Cameroon Echoes {Echos Camerounais}

Echo Lens Focus: Jean Pierre Bekolo's "Quartier Mozart" and "les saignantes"

http://quartiermozart.blogspot.com/

One of the most delightfully unexpected African films in decades, Quartier Mozart was awarded the Prix Afrique en Creation at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival and has enchanted film festival audiences from New York to New Dehli. Told over a 48-hour period in a working class neighborhood in Yaounde, Jean-Pierre Bekolo's film is the story of the not-very-sentimental education of a young schoolgirl known as Queen of the 'Hood. Maman Thekla, the local sorceress, helps her enter the body of a young man, My Guy, so she can discover for herself the real "sexual politics" of the quarter. Meanwhile, Maman Thekla herself assumes the shape of Panka, a familiar comic figure in Cameroonian folklore who can cause a man's penis to disappear with a simple handshake.

First Ladies of Africa – The Good, The Bad, and The Hideous: Do You Agree?

Given that our First lady appears in this post by a nigerian author, i thought to post it here to illicit your opinion if any.

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Ever since Jacqueline Kennedy stepped into the scene in 1961, the world has been fascinated with the fashions and happening of First Ladies, the hoopla of first wives fashion gradually vanished into oblivion with the introduction of the generic skirt and pant suits (dont need to mention any names here). Fast forward to 2008...when the Mrs Obama  became more than a household name. Her fashion style resurrected the death of presidential fashion, and we couldn't resist or ignore her subtle, yet bold mix match of outfits. Wearing JCrew one day, and Alexander Wang the next, she single handedly inspired me to look into our "presidential faces of africa" and i need to say they are just wack with their guccis, versace and dior they still look like crap"money miss road"

Cameroon...oh sweet Cameroon!!!..need I say more about Chantal Biya, Cameroon First Lady. If you are trying to show your friends Africa is not always about Lions, then try not to google her. 

Gringori, Zebrudaya: Creator of "Masquerade" Discuses the Classic African Comedy

James Iroha, creator of the popular television series Masquuerade, and also acted the part of Gringory. James Iroha is one name that routinely put laughter in the mouths of Nigerians in the 70's and early 80's. Masquerade, a drama comedy he created and acted the role of Gringory, Chief Zebrudaya's house boy, had glued NTA viewers to their seats and made them laugh away their sorrows. He was also there at the early stages of Nollywood and acted in such films as Nneka the Pretty Serpent, among others. His contribution to the entertainment industry has earned him praise and laurels, including the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON, given to him by former President Shehu Shagari. He retired as acting Director-General of the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, (BCA). The Source was with him recently, at his World Bank Estate residence in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, where he talked of his life, his acting, his fight to reclaim his intellectual property from the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), and his quarrel with Chika Okpala, (Chief Zebrudaya). Excerpts. In the Nigerian entertainment industry, the name James Iroha rings bell. It is also a big name in the mass media industry. But now you have retired from both. Could you tell us how you are enjoying your retirement?

Eto'o - Sayouba Sigué "Betch" dans BABEMBA

FICTION FACTION: If men were pregnant

People say stupid things on Facebook. The other day, this male Facebook friend of mine who is also a well known Nigerian writer posted on his Facebook profile the following yeye quote by Norman Mailer: "Writing books is the closest men ever come to childbearing."

His Facebook account lit up immediately. He was assaulted by a million female Facebook warriors led by the mother of all generals, a smart, sexy and pretty Facebook Nigerian writer friend of mine, who, you guessed right, is female. Norman Mailer you will recall was a great American writer. He tended to drink lots of cheap booze and get into fights and say a lot of stupid things.

Think about it; only a drunken male would make the stupid assertion that writing books is the closest men ever come to childbearing. The person has obviously never given birth to a baby! And is definitely not married. Otherwise he would know to shut his yeye mouth.

These Filthy Transporters

By Effa Tambennkongho

Some taxi drivers and motorbike riders are dirty making their clients uncomfortable. At about 11:00 am one morning, a bike rider was running around with his friends with his tooth brush in his month. What a situation! The next day a colleague climbed on a motor bike to be dropped quickly in his destination and complained he could hardly breathe because of the odour that came from the motor bike rider's coat.

Most of these drivers do not care to keep their vehicles and themselves clean for the sake of their passengers. The vehicles sometimes stink when they carry maybe some market sellers to the market and they do not wash them after. The case of 'cargos' is worst because the vehicles lack doors and a passenger could fall out if care is not taken.

The man who hangs on the door like a motor boy calling for passengers and who collect money from the passengers does not even care that he could be crushed by a car if he falls from the position he is standing. 

Most of the time they carry so many passengers that he lacks where to sit, so he is forced to hang by the door till they get to the destination. Lately a youngman who was playing the role of a motor boy fell from the vehicle and was crushed and that was his end.

Talking to Ajong Christopher, a taxi driver who has been in the business for more than 18 years, he said most of the people who leave themselves dirty are young boys who lack responsibility, who do not have wives who can hold them down to keep themselves clean.

He added that a taxi driver is not supposed to be well dressed in suit because he sits in the car all day long and the act of carrying passengers' goods into the car and taking it out again is a Herculean task which does not warrant serious dressing up.

But a younger driver gave a contrary view. He said it is mostly the old brooms in the profession who leave themselves any how. He said the young keep their cars clean as "you might find your wife in the taxi" he said.

He said most motor bike riders are a disgrace because most of them are poorly brought up. Immediately they are able to ride a bike they jump to the streets and off they go, without having the proper mind frame.