TIPTOPSTARS

Inrecent years, Africans living in the diaspora have been very concerned about recognizing and appreciating the continent’s values, talents and productivity. The creative arts domain has easily been figured out, given that sons and daughters of Africa have amazingly excelled here. As a way to reward excellence and in a bid to promote talents and creative initiatives, individuals and groups living out of Africa have from time to time organized events to pay tribute to those who have kept the engine steaming. This has mostly been the case with Nigerian and Ghanaian communities in the US and the UK.
Sporadically, the Cameroonian diaspora has organized recognition events, but would in most cases limit them to specific areas of creative arts – fashion and beauty contest. Never has there been a Cameroonian recognition event that covers all domains of arts and culture and involving Cameroonian artists and celebrities living around the globe including back home. That is what is about to happen.
The first ever entirely Cameroonian awards is set to take place in June 2012. Dubbed Cameroon Entertainment Awards (CEA), the red carpet event that is expected to raise the curtains for further initiatives will take place in the crowd-puller auditorium of one of America’s most prestigious universities, to be named subsequently. But what prompted the CEA? “We think it’s time for us to showcase Cameroon, a country that is endlessly endowed by talented people, yet very little of the wealth is exposed,” Maybelle Boma, one of the initiators of Cameroon Entertainment Awards told TIPTOPSTARS editor. “If others have done it, I think we can also do it for our country. It’s going to be a huge challenge, reason why we are getting every body involved, whether they are at home or abroad,” said Maybelle further.
The awards, the first of its kind will feature several categories fitting within five major sections – music, acting, directing, entertainment/sports and recognition. “The top 5 nominees in each category will be announced and posted on the CEA website after the nomination period ends on February 14 2012,” Maybelle revealed.
Preliminary nominations are being encouraged already on facebook, but the organizing team is working behind the scenes to establish a full and much more concrete list. For more about the CEA, www.cameroonentertainmentawards.org
Meantime, there have been positive reactions towards the up-coming event from Cameroonians from the four corners of the globe, a clear indication that such an initiative is not only timely, but necessary to boost the image of a country that is well reputed for producing extra-ordinarily talented young people. Details on the CEA coming up soon in our subsequent updates!