Shrine, Juju Burnt to Ashes

The shrine and one dreadful juju commonly known as “bsoh” of Boyar in Ndu sub Division which only comes out at nightfall has been burnt to ashes while the shrine has been cleared. Eye witnesses say on July 17, 2015, the Bo Nsah family of Boyar in Ndu who for years have paraded selves for having the most dreadful juju have decided to do away it for once and for all. Allegedly, this decision was taken after the family discovered that the juju has brought a lot of ill luck into their family. The family, according to what we gathered also claims that the said juju has brought many deaths in their family. The family head is quoted to have said that the process to discard away with the juju started five months ago and it was a unanimous decision by the entire Bo Nsah family. It is said that the process began two weeks ago with serious prayers. Sources also hinted that Ngala Lawrence of First Baptist Church was the person who led the prayers which according to what we gathered was intended to render the shrine powerless. On whether the family was influenced in their decision, Pa Gwei Samuel is also quoted told local radio reporters that they were not. “This shrine and its juju have brought us more harm than good”, he said when accosted. 

 It should be noted that in 2014, Fai Ndzishepngong of Mbah village in Ndu carried out a similar act even though it received widespread criticisms. Tongues are now waging in Ndu as to why certain aspects of culture and tradition are being destroyed. Traditionalists are pointing accusing fingers at some denominations for masterminding the acts. Popular opinion however holds that in the case of Bo Nsah and the Bsoh, the truth lays somewhere else given that the shrine has not been practicing witchcraft. They believe that some family members hide behind the shrine to kill others.  It is also aired that if the people of Ndu where some of these acts have been recorded give what is for God to God and what is for tradition to tradition, the quagmire will be eradicated. On the other hand, a school of thought holds that it is total hypocrisy given that some of those advocating for the destruction of shrines and jujus are not clean themselves.

By Riine Meshal with Inputs from Ngibip Bernard

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Church Claims Prophet's Holy Oil Opens Girl's Vagina Which Medics Could Not

  Courtesy: My Zimbabwe

Prophet Magaya

 The news of a very controversial man of God in Harare,Zimbabwe has gained attention as his church claims his holy oil opened a girl's vagina which was closed from birth.
 A controversial prophet named Walter Magaya from Harare, Zimbabwe has made the headlines after a statement from his church revealed his holy oil opened a young girl's vagina which was closed from birth.

 According to My Zimbabwe, the girl’s grand mother who spoke to the online paper, said doctors had told her that there was nothing they could do about the sealed private part but that Prophet Magaya’s anointing oil was all that was needed to work the miracle.

Magaya’s church said in a statement:
“Mai Chinyoka’s grandchild had no vaginal opening since birth and they sought medical help upon which they were told that it was completely closed up.
On the 15th of May 2015, her mother brought her to church and by the special grace of God she had an encounter with the Servant of God Prophet W. Magaya who blessed her with the anointing oil and instructed her to administer on her child.
She did exactly that and by the special grace of God, the vagina has since opened up. They took her back to the doctor who was shocked to date as they had told them that their child could not be assisted in any way.
She had to live with no vaginal opening for the rest of her life but God the specialist of impossibilities turned it all around. We give God all the glory.”

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Lawmakers to join Obama on trip to Kenya, Ethiopia

 Half a dozen lawmakers will travel with Barack Obama to Kenya and Ethiopia next week in what is the president’s first trip to his ancestral homeland since being elected.

The White House invited a large contingent of lawmakers, prominently members of the Congressional Black Caucus, to join him on the Africa trip. Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Cedric Richmond (D-La.), G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) will attend.

The trip marks the first time a sitting president has traveled to Ethiopia. While in that country, Obama will attend the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit and meet with African Union leaders.

Butterfield said he planned to use the trip to stress to Kenyan and Ethiopian officials Congress’ commitment to them as trade, national security and diplomatic partners.

