By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
On a quiet Sunday morning, while many across the capital are attending church service, Stephen is just returning from what he described as a “hectic” journey.
His pallid face and cracked, dry lips tell a silent story of hardship, a burden familiar to the thousands displaced by the protracted crisis in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest Regions.
Seeking a brief respite, Stephen, an Internally Displaced Person (IDP), sat down with a neighbor, Amza, also an IDP.
As Stephen sipped cold water, the two men cast their minds back to their villages, homes they haven’t seen in nearly seven years because of the crisis.
Theirs is a common, sorrowful narrative in Yaoundé—a sense of loss tempered by the enduring hope of returning home.
“It’s been seven years that I haven’t been to the village to see my people. I feel disconnected, but there is nothing I can do,” Amza said, summarizing the IDP experience.
To Edwin, a third neighbor who joined the conversation, the future remains uncertain. “We will soon go back, but I don’t know when. I am optimistic, but sincerely, I feel totally alone,” he lamented.
The conversation shifted when Marie, another IDP, stepped in with a suggestion: attend the ongoing Bui Sports Fans Competition (BSFC). She described it as a vital gathering place that fosters a sense of community.
“I think it will be good for you and us to go and watch football matches, especially the BSFC. It will help you to divert your mind and also enable you to see longtime friends and even network,” Marie advised.
The BSFC, an annual tournament uniting sons and daughters of the Bui Division from the Northwest Region of Cameroon now scattered across the country, has rapidly evolved into a crucial psychological and social anchor.
More than just a football tournament, it has become a local nexus for networking, job searching, and, most importantly, emotional healing for the displaced population.
For many attendees, the competition serves as a powerful coping mechanism against the trauma of conflict. The sight of familiar faces and the shared passion for the game offer a temporary escape.
“Since I started attending this annual competition, it has helped me and even reduced the stress as well as the haunting pictures I have in mind concerning the ongoing crisis,” said Killian, a regular attendee.
John Mary, another IDP, highlighted the mental health benefits of the event. “Sports helps to release stress. I must say that I have been so happy attending BSFC and meeting people whom I haven’t seen since I fled the village. We have new stories to tell, and the time is never enough.”
He added that the collective celebrations and solidarity during the competition have helped him psychologically “to forget the trauma that I have been through in the hands of both the factions fighting.”
While the competition’s success in building morale is widely lauded, organizers face challenges, including securing sufficient funding and managing the logistics of hosting a large-scale event for a vulnerable population.
Still, for IDPs like Stephen, the sight of friends, the roar of the crowd, and the momentary feeling of belonging offer a necessary break from years of displacement.
Nonetheless, the simple act of cheering for a football team allows the displaced to exchange painful memories for new stories of hope and community.
According to many, the BSFC have proven that even in crisis, community and sport can provide a powerful path toward resilience. As its moto says, “community Sports for Peace and Development,” is all about BSFC.
