GEF's Outlook: Posts from December 2009

Jimbi Media Sites

AFRICAphonie
AFRICAphonie is a Pan African Association which operates on the premise that AFRICA can only be what AFRICANS and their friends want AFRICA to be.
Bakwerirama
Spotlight on Bakweri Society and Culture. The Bakweri are an indigenous African nation.
Bate Besong
Bate Besong, award-winning firebrand poet and playwright.
Bernard Fonlon
Dr Bernard Fonlon was an extraordinary figure who left a large footprint in Cameroonian intellectual, social and political life.
Fonlon-Nichols Award
Website of the Literary Award established to honor the memory of BERNARD FONLON, the great Cameroonian teacher, writer, poet, and philosopher, who passionately defended human rights in an often oppressive political atmosphere.
France Watcher
Purpose of this advocacy site: To aggregate all available information about French terror, exploitation and manipulation of Africa
George Ngwane: Public Intellectual
George Ngwane is a prominent author, activist and intellectual.
Jacob Nguni
Virtuoso guitarist, writer and humorist. Former lead guitarist of Rocafil, led by Prince Nico Mbarga.
Martin Jumbam
The refreshingly, unique, incisive and generally hilarous writings about the foibles of African society and politics by former Cameroon Life Magazine columnist Martin Jumbam.
Nowa Omoigui
Professor of Medicine and interventional cardiologist, Nowa Omoigui is also one of the foremost experts and scholars on the history of the Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Civil War. This site contains many of his writings and comments on military subjects and history.
Postwatch Magazine
A UMI (United Media Incorporated) publication. Specializing in well researched investigative reports, it focuses on the Cameroonian scene, particular issues of interest to the former British Southern Cameroons.
Simon Mol
Cameroonian poet, writer, journalist and Human Rights activist living in Warsaw, Poland
Victor Mbarika ICT Weblog
Victor Wacham Agwe Mbarika is one of Africa's foremost experts on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Dr. Mbarika's research interests are in the areas of information infrastructure diffusion in developing countries and multimedia learning.
Tunduzi
A West African in Arusha at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on the angst, contradictions and rewards of that process.
Dr Godfrey Tangwa (Gobata)
Renaissance man, philosophy professor, actor and newspaper columnist, Godfrey Tangwa aka Rotcod Gobata touches a wide array of subjects. Always entertaining and eminently readable. Visit for frequent updates.
Francis Nyamnjoh
Prolific writer, social and political commentator, he was a professor at University of Buea and University of Botswana. Currently he is Head of Publications and Dissemination at CODESRIA in Dakar, Senegal. His writings are socially relevant and engaging even to the non specialist.
Ilongo Sphere: Writer and Poet
Novelist and poet Ilongo Fritz Ngalle, long concealed his artist's wings behind the firm exterior of a University administrator and guidance counsellor. No longer. Enjoy his unique poems and glimpses of upcoming novels and short stories.
Scribbles from the Den
The award-winning blog of Dibussi Tande, Cameroon's leading blogger.
Enanga's POV
Rosemary Ekosso, a Cameroonian novelist and blogger who lives and works in Cambodia.
GEF's Outlook
Blog of George Esunge Fominyen, former CRTV journalist and currently Coordinator of the Multi-Media Editorial Unit of the PANOS Institute West Africa (PIWA) in Dakar, Senegal.
The Chia Report
The incisive commentary of Chicago-based former CRTV journalist Chia Innocent
Voice Of The Oppressed
Stephen Neba-Fuh is a political and social critic, human rights activist and poet who lives in Norway.
Bate Besong
Bate Besong, award-winning firebrand poet and playwright.
Up Station Mountain Club
A no holds barred group blog for all things Cameroonian. "Man no run!"
Bakwerirama
Spotlight on the Bakweri Society and Culture. The Bakweri are an indigenous African nation.
Fonlon-Nichols Award
Website of the Literary Award established to honor the memory of BERNARD FONLON, the great Cameroonian teacher, writer, poet, and philosopher, who passionately defended human rights in an often oppressive political atmosphere.
Bernard Fonlon
Dr Bernard Fonlon was an extraordinary figure who left a large footprint in Cameroonian intellectual, social and political life.
AFRICAphonie
AFRICAphonie is a Pan African Association which operates on the premise that AFRICA can only be what AFRICANS and their friends want AFRICA to be.
Canute - Chronicles from the Heartland
Professional translator, freelance writer and a regular contributor to THE POST newspaper. Lives in Douala, Cameroon

December 21, 2009

Book Launch: Paul Biya -The People's Call

By George Esunge Fominyen

If you are interested in a genre of political literature called "motions of support" then there is a new book on the shelves in Cameroon for your reading pleasure: Paul Biya: The People's Call. It is a 336 page compilation of motions of support to Cameroon’s President Paul Biya packaged by the Cameroon Publishing Corporation (SOPECAM).

The first of four parts of the book republishes motions of support requesting Paul Biya to stand for election in 2011 for another 7-year- term. Part 2 compiles motions of support from different parts of Cameroon "thanking" the President for appointing their sons or daughters in government or other high duties. The third part includes the messages sent to Paul Biya after reports about his "supposed ill-gotten wealth and lavish spending on holiday in Europe". The final part focuses on motions of support for the anti-graft operation dubbed sparrow hawk (Epervier).

“The book is a testimony of communication between a people and their leader,” Philemon Yang the country’s Prime Minister said at the book launch on Monday. “It is a healthy two-way flow of messages," he added.

According to Philemon Yang, the President acknowledged the motions of support in his letter to the nation that marked his 27th anniversary in power. Paul Biya said he had heard the appeals and motions of support the people have been sending to him.

"I thank you for them, very sincerely. They are the most eloquent signs of encouragement addressed to me in the discharge of my responsibilities at the helm of State," the Cameroon Head of State wrote in his 3 November 2009 letter.

The Prime Minister described the book as "a landmark in the political history of our Fatherland." He said "for many years, future generations would read it and try to understand many issues that perhaps today we take for granted.”

It's understood that everyone has a right to their thoughts and convictions. Prime Minister Yang is thus entitled to speak of two-way communication between President Biya and the people he rules.

One simply wonders why the Head of State has not responded to a young rapper called Valsero who many months ago wrote "a letter to the President" about the plight of the country's masses (particularly the youth).