“Kenya is a strategic partner and they have some unique challenges and certainly Ethiopia does too. They need to be reassured that America is an ally and that we care about the continent in its entirety,” said Butterfield, who chairs the CBC.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/obama-kenya-ethiopia-trip-lawmakers-join-120217.html#ixzz3g7UBFYgF

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Mandela Day 2015: African Stars Unite in Tribute

 Cameroon's Wax Dey has joined Nigeria's Banky W and South Africa's Cassper for this tribute.

 Six African stars have united to pay tribute in song to Nelson Mandela, ahead of International Mandela Day on Saturday 18 July.

 ‘Viva Mandela, Tata Madiba’ is performed by Runtown (Nigeria), Wax Dey (Cameroon), Cassper Nyovest (South Africa), Simphiwe Dana (South Africa), Banky W (Nigeria), and Shaydee (Nigeria). It is produced by O’magic (Angola).

 The song is currently available on MTN Music Plus and MTN callertune downloads in South Africa, but the official release is set for Saturday 18 July on iTunes worldwide, and all MTN platforms across Africa. Part of the proceeds will go to the Nelson Mandela Foundation's charity of choice.

The artists will unite for an exclusive performance in Johannesburg  on Friday 17^th, during a Mandela tribute concert that will be streamed live on MTN Music Plus, from 11am-4pm SAST (10am-3pm CAT).

Listen to a snippet of the song here.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

5000 Naked Kenyan Men/Women Prepare to Stage Protest Ahead of Obama’s Visit

Kenya’s Republican Liberty Party has declared its intention to mobilise 5,000 men and women to protest naked against President Barack Obama’s “aggressive support for homosexuality”.

The party said it has already notified the authorities for protest scheduled to hold on July 22 and 23, coinciding with the U.S. president’s visit to Kenya.

Vincent Kidala, the party’s leader, is said to have written to the Police on Monday to notify the authorities of the planned protest march from Nairobi’s Freedom Corner to the streets of the capital. He said the protest would involve “totally naked men and women” to “demonstrate the difference between men and women.

In his letter, he wrote that “the procession shall be carried out by approximately 5,000 totally naked men and women to protest the President Barack Obama’s open and aggressive support for Homosexuality. The party’s main objective is for him to understand the difference between a man and a woman,” he informed the Police.

At least 1,000 commercial sex workers from Nairobi alone have confirmed their participation in the nude protest march and the party is continuing to mobilise politicians to join the protest march. “Homosexuality is not new to the party,” Kidala said, adding that “we forwarded a Bill to Parliament in 2013 seeking to ban same sex marriages but we have not received any notification of progress. “There is a lot of interference from the U.S. government on this issue,” he said.

Obama is due in Kenya on July 24 to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES).
A White House Spokesperson, Joshua Earnest, said last week the U.S. President planned to address the issue of gay rights and the need to protect gay rights during the visit to Kenya.

Kenyan religious leaders have stepped up a campaign to urge Obama to drop the gay rights subject matter. “We shall say to the U.S…perish with your dollars. From the word go, African traditional religion never recognised homosexuality. Homosexuality was never part of this continent,” one religious leader said. The White House insists Obama would not hesitate to make it clear that the protection of gay rights is a fundamental human right that every state must undertake. Obama is also expected to address parliament during his visit to Kenya with Speaker of Parliament, Justin Muturi, saying the parliament would respond to “advances perceived to encroach on our social fabric.”

However, the Kenyan Presidency said the U.S. President was at full liberty to champion the gay rights in respect to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. “We want to catch President Obama’s intervention on this issue during his visit,” Kidala said.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

How Cameroon's First Lady Honoured Miss Cameroon 2015

Jessica Lydie Ngoua: Miss Cameroon 2015

The 2015 Miss Cameroon contest ended at weekend in fanfare and ecstasy. This is so thanks to the presence of the First Lady Madame Chantal Biya who was personally present. The Bamenda Congress Hall was jammed to capacity and the euphoria escalated when Jessica Lydie Ngoua Nseme was voted as the most beautiful girl in Cameroon this year. The 24-year-old lady from the Littoral Region was crowned Miss Cameroon 2015 on July 11, 2015 at the Yaounde Conference Centre in the presence of the number one beauty icon in the country, Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya.

