Martin Jumbam

The Interchange between the flesh and the word: The dialogue between medicine and literature in Africa

By Martin Jumbam

INTRODUCTION
From July 29 through August 3, 1985, the then University Centre for Health Sciences, the School of Medicine of the University of Yaounde, more commonly referred to by its French acronym “CUSS,” organised a seminar entitled “National Seminar on Sterility” in Yaounde.

A cursory glance at the list of participants revealed an impressive array of disciplines that had come together to find solutions to one of those paradoxes developing countries, like Cameroon, face: on the one hand, a disturbing explosion in the population growth rate, and, on the other hand, pockets of sterility in certain parts of the country which our pro-natalist government views with grave concern.

"A Light Suddenly Shone on Me" by Martin Jumbam

Foreward by Father Humphrey Tatah Mbuy (Bamenda Archdiocese)

Christian literature is not common; this is even less so when the author is a lay member of Christ’s faithful. A few years ago, Martin Jumbam’s spiritual experiences made a remarkable impact on the readers of Cameroon Panorama, an indication that the days are far gone when anything Christian was only seen and heard from the perspective of the clergy. Now collectively entitled A Light Suddenly Shone on Me, Martin’s two essays – “I Marched with Christian Cardinal Tumi” and A Week with the Cistercian Monks” – are an encouraging sign that the Church is basically the “Community of Christ’s Faithful”, each with the right and obligation to evangelise.