When Journalists Become "Players"

When Journalists  Become "Players"

In sports, football, as the count down to this year's World Press Freedom Day, coming up on the 3rd of May 2019 narrows, journalists in the North West region have been carrying out several activities in the build up to the D-day.

Since last Wednesday, radio spots on press freedom, peace journalism, conflict deescalation and other societal issues have continuously been playing on the airwaves of many radio stations in Bamenda and environs. Social media banners on same subjects are also being circulated across several platforms.

Nji Nelson Chefor, Team Captain of CCMN

Yesterday Friday, a workshop with station managers, publishers and bloggers on "Content Building, Branding and Marketing" was held at Church Centre, Ntamulung, involving close to 30 participants after which some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bamenda were also reached out to with humanitarian aide that was mostly made up of foodstuffs.

Today, Saturday April 27th 2019, an interesting friendly football encounter took place on the Big Mankon  Stadium pitting the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) North West chapter against the Cameroon Community Media Network (CCMN) North West and West Chapter. Throughout the encounter, spectators kept 'killing' themselve with laughter as they watched the unfolding drama on the field.

This Reporter After the Match

Both sides went for half time on a 0-0 scoreline situation but upon resumption for the second half, barely 15 minutes into action, CCMN's Ndasi Gilbert (9 shirt) got possession of the ball around the 18m box of CAMASEJ and with no obstruction, netted the first goal. It was petitioned by many CAMASEJANs to have been scored from an offside position but the central  referee that has the final say in every encounter validated the goal, in compliance with his two linesmen.

The much fun in the encounter was brought about by the calibre of players on the field: Bakah Derick (The Guardian Post) doubling as N.W chapter president of the Cameroon Journalist's Trade Union (CJTU), Ambe Macmillian (CAMASEJ N.W chapter president), Akumbom Elvis (Makati News), Choves Loh (Cameroon Tribune) Nfor Francis (MIDENO), Forkum Emmanuel (City FM) Gnoukapasi Martial (Afrique Nouvel Radio), Nji Nelson Chefor (Rush FM), Ndi Tsembom Elvis (FECAFOOT N.W S.G) Mokum Thomas, Neba Jerome, Musi Waa, Ojong Stephen and a host of others including this reporter.

Joyrnalists Brandishing Guinness Products

At the blast of the final whistle, the scoreline situation remained unchanged and so CCMN carried the day with CAMASEJ producing the man of the match through its goalkeeper, Akumbom Elvis. As the match ended, all cornered themselves at one angle of the field to listen to a peace talk that was presented by Mokum Njouny Nelson, Station Manager of Foundation Radio and Board member of CCMN, the sponsor of the match.

From the field of play, the next point of convergence was at the CAMASEJ usual meeting ground, Milano Restaurant for a common bite and drink. Here, the N.W Chapter president of CAMASEJ used the opportunity to on behalf of all  journalists in the region, sincerely appreciate all individuals and institutions that have positively responded to appeal letters they received from the organising committee of WPFD 2019 in Bamenda. He particularly thanked MTN Cameroon that provided a set of jerseys, stockings and two footballs to CAMASEJ N.W and FECAFOOT N.W that provided match officials. He also appreciated Guinness Cameroon that made available several crates of Origin and Malta Guinness, some of the company's brands for the journalists to always keep their throats wet.

CAMASEJ-N.W F.C

Surprisingly, before returning home, both players and other colleagues that simply watched the match went back home with a match bonus of 2000F each, thanks to CCMN, the match sponsor.

All attention is now turned towards Blue Pearl Hotel, Nkwen Bamenda where celebrations shall take place come Friday the 3rd of May 2019. We of this forum wish a  Happy World Press Freedom Day 2019 to all journalists and media practitioners in Cameroon, Africa and worldwide.

Anglophone Crisis Disassociating Village Dev't Associations

Anglophone Crisis Disassociating Village Dev't Associations

Despite the current atmosphere of uncertainty reigning in Anglophone Cameroon, caused by the crisis, a situation that has rendered many villages underdeveloped because annual general meetings of village development associations can no longer be held to raise funds and chart the way forward developmentally, some communities are still braving the odds to shun fear and hold such annual meetings though with a remarkable drop in terms of attendance, activities and financial contributions.