Mrs Chantal Biya, who is also UNAIDS Special Ambassador, braved the windy and chilly atmospheric conditions that prevailed around the Yaounde Conference Centre that evening to show the value she attaches towards the culture and youths in Cameroon, particularly young girls.

After a competition that involved over 24 beauty queens from all the ten regions in the country, the one-metre-80 cm tall student from the University of Douala had one of the most outstanding moments in her life when she was crowned Miss Cameroon 2015 by the first beauty icon in the country; Mrs Chantal Biya. In smiles and warm embrace, Mrs Chantal Biya wore the sash of Miss Cameroon on Jessica Lydie Ngoua Nseme alongside the crown.

It takes a woman with a committed and passionate heart for culture and the progress for the younger generation to be out of her bed at 1:00 a.m. Such is the nature of Cameroon’s First Lady. Reason why it was not surprising to see Mrs Chantal Biya and some of her family members, including her daughter, Anasthasie Brenda Biya, at the Yaounde Conference Centre during the early hours of Sunday July 12, 2015.

The activities of Cameroon’s First Lady are far beyond humanitarian to the projection of Cameroon’s culture and self development of young people in the country. Four months ago, Mrs Chantal Biya honoured musicians in Cameroon with her presence at the 2015 music award dubbed Canal D’or. During the event which involved a rich display of Cameroon’s culture and music, Mrs Biya was honoured with a prize for her relentless efforts in supporting and projecting the culture of Cameroon.

Although the world is seeing more of the First Lady’s support in cultural events, the Matron of the 11th edition of Miss Cameroon Beauty Contest; Mrs Henriette Sournac, said Mrs Biya’s humanitarian activities towards vulnerable people in the society cannot be over emphasized.

Through organisations she founded such as the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), African Synergy Against HIV and Suffering, and the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre for Research on Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Chantal Biya, who is also UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion continues to reach out to millions of needy people in Cameroon, Africa and beyond.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Hon. Njingum Spoils Muslim Communities in Ndop Central with Parliamentary Goodies (PhotoNews2)

The distribution started at the Ndop Central Mosque at 9 am and ended in Bambalang village at 10pm. By 10 pm, the MP for Ngoketunjia North, Hon Njingum Musa had distributed gifts estimated at about FCA 18 million to the Muslim communities. The gifts included roofing sheets, bags of cement, cartons of sugar, praying mats, kettles, plywood and paints. From Bamuka village, the MP distributed in six mosques, three in Bambalang, one in Bamali and eight in Bambalang

MP and Mayor of Ndop handing support to Imam of Bamali

Mayor hands support for sadika for eldest woman

Handing of sugar

Handing over of roofing sheets, cement and sugar at Bambalang central mosque

Hon Njingum handing roofing sheets for Islamic school

Mbissa Muslem women at Bambalang waterside

Imam of Mbissa island

MP and entourage

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Hon. Njingum Spoils Muslim Communities in Ndop Central with Parliamentary Goodies (PhotoNews)

 The distribution started at the Ndop Central Mosque at 9 am and ended in Bambalang village at 10pm. By 10 pm, the MP for Ngoketunjia North, Hon Njingum Musa had distributed gifts estimated at about FCA 18 million to the Muslim communities. The gifts included roofing sheets, bags of cement, cartons of sugar, praying mats, kettles, plywood and paints. From Bamuka village, the MP distributed in six mosques, three in Bambalang, one in Bamali and eight in Bambalang

Ndop Central Mosque

Ndop Central Mosque

Hon. Njingum addressing Muslims at the Ndop Central Mosque

Parliamentary goodies handed to Imam of Ndop Central Mosque

At Pa zo mosque

Imam receiving gift from MP

At Mosque behind Ndop Brigade

Imam receiving mats and kettles

At Bamessing

handing gifts at Bamessing

Add caption

prayers at Bamessing with Imams from three different mosque

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

To Step Up Campaign Against Trafficking of Cameroonian Girls in the Middle East:A Common Future Launches ‘Mister Bamenda 2015’ contest, Confronts NW Senators.

