REVEIW : My culture year 2010 |
Tuesday, 18 January 2011 12:45 |
January 2010I boarded a Brussel Airways airbus shortly after 11pm on 01 January 2010, destined for the Belgian capital from where I was going to transit to Berlin, Germany. My mission was to continue a German language course kicked off at the German Cultural Centre (Goethe-Institute) in Yaounde a couple of months earlier. Little did I know I was journeying to an art and culture Eldorado – Berlin. I still couldn’t imagine what awaited me when the continental Brussel flight emptied its human content on a terribly cold winter afternoon (1:00 O clock or so) at the Tegel Airport. Even as I drove along to my Oranienburger Str.39, nothing revealed to me Berlin was a cultural haven, probably because the snow that fell on the city that 02 January 2010 was exceptionally stubborn, shielding every sign I wanted to notice. The following days unveiled the package. Berlin had fine arts displayed on all its street walls. Wallpapers announcing culture events flooded the whole city. Everyone went to the cinemas and watched films religiously. I took interest and notes on the organization of the film industry there. Those notes served me as we would see later. February 2010Back in Yaounde, I felt the need to tell the Berlin film story. It was built on a power point which I presented on 12 February at the Goethe-Institute, amidst great admiration from film stakeholders who thought the Berlin film experience, rich as it is, was a good lesson for the embryonic local industry in my country. My presentation was heavily publicized on well designed posters, spread around. March 2010I had just been resting and taking stock of events of the two previous months when film actor and producer Chiatoh Collins informed me of a celebrity night he was planning to organize, to pay tribute to some film industry workaholics. “I intend to make it exceptional, in fact something that has never happened in the industry – full of surprises,” I remember Chiatoh saying something like this. Behold, Collywood Nite, as the event was later baptized was indeed a come-and-see show. Perhaps, the surprise came when the MC, lavishing rosy words, strolled towards my direction. He was in the process of introducing the laureate of the honorary award of the day. At the end of his lengthy monologue, he pronounced my name. I was surprised but had to move up to the podium and receive my prize. Before I did so, Waa Musi, National Coordinator of the Cameroon Film Industry CFI summarized my contribution to the development of the film industry in country. I humbly and gladly accepted the recognition but did not fail to say the said contribution was only modest and that I wished, God being my helper, to do more. April 2010Dust was yet to settle on my March recognition when I was introduced to a project to create the first ever Pan African arts journalist network, initiated by South Africa-based cultural organization, Arterial Network. This had to happen as a side event to the Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA). In late April, I and CRTV’s Telesphore Mba Bizo made the trip and joined colleagues from other countries on the continent to pioneer Africa’s only existing continental arts journalists outfit – African Arts Journalists Network (AAJN). May 2010Before travelling to Harare for HIFA and AAJN, the Goethe-Institute in Yaounde has tasked me to prepare a presentation on the film landscape in Cameroon, accompanied by a handbook with a database of producers and directors. These inputs were going to serve at an international workshop on film criticism for journalists hosted by Buea. The Buea workshop later turned out to be another exciting experience, especially when for the first time, I met Nigeria’s most celebrated arts journalists and film critics, Steve Ayorinde. As I saw Ayorinde off at the Douala International Airport, he offered me an autographed copy of his book, Masterpieces: A critic’s timeless report, which I can always be caught reading with an uneding appetite, thanks to its beautiful writings. June 2010A day after the opener of the African Film Festivals dubbed Ecrans Noirs in Yaounde, I was charged with moderating a press conference to discuss the possibility of Cameroon hosting the next edition of the Africa All Music Awards, KORA. Victoria Ndong, KORA’s line producer was the main guest, having been invited to the country by the Bright Phase music group that had just represented Central Africa at the 2008 edition that rounded off in 2009. Arts journalists learnt at the press conference that talks were underway with the government of Cameroon to that effect. The KORA official had even visited the potential site where the event would take place and was satisfied with what she saw. I later took part in some Ecrans Noirs conferences and visited stands including the one run by Cameroon Film Industry (CFI). August 2010I had always prayed Cameroonian actors come together to discuss the way forward as far as their situation is concerned. They