TIPTOPSTARS

When this reporter asked the CEO/founder of the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards, NAFCA to comment on Cameroon’s increasing involvement in the African Oscars, Dr Victor Olatoye’s remark was obvious. The country’s sons and daughters were not only talented, but were making frantic efforts in putting their art on the world stage. The results are there to prove this assertion. At least within the last five years, young Cameroonians have been making great strides, be it in music, cinema, sports and what have you. The meaning of this can be clearly read on the wall – the country’s arts and culture sector is waxing on strong, at least as far as productivity is concerned, even if there is usually insufficient financial resources to enable the artists do better or more.

This can be a reasonable explanation to the NAFCA’s honouring of Cameroon’s Minister of Culture, Ama Tutu Muna at this year’s edition of the prestigious awards. It was an emotion-packed moment when this prize was announced. If the occupants of the legendary Warner Theatre (venue of the event) felt the warmth of this honour, the Cameroonian delegation to the 2013 NAFCA accommodated more solemn feelings. And even within this group, the emotions worked more on the individuals who walked up to the podium on behalf of the member of government, unavoidably absent. Agbor Gilbert Ebot (film producer), a close aide of Ama Tutu Muna and one of the movie ambassadors of is country received the prize and passed it over to Maybelle Boma, yet another active promoter of Cameroonian/African entertainment.

“It was a heavy task, lifting Minister Ama Tutu’s statuette and I felt like I was in a completely different world,” Maybelle told TIPTOPSTARS when we sought to know how it felt in such circumstances. “In fact, the minister made us proud of our country and we immediately found ourselves on top of the ladder, in fact, it was a great moment,” she told us further.

Maybelle cum gospel singer and actress spoke the laureates words, thanking NAFCA for the confidence bestowed on Cameroon in the process. The entertainment promoter, known for her relentless efforts in marketing the image of her country beckoned on Nigeria and Ghana to multiply their interest in Cameroon and watch out for the latter’s process, for as put it “we are on the fast lane, heading to glory.”

The prestigious was later handed to the Cameroonian Ambassador to the US, H.E Foe Atangana for onwards transmission to Yaounde. Conspicuously accompanying his minister in this latest recognition was the Cameroon Film Industry, CFI representative for the diaspora Akim Macauley who could not hide his feelings. “It was so memorable and I’m glad this is happening our country,” the film producer/director told TIPTOPSTARS in a later conversation. Akim, it should be noted has instrumental in the African Oscars from inception in 2011.

That a Cameroonian member of government is honoured by a predominantly Nigerian recognition platform speaks volumes. Not only does this further cement the diplomatic ties and good neighbourliness existing between both countries, it also indicates that Nigeria (better advanced) is noticing the great strides made by the Cameroonian culture sector of late. The story of Ninah’s Dowry has no doubt left anyone indifferent.

Meantime, Ama Tutu Muna became Minster of Culture in 2007. A daughter of Hon. S.T Muna, historic figure and former speaker of the National Assembly, she and her brothers run one of Cameroon’s biggest cultural outfits, The Solomon Tadeng Muna Foundation in the capital Yaounde. She is herself a good pianist and translator. TIPTOPSTARS will be reaching the minister for her reaction in subsequent updates.

Sarah Batumbu is the name that will reign, at least for the next 12 months throughout Africa in the area of social development. The Cameroonian-born beauty queen has emerged as 2013 Miss Elegance Afrique. She was crowned last weekend in Belgium amidst great excitement from guests to the event which took place in the capital city of Brussels.

Picked from an armada of participants between 18 and 30 years of age and drawn from eight African countries, Miss Batumbu will have the herculean task of raising funds to support educational initiatives in Africa. She will be assisted in this huge assignment by Ingrid Diawara of Senegal, crowned Miss Congeniality and Vanessa Yindjeu, second runner-up who bowed her head for the crown of Miss Photogenic.