Bamenda-Cameroon: July 14, 2015-

A Common Future staff protest against enslavement of Cmr girls in Kuwait

A Common Future, the Bamenda-based Civil Society organization that works to transform lives and build common frontiers by proposing alternative models of masculinity that are not in opposition to models of femininity and that allow men and women as well as boys and girls to share love, reproductive health responsibilities and decision–making, is announcing a male pageant title and contest code-named ‘Mister Bamenda 2015’, to take place next August 22, 2015 at Jua Hotel situated off the slopes of the Bamenda Up Station Hill. The theme of the event shall be: ‘Ending all Forms of Contemporary Slavery and Bringing Back our Girls Trapped in Kuwait’.

The winner of the Mister Bamenda 2015 title shall have as mission to articulate Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, which states that ‘No one shall be held in slavery or servitude: slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms’.

The pageant who shall be A Common Future 2015 advocate youth speaker shall have as objective, to bring to the forefront of public consciousness the inhumane and degrading forms of treatment our Cameroonian girls suffer in the Middle East for no fault of theirs. The Mister Bamenda platform shall give the winner an opportunity to liaise with victims and families whose children are trapped out there in Kuwait and Lebanon and bring the attention of government and the international community to their plight and the need for urgent action. He shall also work to identify the slave trade market agents here in Cameroon and do well to name and shame them. The youth advocate speaker shall work to educate and sensitize youths on the necessity of having full knowledge of the host country and family before ever leaving Cameroon.

The pageant shall work to improve access to information and general internet access so girls and boys who want to travel do enough online research on the human rights situation in the host countries before travelling so as to spare themselves and their families the embarrassment we have had these past weeks on the inhumane treatment of Cameroonians in the Middle East.

Since the ‘majority of those who suffer are the poorest, most vulnerable and marginalized social groups in society and since it is fear, ignorance of one’s rights and the need to survive that does not encourage them to speak out,’ the youth advocate speaker shall work to reinsert victims into society by liaising with entrepreneurial mentoring agencies like SEED Cameroon and the National Employment Fund to make them gainfully employed. Through such programmes, they would be brought to understand that ‘grass is greenest where it is watered’. Mister Bamenda 2015 pageant shall have to work closely with the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery to reverse this situation and fulfill the principle enshrined in Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The peculiarity of this year’s Mister Bamenda handsome pageant event is the fact that it shall showcase an uprising of fresh and fearless comics poking fun and changing people’s mindset and society at large, one joke at a time. It shall also be an epic journey of discovery to find the freshest comic voices in the most unlikely places. We do this with the understanding that: “No matter where you live or what your beliefs are, our love of laughter is something we all have in common.’’ Nobody ignores the fact that: “Laughter opens our ears and our hearts—and once people are listening, who knows what they might be inspired to do?” Our hope also, is that since all the returning victims from Kuwait complain of having cried off all their tears out there, they comedy will revitalize them and also spark conversation and inspire participants to take action around these issues.

Who Can be the pageant?

Unlike other fashion contests that target physical beauty and handsomeness, A Common Future believes that the real handsomeness today lies in character and will-power. Beyond physical appearance, we are looking for somebody between the ages of 18-30 who is bold and committed enough to articulate issues of human rights and slavery within the next 12 months. Although preference would be given to a returning victims from the Middle East, the winner must be somebody who is outgoing with good public relations qualities that can enable him raise funds for the ‘slave effort’ just as Cameroonians have been raising same for Boko Haram, so as to #Bring Back Our Girls who, like the Chibok girls, are in captivity in the Middle East.

