[Faces of Domuni] Daniel Anatole Nkala

26 august 2026

[EPISODE 14] – Daniel Anatole NKALA

Studying to understand better, understanding to serve better

A priest in Ntui, Cameroon, Daniel Anatole Nkala completed a Master of Arts 2 in Philosophy with the desire to pursue his education, but also to address a question that is particularly close to his heart: the recognition of marginalized populations.

A background already rich in theology and philosophy

Before joining Domuni, I had already obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Theology as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. My educational background was closely connected to my priestly vocation: I had completed my initial formation with a view to becoming a priest, and I had been exercising my ministry for nine years.

As the parish priest of a large parish located in a rural area, however, I wanted to continue my reflection and deepen my intellectual formation, so I pursued a Master of Arts 2 in Philosophy.

I felt, in fact, that there was a certain gap in my pastoral ministry. This is what encouraged me to resume my studies, in order to complete what was missing from my formation and enrich my pastoral experience.

For me, therefore, studies are not separate from my pastoral commitment. On the contrary, they enable me to better understand the human realities I encounter on a daily basis and to deepen the way in which I accompany those who are entrusted to me.

Choosing Domuni for distance learning

I chose Domuni because I saw that it was run by the Dominicans and, knowing their seriousness, I knew that my expectations would be met.

The possibility of distance learning was also decisive for me. This format enabled me to reconcile my studies with my pastoral responsibilities, without having to give up either one.

The scholarship I was awarded also facilitated my access to this programme.

I experienced online education as a genuine discovery, but above all with great joy. I appreciated being able to study peacefully while continuing to carry out my mission as the parish priest of a large parish in a rural area.

A programme characterized by academic rigour

For me, the main strengths of my experience at Domuni were the courses, seminars, examinations, and above all the writing of my Master’s thesis.

These different stages required rigour and a genuine personal commitment, but they also enabled me to make progress in the way I think and conduct academic research.

If I had to sum up my experience at Domuni in a single word, it would be “seriousness.”

This word corresponds to the image I had of the Dominican academic tradition and to what I actually discovered throughout my studies.

Research devoted to the recognition of Pygmy populations

My Master’s thesis enabled me to connect my philosophical education with a social reality that is particularly close to my heart in Cameroon.

I worked on the recognition of a group of people who constitute a minority and marginalized ethnic group in southern Cameroon, commonly referred to as “Pygmies.” My objective was to reflect on their recognition and on ways of combating the forms of marginalization and mistreatment to which these populations may be subjected.

I situated this reflection within the framework of the philosophy of recognition and multiculturalism, taking the experience of Quebec as one of my main points of reference.

Two authors particularly informed my reflection: Charles Taylor, whose work on recognition has profoundly influenced contemporary political philosophy, and Nancy Fraser, who has developed major reflections on justice, recognition, and representation. Their work enabled me to examine the notions of recognition, justice, and the place accorded to minority groups within society.

The central question of my work was the following: can human beings be denied recognition because of their belonging to a minority group? And, if this is unacceptable, what can we do to achieve the full recognition of the Pygmy populations of southern Cameroon?

Through this research, I wanted to show that philosophical reflection can be directly connected to the realities experienced by populations and can contribute to questioning situations of injustice and exclusion.

Studying to understand better, understanding to serve better

My experience at Domuni enabled me to pursue my studies while remaining fully committed to my pastoral mission. From Ntui, I was able to deepen my knowledge, develop my research skills, and gain greater perspective on certain human and social realities that I encounter in my ministry.

For me, this opportunity for distance learning represents a genuine asset: it makes it possible to continue one’s education without having to set aside one’s responsibilities.

I therefore take away from my experience at Domuni an experience of seriousness, discovery, and joy, but also the conviction that studies can have a genuine impact on the way we serve others.

My journey has been marked by one word: seriousness. But also by one conviction: to study in order to understand better, and to understand in order to serve better.