Our Work with La’akam
In 2022, an organization called La’akam reached out to the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. La’akam was founded by descendants of survivors of the atrocities committed against the Bamileke in Cameroon from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, and in January 2023 they were seeking support for the third annual commemoration of the mass killings of their people.
In response, HCP staff advised the commemoration’s planners, connected them with then—Chatham University genocide studies professor Dr. Julia Barnes, and sent second-generation Holocaust survivors Debbie Steuber and Rebecca Jacobson to speak at the commemoration about resilience and healing.
The connection between our communities was immediate. There are powerful parallels between the Bamileke and Jewish stories in the 20th century. Antisemitism and Bamiphobia thrive on the power of conspiracy theories that suggest Jewish and Bamileke people hurt the societies in which they live. Both groups have had to overcome the stigma and shame of being targeted as a people.
The relationship between the Holocaust Center and La’akam has only deepened since then. A core group of descendants of survivors led by Debbie, Rebecca, and Adi Rapport have continued to meet with their Bamileke colleagues. In the fall of 2023, HCP staff supported Dr. Barnes and Chatham University undergraduates to create the first-ever recorded oral testimony of survivors of the mass killings of the Bamileke people.
In January 2024, HCP sent a Jewish communal delegation to La’akam’s fourth annual commemoration and coordinated for survivors of the October 27th, 2018 synagogue shooting to be presented with 11 memorial stones to honor the memories of those who were killed.
In March 2024, we held a joint program with members of the Bamileke and Generations groups.
In August 2024, we hosted a public program introducing the Holocaust Center’s audience to the Bamileke people and their story.
Today, we continue to support La’akam in their journey towards healing and recognition.
The Opportunity Fund generously awarded a grant to the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and La’akam to continue our partnership with each other and to support La’akam’s annual conference and commemorative program.