Calling on Sponsors, Vendors and Volunteers

Mister Bamenda 2015 Pageant has great sponsorship and vendor opportunities to fit all budgets. Sponsoring Mister Bamenda 2015 has great benefits, get your brand visible within the community and reach a highly targeted audience. In the days ahead, tickets would be available both online and offline. Watch out for early bird tickets this month. Tickets will cost more in August.
For more information on sponsorship and vendor opportunities please contact us as soon as possible through acommonfuture1@yahoo.com or call [237]. 677 85 24 76

If you want to be a contestant, sponsor, vendor or volunteer for the Mister Bamenda 2015 event, contact any of the following addresses:
Bamenda: Philo Happi [Eden Newspaper-Chemist, Bamenda], Stella [STV Metta Quarters-Bamenda], Wancha Cynthia [Radio Hot Cocoa], Press & Associates [Ndefcam Radio, Ghana Street-Bamenda]
Limbe: Tembang Solomon [Eden Newspaper-Limbe]
Kumba: Talla Christopher [The Sun Newspaper-Kumba
Douala: Peter Nsoesie [STV Douala]
Yaoundé: Kini Nsom [The Post Newspaper Yaoundé]  
For any further details on sponsorship and vendor opportunities please contact Gwain Colbert, Co-Founder, Executive Director of A Common Future, as soon as possible through acommonfuture1@yahoo.com or call [237]. 677 85 24 76

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

How Visiting NW Senators Failed to Convince Donga Mantung on Whereabout of Late Senator Jikong's Micro Grants

Senator Achidi and Senator Teche

 Tongues are waging in Donga Mantung Division over the marathon visit to the Division by North West senators that lasted about four hours. The team led by Senator Achidi Achu Simon was made up of Senator Fon Teche, Senator Fon Gahyongha III, Senator Emma Lafon, Senator Zacharie Awanga and Senator Wanlo John. Conspicuously absent was Senator

Councilors who took the pains from Nwa, Ako, Misaje and Ndu to travel to Nkambe to welcome the senators left more confused than when they were coming. This is so due to the fact that the senators were more confused in responding to worries raised by councilors. Tempers almost escalidated when senator Fon Teche said that “the constitution of the senator” does take care of some issues as to what happens to the micro grants of a senator when he/she dies. Some councilors were surprised that the Standing Orders of the Upper House should be different to those of Parliament. To them, the micro grants of late Senator Jikong must have been siphoned given that in Parliament when an MPs dies, his/her micro grant is handed to the closest neigbour. “I was not convinced at all. I am sure they told us a lie”, Nfor Clearance told this reporter. The question as to whether the senators lied abound high.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Councilors Decline Gift from North West Senators

Senator Achidi: Head of the delegation

Councilors of Nwa council in Donga Mantung Division have declined transport allowances offered to them by North West Senators. The incident happened today July 13, 2015 at the Nkambe community hall when visiting North West senators led by Senator Achidi Achu Simon stormed Donga Mantung in what observers described as a marathon thank you visit. Some of the councilors threatened to block the senators from leaving the hall, but were halt by the timely intervention of the mayor of Nwa, Ngomfe Loma David who pleaded that he will take care of their transport fare. “We cannot spend FCFA 13.000 each to come here and receive FCFA 10.000”, one of the councilors was heard fuming in anger. Another councilor described the incident as a slap in the face given that even the FCFA 200.000 promised them during senatorial elections in 2013 were all paid.  The Mayor of Nwa, Dr. Ngomfe Loma David said it was really a pathetic situation. “I have begged them and I will borrow money to complete the deficit. In fact I cannot allow my councilors to be stranded here in Nkambe”, he concluded. “I think we will no more vote people from space to the position of senators. A list that will not have councilors, we will not vote it. We have learned a bitter lesson and we are waiting for them to come to us for votes again”, another councilor of Misaje council vomited. On the other hand, the mayor of Ako said they received a telephone call which announced to them that all the councilors should report in Nkambe today to receive a motorbike each. “You know we are the closest neigbours to Nigeria and we thought Government has realized that they could promote councilors with a means of movement. But surprisingly, we came here to meet Senators. I thank them anyway for giving supporting us with a motorbike”, he concluded.  The councilors of Misaje were also heard threatening their mayor that if they are not all paid mission allowances for the trip to Nkambe, they too will boycott all meetings summoned by the senators given that they are all ingrates.

