Born in Montréal, to parents from Cameroon.
I was titled a Canadian national, with roots in Africa too.
Cameroonian-Canadian, that was me.
The colours green, red, yellow and white stand out in glee.
For Cameroon, also known as “Africa in Miniature,”
Its three flag colours hold a meaning, so pure.
Meanings that connect deeply to the country, for sure.
Here is the significance of green, red, and yellow I can assure:
Green is for the southern rainforests that continue to be dwelled in,
While yellow is for the sun that shines so bright as it seeps into our melanin,
And red is for the people, our unity, the community that can be found in…
The country I can determine as the start of my origin.
As my parents transcended borders, crossing from Cameroon to Canada,
They found a new country to reside in, one where they could build anew.
In all honesty, the significance of red and white serves as a symbol,
Not only for Canada, but for the opportunity my parents took — young and nimble.
Red is for sacrifice, while white is for peace.
In leaving their country my parents made a choice,
To sacrifice the comfort of their home
For the peace of mind to be able to gain something more.
Now that encapsulates their journey, in crossing borders from Cameroon to Canada.
As for me, after taking a trip to Cameroon in 2025
I made a discovery, or in better words, I was confronted with a reality.
This visit was meant to spark more beyond a swift hi and goodbye.
Instead, it served as a sign off, not to my parents, but to me.
As the first to be fully educated from birth to adulthood in North America
I now served as a symbol, but more so as a testament.
A testament to my parents’ perseverance despite the challenges they faced in a new space,
And to my grandparents who instilled the confidence for them to venture out in the first place.
I embodied a fusion between the colours of green, red, yellow and white,
As I was the final product, one of the many results of their journey from Cameroon to Canada.
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