Traditional Items Exhibited at an A.G.M

It was a common practice before the advent and subsequent escalation of the current crisis that every Easter, sons and daughters of various villages in Mbengwi Central Sub Division, Momo Division in the North West Region of Cameroon always returned home from the towns and abroad to reunite with their families and hold Easter meetings. As such, Easter Saturday used to be very appropriate for the holding of such A.G.Ms. Same day, one could get members of Bome Area Development Association (BADA), Mbengwi Elements Development  Association (MEDA), Guneku Development Association (GUDECA), Njindom Cultural and Development Association (NJICCUDA), etc meeting at the same time, in their respective villages. Due to the crisis and other factors, a good number of these villages have changed their annual meetings to the  Christmas season even though the  extremism perpetrated by both warring faction knows no season.

Mbengbu/Wumnebit Dev't Association at 2019 A.G.M

Among the few communities that have continued to hold their Easter meetings against all odds are members of the Mbengbu/Wumnebit Development Association. The association that saw the light of day in 2015 held its 4th A.G.M last Saturday April 20th 2019 in the residence of Pa Simon Tah, a notable of Wumnebit. Its national president, Fongoh P. Ayeh (who happens to be this reporter), while chairing the annual rendezvous for the first time, as it's just last year that he was voted into office, thanked the few mothers, fathers and youths that made it for the meeting while regretting the unavoidable absence of members in the South West and South region  who couldn't make it home this year because of the crisis. The two aforementioned regions have the highest concentration of sons and daughters from Mbengbu/Wumnebit, resident out of home.

Fongoh P. Ayeh, President, Chairing the A.G.M

Considering that those resident back home are mostly the elderly as almost every youth migrates to the urban areas upon maturity for greener pastures, the president encouraged such sons and daughters to endeavour to always return home at least once in a year especially during such Easter meetings to wine and dine with their fathers and mothers while they are still alive and not wait for when they pass on to come and give them befitting burials. To him, such hypocrisy must be discouraged at all cost.

Sharing Palm Wine 

Prior to the meeting, the association members/villagers were encouraged to dress traditionally and come along with artifacts that reflect their culture. Interestingly, the call was heeded to, reason why wooden bowls, calabashes, fibre bags, baskets and other olden days items were brought back to the limelight for the younger generation to have a glance of life in the yesteryears before the advent of modernism. Palm wine, kola nuts and porridge cocoyams mixed with plantains, the traditional delicacy of the Meta people constituted the menu of the day.

Financially, last year, the "little" association raised over a hundred thousand francs for development projects but this year, the amount dropped to nearly half considering the souring economic situation brought about by the crisis. The villagers however remained optimistic with the consolation that half a loaf is better than nothing. With this, the association plans to procure more plastic chairs and extend pipe borne water to Upper Wumnebit.

Bishop Bibi Pastorally Visits Mbengwi

Bishop Bibi Pastorally Visits Mbengwi

The auxiliary bishop of the Bamenda archdiocese, His Lordship Michael Miabesue Bibi has paid a pastoral visit to Christ the King Parish, Mbengwi, from the 30th to the 31st of March 2019. Among the activities that preoccupied his two days stay was visiting the christian community of Ngyen-Mbo, the Mbengwi monastery and celebrating mass with Christians of the four mission stations that make up the Mbengwi parish.

It was a full church house on Sunday March 31st 2019, the 4th Sunday in Lent, as the visiting Man of God, while drawing his gospel text from Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 that talks about the parable of the prodigal son called on the Christians to reconcile with God and their families. It was also a forum for him to administer the sacrament of confirmation to some Christians who had completed their doctrinal classes.