Bikes donated to councils

The former mayor of Misaje, Nkenda Simon Sunde exploded that though it is better to be late than never, “I was to ask them why they have forsaken us. And I was also going to ask them whether they are very comfortable to see councilors being taxed on the small sitting allowances. “I think I will also support the idea that councilors should henceforth vote their colleagues into senate or councilors who are mature people”, Nkenda Simon concluded.

Bunyui Emmanuel Nyugap, Mayor of Ndu said the senate is there because of the councils and it is normal for senators to show appreciation to the councilors after being elected into office. “I want to appreciate the senators for the bikes. However, the mayor of Ndu disclosed that senators are seemingly very comfortable when councilors and mayors who voted them into office are without salaries. “Mayors are threatening to stage a sit-down strike as from August 1, 2015” Bunyui said. He also wondered why Anglophone senators are quiet about issues related to bilingualism in this country. “Bilingualism is on paper and the Anglophones are largely marginalized. We need to talk about the Anglophone issue”. He regretted that the senate has been silent over a Private Members Bill on the protection of water catchments whereas water is becoming a problem. He also lamented that the senate may-likely be another rubber stamp like Parliament. “Cameroon will not attend emergence by a decree. If decentralization is not effective, we may still end up as the laughing stuck in Africa”, Bunyui Emmanuel concluded.

Ngabir Paul Bantar in his welcome speech had earlier decried that the plight of Donga Mantung people. In his speech, the mayor of Nkambe wondered why Fons who are only auxiliaries of the administration while councilors and mayors are not paid salaries. He also raised the issue of the Ring road which has ended in Kumbo, adding that the tarring of Kumbo-Nkambe-Misaje stretch should be anticipated. The mayor of Nkambe council also said that it is regrettable that Nwa which is the oldest and largest sub Division has not been considered in the decentralization process. He requested that Nwa should be raise to a full Division.

Matters came to a head when a councilor for Nwa asked the Achidi Achu led team whether late senator Jikong Stephen micro grants have been handed to them. In a desperate attempt to respond to the question, senator Fon Teche said that when a senator dies, his micro project grant dies as well. Tempers almost flared when he (Teche) said that the clause was omitted in the constitution. Donga Mantung councilors immediately sense the rat and murmuring took the central stage.When this reporter accosted Senator Achidi to find out from him why the FCFA 200.000 they promised councilors during campaigns have not been paid, he (Achidi)  responded that some people think that senators have alot of money but that is not the case. " I borrowed alot of money to use during the senatorial campaigns and right now the bank is threatening to seize my assets", Achidi said.

It should be noted that the senators donated a motorbike each to the five councils that make up Donga Mantung Division.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Jessica Lydie Ngoua Wins Miss Cameroon 2015

Formerly Miss Littoral, Jessica Lydie Ngoua has been crowned Miss Cameroon. She was crowned by Cameroon's First Lady Madame Chantal Biya. Jessica Lydie Ngoua was closely followed by Ongogono Thonet Joelle and Biata Diane at the second and third position respectively.
Miss Cameroun 2015: Jessica Lydie Ngoua
1st Dauphin: Joëlle Thonet
2nd Dauphin: Diane biata
3rd Dauphin: Audrey Inès Mboth
4th Dauphin: Raissa Ebenye Minlo
5th Dauphin: Myriam Kamako

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)