if nothing is done. He thus recommends tree planting and putting an end to bush fires.

The Fon quickly endorses the proposal, but other people raise the question of what to do with hunting without setting bushes ablaze. The Fon then calls a town hall meeting to discuss the issue.

The well-informed, Western-trained traditional chief is also against wife battery and supports cholera and HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.

Thus, environmental and social issues are of great concern to the people of Chubuh, Mbon and Contry communities. The Fon however lists the benefits of tree planting, thereby succeeding in convincing his subjects.

David Chuye Bunyui, the Station Manager, CRTV Buea and international theatre award winner, says of the play: “Many development projects have failed because the education and sensitisation components were ignored. ‘Green Hills’ is a warning never to ignore these factors.

It is also a clarion call to a bottom-to-top approach to development.” Suh-Nfor Tangyie, a GCE Advanced Level Literature in English Chief Examiner and theatre practitioner notes that: “‘Green Hills’ handles the contemporary issues of environmental degradation and global warming in a hilarious and action-packed fashion.

Apparent digressions only enliven readers/audiences, which is invaluable for the didactic intent.”