never hesitated to explain how unfairly they were being treated. When it was announced they were meeting in Muyuka, a small town near Buea, headquarters of the Fako Division in the South West region of Cameroon, I was anxious. On 28 August, I took my seat in the hall, waiting to hear actors talk and deliver a paper I had crafted, paying tribute to them. “The paper, titled The Power of Star System: A Look at Cameroonian Movie Stars and How their Faces can Sell the Local Industry – Strengths, Weaknesses and Way Forward” was later presented amidst thunderous applause. I talked with and created contacts with actors I was meeting for the first time including USA-based Akim. The actors left scheduling another meeting for November in Buea. September 2010By now, there was hope in the horizon for actors in my country. One of the ways to recognize their performance was presenting them to the public after projecting their works on the big screen. I did this in the first edition of the CRITICAL EYE FILM FORUM (CEFF) which I initiated with the collaboration of filmmakers Elvis Tanwie and Tanko Frank. The forum brings together film critics who provide a cinematographic appraisal of movies after project in a bid to ensure quality control and encourage watchable productions. In September, we projected Musing Derick’s Nexus, in the presence of the Bamenda-based director and two of his actors, Yimbu Emmanuel and Solange Yijika. October 2010News broke of the eventual creation of a contemporary styled gospel band in Cameroon. I was contacted by Sylva Bright, one of the engineers of the project, to organize a press conference to inform Cameroonians. A few days later, at the Solomon Tandeng Muna Foundation auditorium, I, moderated the press conference, graced by soul-searching voices of some 20 pre-selected singers. Later in the month, a TV contest carved out eight (now seven following the withdrawal of one of them for travelling imperative), winners who formed the gospel band, dubbed Gospel Musical 2010.
December 2010It was time to round off 2010 in grand style and the best way to do it was organizing two film critique sessions. The projections took place at the Foyer Social Catholic hall in Yaounde with film lovers and critics gathering to appreciate Nwatum Damasus’ Beriwo, produced by Peter Njodzeka and Tanwie Elvis’ Ride My Wrongs. These two last editions of the Critical Eye Film Forum in 2010 were special in that profiles and reports on both projects were also produced and projected. I was yet to get over with the remnants of CEFF when weeding bells came ringing. The venue was the Yaounde United Crusade Team for Jesus (UNITEJ) edifice situated at Bisuiterie Biyem-Assi, the bride Lisslot Ndanga Bada, the groom Sylvanus Awah Muma aka Sylva Bright. Sylva Bright of the Bright Phase group had earlier performed a black wedding in Bachua village in Manyu Division of the South West region of Cameroon. I was immaculately dressed and joined other stars in wishing Sylva a happy matrimony. What a wonderful way of ending 2010! |
Last Updated on Friday, 21 January 2011 17:59 |
Nancy Seino is a name Cameroon and the world at large will definitely start getting used to as times goes on. Seino is a 23-year-old Cameroonian whose stars shine so... Read more
TTS Comments(4) 18 Jun 2012 Hits:6841 Latest
There has been a torrential pour of reactions from members of the Cameroonian film sector and observers after what has generally been termed a successfully organized and impressively attended... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 20 Sep 2013 Hits:5823 Latest
Journeying onwards without amassing inspiration from the past only reduces our scope. We will not write about the history of Cameroonian blogging without mentioning Cynthia Tabe. Records show that she... Read more
TTS Be the first to comment! 08 Apr 2021 Hits:1284 Latest
The Cameroon Entertainment Awards CEA team has made public the criteria used in the selecting nominees for the first edition of the event. This is contained in a press released... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Comments(7) 16 Mar 2012 Hits:9875 Latest
They may be far away from home, yet Cameroonians abroad are bent on staying closer by organizing events that put their country in the limelight. Some of such events have... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 27 Aug 2012 Hits:5675 Latest
Here comes Musing Derick and Tenning Nova Productions again! The filmmaker and his production outfit are telling a story that happens in 19 hours in just 100 minutes. In 19... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 29 Apr 2013 Hits:7062 MOVIES
There is no other medium through which black values can be more highlighted than music. Afro Rap artist, Ngum Daniel Brian aka D.A is not adding his voice in the... Read more
Herman Slim Be the first to comment! 10 Mar 2016 Hits:6569 Latest
The President of the Cameroon Filmmakers’ Guild, USA has enjoined movie directors and producers from the Central African country to come on board the organization which according to him, is... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 27 Mar 2014 Hits:6876 MOVIES
