The U.S. Embassy, represented by Ambassador Lamora, participated in the Yaoundé International Book Fair 2025, highlighting its commitment to cultural and educational diplomacy in Cameroon.
Ambassador Lamora expressed his connection to literature by sharing a personal anecdote about his family history: "All of you already know that my last name is Lamora. But what you may not know is that my great-grandparents came to the United States from Quebec, Canada, where they were French speakers and their last name was 'Lamoureux.' I’m sharing this little piece of our family history because, although we’re no longer called that, I still consider myself a true 'amoureux' … of books."
He recalled his early diplomatic career in Douala in 1992 and how he sought to understand Cameroon through its literature. His first exposure was Mongo Beti's "The Poor Christ of Bomba," which provided insights into Cameroon’s colonial past. This led him to explore more works like "Cruel City" by the same author and Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart," as well as Ralph Ellison's "The Invisible Man." These books explore themes such as resistance, identity, and emancipation.
Emphasizing reading's role in education and innovation, Ambassador Lamora stated: "I want to emphasize the importance of reading as a tool for education, emancipation, and innovation. It opens doors to new ideas, opportunities, and perspectives."
The Peace Corps program was highlighted for its contribution since 1962 by sending volunteers as teachers to rural schools in Cameroon. Access challenges due to cost or infrastructure were acknowledged with encouragement to utilize American Spaces across Cameroon offering free access to resources like eLibraryUSA.
Attendees were invited to visit the U.S. booth at the fair for educational resources and discussions on various topics including American history and democracy.
Concluding his remarks with enthusiasm for reading at any age, Ambassador Lamora said: “Reading is a lifelong journey! I’ll be 56 in a few months but every time I open a book I learn.”
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