Interdenominational handshake

In attendance were a couple of traditional rulers, religious authorities from other denominations like the Presbyterians and Apostolic plus the administration of Mbengwi, led by the Senior Divisional Officer of Momo Division, Absalom Monono Woloa who continued re-echoing messages of the  peace crusade he had embarked on since the current Anglophone Crisis started escalating in Mbengwi. Monono in his speech told the bishop, "It is our prayer that God will continue to guide and protect you, give you wisdom as you lead his flock. It is our prayer that your presence here today plus the sermon you preached on peace and love will sink into the minds of our people." He then went ahead to assure the bishop that the administration has been and will always be working in close collaboration with the Mbengwi parish. It should be recalled some times in 2018 when the administrative office of Christ the King Catholic School Mbengwi was set ablaze by alleged proponents of a complete school boycott in Anglophone Cameroon, the Mbengwi administration was first to answer present on the scene for evaluation and months after, came back with material assistance of bundles of zinc. "This is to show you that we are all one and we will remain one and we have to work for peace, love, and collaboration in all aspects so that our people will continue to enjoy the life that God has given to them." Monono ended.

Administering the  sacrament of confirmation

In response, the auxiliary bishop, Michael Bibi also corroborated the message of justice and peace as he prayed for those who hold public offices that they may govern bearing in mind the common good of all. To him, the only way is through God. In his own words, "We are all God's children and in such a family, it is possible that we may have difficulties that may tear us apart but I think in spite of those difficulties, every christian should be able to work for peace and  reconciliation so that we all can live as brothers and sisters especially within the context that we find ourselves in." He then  ended his own speech by saying "We know that at the end of the day, the church is supposed to stand as a sign of hope to all of us because we need to turn and cry to God for Him to help us in all our endeavours as we journey on earth, focusing our minds on the kingdom of God."

Clergy and traditional rulers

Painting a gory picture of how the Mbengwi parish, one of the youngest in the archdiocese of Bamenda (1year 10 months old) has been greatly affected by the crisis, Mr. Winka Emmanuel, the parish pastoral chairperson in a well penned down speech disclosed that as of 2016, the parish used to boast of over 200 families, 904 Christians spread over 14 small Christian communities and four mission stations: Ngyen-Mbo, Bome, Bessi Fomukong and the main mission but now, there are barely 100 families and a little above 300 Christians.

Reverend Father Buma Wilfred is the parish priest. He explained the mission of the bishop to his parish by saying "In the Catholic church, when we talk about a pastoral visit, it's a moment when the bishop, as shepherd undertakes visitations to parishes to see how his flock, the Christians are faring especially during this time of sociopolitical crisis and to console them that they should hope in God. It's a happy moment for me because anything works for the good of those who fear the Lord." He then commended the strong message sent out by the bishop that the powers that be must look into the current crisis we are facing and seek lasting solutions to it not fake promises so that we can live in peace. He will then throw roses at the bishop's feet by saying  "We continue to pray for him. He's a simple shepherd, a man of integrity scattering the word of God that is food for our soul."

After mass

Mr. Nguh Fidelis and Mr. Fon Patrick are members of the Catholic Men Association (C.M.A). On take home message drawn from the bishop's sermon, to the former, "If we look at the day of today, we see that it's bright thus giving peace to the country and ensuring we live in unity" while to the latter "He talked about peace, that if you've been hurt by your brother, forgive him so that peace reigns in our community." Same opinion shared by Madam Mbah Linda who said "Just being alive today to see the bishop visit our parish fills me with an overflow of joy. I thank God for so many things especially in our prayer and action groups where the bishop encouraged us to keep on being committed to Christ."

Wirbu' Cultural & Social Dance Mbengwi ushering the bishop to the church hall

The auxiliary bishop's visit to Mbengwi was simply a continuation of a mission he embarked on within the Bamenda archdiocese. He had been to Batibo, Bali, Mbengwi and will be proceeding to Menka and finally Widikum, where he will end his pastoral visit. Despite calls from many, including state officials that the bishop shouldn't undertake such a mission bearing in mind that most of these areas are strong grounds for restoration forces locally referred to as "Amba Boys" fighting for the independence of a state they call "Ambazonia", Michael Bibi insisted it's during such challenging  moments that we know who is who in faith. To him, if Christians are still able to live in all these areas and still have time to serve God, then there's just no reason why they shouldn't be visited. "It all goes to show you that we have particular interest on the people of God and all of us Cameroonians who are living in these areas" Bibi concluded.