If there is one theme in the context of the
conservation of onomastic heritage which to rely on, it is undoubtedly
toponyms. Indeed, toponymy comes from the Latin word topos which means place and from the Greek onoma which means name. It is the science which studies the names
of places. As a science, toponymy is subdivided into several sub-branches and
is an important source of knowledge of the past and the preservation of the
memory of people. They constitute not only a very precious base of information
which must be preserved, but also a spatial mark of the culture of the people
occupying or having occupied a given space. In France, the French-speaking
division of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names was
created with the adoption of resolution I/7, by the Seventh United Nations
Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names. This should be applied
in North of Cameroon, because actions must be facilitated with UNESCO in the
sustainability of the intangible cultural heritage, including toponyms. They
are oral tradition in the Far-North and must be recorded in their entirety,
preserved and capitalized. In addition, toponyms have an obvious identity
stake, because the name conveys the appropriation of identity. But,
geographical names are also among the most fragile cultural phenomena, because
of their intangible and still very often oral character. In this sense,
toponyms must occupy a prominent place in the development process. They are loaded
with historical, religious and cosmogonic values. To what extent should
toponyms in Far-North Cameroon cultural heritage be preserved? Are they
vestiges of an identity or political assertion with regard to current changes?
References
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