During Saturday’s event, funds were raised, which funds will be channeled to Africa for projects in education. “Some one hundred primary school children in Cameroon have already benefited from our scholarship scheme and we would love to expand it and keep it going throughout Africa,” Thecla Mbunwe, CEO and founder of African Beauty International, ABI (organizer of Miss Elegance Afrique) told TIOTOPSTARS. “With the growth of the ABI profile, we have been lucky enough to have some individual sponsorship and goodwill from well-wishers of the show. Some corporate organizations have indicated interest and are watching to come in at the appointed time,” she announced further.

Participants to this enriching 2013 beauty contest came from Sierra Leone, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Senegal, Nigeria, Rwanda and Djibouti.

Present at the event were representatives from the embassies of Cameroon, Angola and Nigeria. The presence of Miss Ghana in Belgium added colour to Miss Elegance 2013.

Meantime, the Miss Elegance Afrique beauty contest is is designed to highlight and showcase natural African beauty with a purpose of to creating entertainment and at the same time raising funds to support education in Africa. It also provides a platform for young Africans living in Belgium to showcase their God-given talents especially in the field of music. Organizers say next year’s edition will be more electrifying.

“It was simply a resounding success.” This is how an attendee of the third edition of the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards, NAFCA described Saturday’s African Oscars that attracted scores of entertainment lovers to the legendary Warner Theatre in Washington DC. A week to the event, Dr Victor Olatoye, CEO/President had told this writer on African Cocktail (a show on Afrikka Radio) that his team was ready for NAFCA 2013 and were envisaging great success. True to his words, this year’s edition of the recognition ceremony was a come-and-see.

According to reports from DC, the evening was a beautifully packaged organizers of NAFCA presented to guests. If the Warner Theatre befitted NAFCA, the gold-plated statuettes only made it more prestigious. Perhaps, the people who answered present at the event kept to the tradition of being just who they ought to be. The celebs - call them stars – gorgeous in outfit and constantly posing for snapshots. Then the names – Nollywood’s Vitalis Ndubuisy (laureate), clad in a dark jacket with white stripes and a butterfly tie – Ghollywood’s John Dumelo - Miss Ethopia, in red smiling all through the evening – Haiti’s Sarodj Bertin (actress, model) in red displaying her trophy – actress Cece Maintain with stylish hair-do – Majid Michel (laureate) in blue shirt and jean – Merlissa Determined, Carribean-born Nollywood/USA actress and the list is endless.

But one thing stood out clear at NAFCA III – the Cameroonian delegation was extraordinarily big. The enthusiasm displayed by this group is definitely what NAFCA’s organizing team needs to made a comment on. “This was far beyond the fact that a Cameroonian movie had secured eleven nominations, we simply love the initiative and think it is worth being part of it,” a Cameroonian movie star attending NAFCA III told this writer on the line to in the course of the evening. Conspicuously present therefore were ace producer Agbor Gilbert Ebot,producer/director cum Cameroon Film Induistry (CFI) diaspora representative Akim Macauley, gospel singer Maybelle Boma (now making debuting strides in movie acting), producer/actor Kenneth Ngamne, producer/actor Kang Quintus, actresss Elian Mambo, producer Sahndra Fondufe, entertainment promoter Anne Ngono. These celebrities were backed by Cameroon’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E Foe Atangana.

Perhaps the Cameroonian of the evening was Victor Viyuoh, producer/director of the award-winning Ninah’s Dowry who lifted the movies’ first ever NAFCA award to made his country proud. As modest as ever, Victor could be spotted in his dark bold tie celebrating his umpteen victories just with a smile. NAFCA honoured the Cameroonian Minister of Culture Ama Tutu Muna whose trophy was received by the Executive Producer of the Cameroon Entertainment Awards, CEA Maybelle Boma, handed over to her country’s Ambassador to the US for onward transmission to Yaounde.

Meanwhile, NAFCA’s CEO, Victor Olatoye will be speaking to African Cocktail this Wednesday, September 18 at 10:30 am EST (4;30pm Lagos time) as one of the show’s guests-at-large. On his part, the producer of Ninah’s Dowry will be main guest. Tune in by clicking on www.afrikkaradio.com or dial 832-280-0016.