The timing is reasonable – December – the month of the birth of Christ, savior of mankind. And the big news about December 2013 is the coming of Suzie Ukum’s... Read more
TUDI NDI NATHALIE Be the first to comment! 19 Nov 2013 Hits:5535 STAR CORNER
All roads will lead to Buea on 17 April 2010. Blessed are those who will be there. For, they shall see the wonders of BAAM. BAAM, the Cameroonian group that... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 02 Apr 2010 Hits:88806 Music Stars
Fears that Cameroonian indigenous genres could one day disappear in favour of contemporary music may soon be a thing of the past. You may only have lesser unadulterated Cameroonian traditional... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 18 Feb 2015 Hits:6209 Latest
The gospel band creation project dubbed Gospel musical 2010 is two months old, but the climax is yet to reach. Such climax is certainly when the show will get ongoing... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 10 Nov 2010 Hits:5875 Latest
At 20, Jay Wisley is already bracing to hold the world spellbound, drawing inspiration from Michael Jackson who became a thriller even much earlier. “I have ambitions to do great... Read more
Titus Banyoh Comments(2) 23 Apr 2012 Hits:9629 STAR CORNER
At last, he went album! This is undoubtedly what fans of Uncle T are saying. Every other music lover who has had the singular privilege to trail the young artiste’s... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Comments(1) 19 Jan 2012 Hits:5768 STAR CORNER
Yibain Emile-Aime Chah aka Ancestor, Anurin Nwunenbom and Eka Christi are among facilitators training some 34 Tanzanian youths at a film making workshop currently going on in Zanzibar. The two-week... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 17 Apr 2013 Hits:6017 MOVIES
Awareness is good, but could be regretted sometimes. Occasionally, we have, for sure, told ourselves that we had better not seen, heard, known, taken part in, etc. Then, at this... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 18 Mar 2015 Hits:8080 Latest
Anxiety has gripped movie lovers, at least those whose presence on social network is common. Reason: The publication of the official trailer of Retaliation. The publication of the trailer has... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 06 Aug 2013 Hits:13169 MOVIES
Among the special gifts God (whom she worships with no resentment) has blessed Pandita Njoh Eta with, that of a golden voice is the most outstanding. It is with this... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Comments(5) 07 Jun 2012 Hits:8293 Latest
Fans of gospel music worldwide will soon start getting used to a new name – Sister Favour Grace Nganje. Initially known and appraised only within Church or community circles, the... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 06 Jul 2012 Hits:6885 Latest
The film industry in Cameroon will be one movie richer in the coming months when U-Turn hits the market. The Anthony Kamwa film, produced by Ashu Egbe is said to... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 29 May 2013 Hits:9787 MOVIES
Before the African movie landscape sprang to prominence through Nollywood, Hollywood actors and to a lesser extent their Chinese counterparts were undoubtedly heroes and heroines Africans and Cameroonians found pleasure... Read more
Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 01 Feb 2016 Hits:9116 Latest
With a very convincing argument, it can be said today that Africa makes sufficient meaning in the art of filmmaking. Black easily becomes so beautiful on screen. Even when…
One of Cameroon’s most renowned film producers, Chi Anthony Gunz has been breathing new air in the United States of America. Chi travelled earlier last week for a respite…
Three short Cameroonian films have won a German Cultural Centre organised film Awards. The three emerged from a list of 33 films submitted for the competition. The jury, comprising of…
CYNTHIA -> NGUM -> ISABEL Yearning for a place which mirrors Cameroonians who strive for excellence through creativity and innovation or ever wanted to have honoured your Role Model, then Dulce…
Amongst the tools that are used in weaving development, education stands out. Clearly, it is the one with which every other tool depend, to perform the usually herculean task of…
Auditions and Events leading to the finals of Miss West Africa Cameroon are curently ongoing. After a breath taking Audition on July 2nd at the Seme Beach hotel in Limbe…
Rewards from hard work may delay. But when they start showing up, they may pour like rain. This assertion can be best when describing Maybelle Boma’s career as an entertainer,…
Writing for online consumption has undoubtedly become a fascinating practice. It risks becoming an addictive exercise, but for the most parts, positive, especially for career online reporters/bloggers. As time goes…