Standing with the Students tells the story of the struggle of students in
the University of Buea in the Ambazonia region of Cameroon. In response to
a proposed 100% hike in tuition the students went on strike, with the
demands to stop the tuition raise; the construction of toilets and water
fountains, and new books for the library. The government responded with
repression, and to date six students have been killed by government forces
during peaceful protests.
The documentary uses the student movement as a jumping off point to
examine the legacies of colonialism and neocolonialism in Africa, the
impact of economic globalization and the subjugation of the English
speaking Ambazonia region by the French neocolonial Cameroon Regime.
This documentary is the first film of director Valentine Eben, a member of
the Ambazonia Independent Media Center, who will be joining us to present
his film and facilitate a discussion afterwards.