Exhibiting some samples of his gallery of arts works at the German Cooperation building in Yaounde Cameroon recently on the invitation of the German Development Cooperation, Gaspar Goman could not hide his exasperation that he just was not being given the recognition he deserved in his country by his home government.

“After several years in the arts and craft work, this is the first crowd pulling exhibition I was having in my own country, thanks to the invitation and recognition of the value of my works by the German Development Cooperation” Goman said.

The public was disappointingly surprised to learn that the arts decorations found in many public buildings in the economic and political capitals of Douala and Yaounde are the works of Gaspar Goman whose name hardly rings a bell in his home country because accordingly, the government has not given him the support and publicity an artists of his standing is due.

“ We have never heard about Gaspar Goman and many Cameroonians will hardly associate the beautiful arts works in some of our public buildings to his name because we don’t have a culture of recognizing heroes ,talk less talents in the area of arts and culture” says Amogou Belinda, one of the invitees to the arts exhibition event.

This unfortunate reality was corroborated by the director of the French Cultural Center in Cameroon Hubert Maheux who described the artist as exceptionally talented with his paintings among the most original in the continent, “surprisingly he is totally unknown among his contemporaries. We are saying that this is not correct and we have to correct that mistake by joining the French Cultural Center in Yaounde in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in Cameroon, the S.T Muna Foundation and the German Development Cooperation to bring this talent of exceptional quality to the lamplight.”

Explaining is exhibitions to the visitors; he said his works are a synthesis between occidental paintings of the first half of 20th century (Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso….) and the first expression of free handed African painting.

The artist accordingly excels in various artistic genres, from wood carving, pencil, water and oil painting, mosaic drawings etc. Over 27 arts work were on display at the German Cooperation building but the artist says he has in his gallery a large range of artistic works he has piled since 1972. “It is only when you enter into my gallery then you can know what I have in stock,” Goman said.

“His works are unbelievably exciting, it gives an amazing insight of the man Goman and the artists he is”, says Gerald Daraspe director of the German Development Bank KFW in Yaounde as he introduced the artists to the visitors at the exhibition hall. Like Gerald, virtually all the visitors at the exhibition were satisfied with the impressive paintings, carvings, and drawings on display which they said were testaments to his arts fingered talents. The state- of the –arts items on display many concluded epitomized the artistic glibness of the man, Goman.

Following ones dreams can be his piece of cake says a prominent Cameroon writer Bole Botake. Despite some outside negativity during the initial stages of his arts work and his abandonment by the Cameroon government, the 83 years old artist says he has no regrets following his dreams. “I must say that in spite the initial difficulties, I have no regrets having settled for my childhood dream of arts and craft as a career”, Goman said, beating his chest in pride.

According to the artist, a childhood interest in drawing and carving inherited from his father blossomed into a life-long passion and career for him. Gaspar Goman who later formally trained in Fine Arts and Plastic Arts at the Higher School of Fine Arts in Bacelona, Spain returned to Africa and settled in Guinea where he freed himself from the codes he learned in Fine Arts school, and found inspiration in the ethnographic African arts, still respecting the principles of academics.

He later moved to Yaounde where since 1972 he continued in his arts work and taught Spanish in some secondary schools in Yaounde. His proposals to the then minister of education in 1976 to post his drawings on walls in secondary schools so as to inspire young students to take interest in arts and craft work was turned down much to his disappointment he revealed.

The professional training and knowledge acquired, combined with years of hands-on craftsmanship no doubt resulted in his several state-of the arts products of Gaspar Goman.

His arts works and talents were first discovered and encouraged by French architect Armand Salomon after some decorations at the French Cultural Centre in Yaounde.

“It was Salomon who got contracts from the Cameroon government and hired my services to produce the several arts works today found in many public buildings in the ministries, public treasury buildings, Council halls, Brasseries du Cameroon building in Douala, the Afriland Bank in Yaounde and the BEAC building in Congo-Brazzaville and Cameroon,” he revealed.

He has since had support to participate in international exhibitions to show case his works in Madrid, Spain in 1992, Victoria- Spain in 1998. Unfortunately according to him, the Cameroon government has not shown any direct interest in his works not alone provided any support.

Like Goman, many Cameroon artists have felt locked-out in a country that pays little attention to arts and culture and where everyone looks up to the government public service for employment. This situation accordingly has certainly knocked out the shine off many budding talents in this domain such that it maybe hard to fathom the economic effects of this unfortunate neglect.

Many observers believe that the organization of yearly national exhibitions and contest may bring an end to the gloomy forebodings in the arts and culture field and bring some hope to the many budding artists huffing and puffing in the backyard.

Efforts then by the French Cultural Center, the Spanish Embassy in Yaounde-Cameroon, the Ben Muna Foundation and the German Development Cooperation to redeem the abandoned arts and craft talent Gaspar Goman, it is hoped, might prompt the Cameroon government to rethink about the future of arts and culture in the country especially in the area of recognizing and supporting both budding and distinguished talents.