by Arison Tamfu, Wang Ze
YAOUNDE, April 15 (Xinhua) -- As early morning light touched Cameroon's capital Yaounde, Francky Mpando was already up, bustling around in his shop.
For the craftsman who specializes in sculpting elephants and horses, the art of shaping stones and wood into various forms has become not only a passion but a long-standing family tradition.
At the heart of Yaounde stands the imposing Reunification Monument, built in the 1970s to commemorate the reunification of Cameroon, which had been divided during the colonial era.
Today, the towering sculpture is widely seen as a visual representation of the country's past, present and future in unity. Mpando's late father Gedeon Mpando is credited with constructing this landmark.
"My father was gifted in art," the 45-year-old recalled. "In the past, authorities wanted to construct a monument that would relay the message of one and indivisible Cameroon. So the monument was constructed to remind Cameroonians that we are all brothers."
In a country with over 250 ethnic groups, two official languages, and regions still healing from conflict, art is unifying people in peace across cultures and generations.
From the streets of Yaounde to the galleries of the commercial hub of Douala, art has become a quiet diplomat for unity, development and peace in the central African nation.
Artworks are spotted along streets and in shops across the country, turning everyday walks into open-air gallery visits.
"Art is a source of life; it is the beginning and the end. It is also the reflection of the future and shows us how we should live in the future," said Thierry Mejia, whose paintings were displayed along a street in Yaounde.
Elise Sidonie Fotso, who runs an art gallery in the capital, said that she prioritizes color in her artworks to portray joy and peace.
Her paintings depict people drumming and dancing to traditional Cameroonian music. "People from all (Cameroonian) cultures will find themselves in my paintings," said the 45-year-old widow, who learned how to paint from her late husband. "Painting drives away stress; it is a therapy."
In the English-speaking Southwest region, devastated by a protracted separatist conflict, Sebastian Enow is using art as a powerful tool to influence perceptions and bring peace and reconciliation to communities torn apart by the conflict.
He has been creating art for about three decades. "Art is so powerful it brings divided communities together, and through art, generations to come can understand well how we lived," the 65-year-old said.
He said people displaced by the conflict often come to his art gallery and gaze at his works with admiration and wonder. "My paintings show the dark side of the conflict. So, when they gaze at my works, they feel sad or happy depending on the situation. For many, it is some sort of therapy," Enow said.
As Cameroon marks World Art Day on Wednesday, Mpando hopes that the value of creativity and the richness of artistic works will continue to have a positive impact on society. ■
