Meet a PNB Ambassador: Joannes Paulus Yimbesalu, Research Scientist & Founder HOPEFCC

Joannes P. Yimbesalu

I am called Joannes Paulus Yimbesalu and originally from the beautiful tribe of Kom in the North West Region of Cameroon.

I am currently based in the USA where I work at the Medical College of Wisconsin as a Research Scientist doing research on Lung Cancer.

I spent most of my childhood days in Bamenda and what admires me most about this part of the country is the originality and the diverse culture and language of the people. I try to preserve my identity as a typical ‘Bikom’ boy from Bamenda anywhere I find myself especially during conferences I attend.

To me, I think we are who we are today because of our identity and as Cameroonians in general and North Westerners in particular, hence we should all strive to preserve our culture and I strongly urge that we all should find plight in showcasing our culture in any little way where ever we find ourselves in any part of the globe. 

Anytime I put on my Bamenda regalia commonly called “Toghu”, people admire me and I am proud of it. What I love about the people of Bamenda is their simplicity and their love for family and community. They are very welcoming people and the first thing you hear from anyone you meet along the way is “ma pikin welcome and hope say you dey fine”. Even in their pain and suffering, they are still able to give you that sweet smile which is very unique.

I am the founder of a Non-for-Profit Governmental Organization called Hope for Children Cameroon (HOPEFCC), a common initiative group with head office in Njinikom in Boyo Division. HOPEFCC has been existing since 2009 when it started as a charity organization aimed at helping underprivileged children especially orphans and the disabled in this part of the country.

Currently, we work in all three subdivisions of Boyo Division namely Belo, Njinikom and Fundong and in each subdivision we work with one primary school. These schools are located in enclave areas making it very difficult to access especially during the rainy season. These disadvantaged children lack access to basic education and as such are left behind since they either have no close relative to look after them or send them to school.

HOPEFCC is therefore bridging the gap between these children and access to education by providing them with basic education, improving health and well-being through the practice of adequate hygiene and sanitation as well as the promoting the quality of life of these children so that at the end of the day, they would attained their full potential and become responsible citizens of tomorrow. Education open doors for development and it’s the only took no one can take from you.

Project New Bamenda is a wonderful initiative and I want to use this opportunity to give a shout out to the founders and partners of this great initiative as it is a way of bringing sons and daughters of this great region together so that with one voice we can all contribute ideas that foster the growth and development of the region.

Bamenda is very different now as it was ten years ago with the construction of new roads, new infrastructures and this has greatly promoted development in the area through the creation of small businesses, and timely transportation of farm produce to the market and this has greatly boast in the economy especially. Through the sale of these agricultural produce, lives have changed, women can now capable of taking care of their families and sending their children to good schools.

Communities that empower women by taking part in decision making procedures, promoting their fundamental rights, preventing violence against women and girls  and child trafficking open doors for development and this has proven to be the best approach in ending the cycle of poverty. 

We all need to help one another as we climb through the ladder of success.

One Last One

My most favorite dish is no other dish than the famous and royal ‘kati kati’ but I must say fufu and eru comes next

Meet a PNB Ambassador: Jules Nya, Founder & CEO, MuMak Records

Jules Nya

My name is Jules Tetabua Nya and my mother hails from Babungo in the Ngoketunja Division. I am CEO and Founder of MuMaK (Music Makers), one of Cameroon's foremost urban music labels.

I am based in Douala and currently signed under my label are artists Mr Elad and Magasco aka Bamenda Boi, one of Cameroon's finest Hip Hop/Afropop sensations of the moment. In my many years of experience as a talent scout, manager and artist developer, I have worked with some of the country's most gifted artists such as the late Tom Yom's, Sine, Ashley Stephanie, Museba and Jovi just to name these few. So far, my most outstanding project is Jovi's H.I.V album released last year in which I served as A&R* and Co-Executive producer.

The North West region is a land blessed with both natural and human resources from time immemorial. Over the years, the North West region has undoubtedly churned out some of the most gifted outstanding personalities this country has ever produced. Though a typically agrarian society, its people are well renowned for their humility, discipline, hard work and excellence in all walks of life.

It is a well establish fact that culture is the bedrock of every civilization but unfortunately due to stiff competition coming from other nations and general economic hard ship, Cameroonian music is currently witnessing its worst recession ever. My company is committed to salvaging and restoring our lost pride via massive consumption of "Camer" urban music. Identifying the problems plaguing our music industry has helped us proffer tentative solutions to this ailing yet pivotal sector of our nation's economy.

Through good quality music/videos aimed at meeting our people's needs and aspirations, branding, innovative online distribution techniques and adequate media exposure ranging from traditional to new forms of social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, we intend bridging the wide existing gap between the new generation of Cameroonian artistes and their fellow artistes from the rest of the world.

So far, our efforts have proven effective with the buzz surrounding artistes such as Jovi, Renise (now New Bell Music) and Magasco. Through the works of most of these artistes, the North West region is directly or indirectly being put on the map since a vast majority of them come from there. We are convinced that music that reflects majorly our people's lifestyle and plight will constitute a catalyst for a buoyant and sustainable music industry.

Project New Bamenda is an avant-gardist project that is most welcome at this precise moment in time when many of us North West natives are reinventing ourselves with the quest for a more dynamic socio-economic environment. Our people are rediscovering their essence and true human resource potentials, reason why PNB is a sine qua non for the eminent development of the region at large. Indeed, PNB is an idea that has come of age and has indeed come to stay.

I am convinced that the most gifted new generation of Cameroonian artistes are Anglophones notably from the North West region. The North West region is a potential breeding ground for world-class talents but I wish and hope all these talents could be harnessed into the money making machine that is needed to make the entertainment business a mainstay in Bamenda.

One Last One

My favorite dish is Fufu Corn and Katikati. Don't know much (no laugh abeg) about the meaning of my name "Tetabua" but the little I know is, it is a special Babungo name given to a male twin child.

*A&R : Artists and repertoire

Meet a PNB Ambassador: Okawa Shaznay, Actress

Okawa Shaznay

I am Okawa Shaznay. I was born and raised in Bamenda and I am a native of Oshie in Momo division.

I currently reside in Houston, Texas. I am an actress affiliated with Nollywood USA and recently I have branched out into doing movies in different parts of Africa. So far I have done a little over 10 movies or so. Just to name a few: “The Bet”, “Husband’s desire”, “This is Houston” , ” High Endz”, ”Blind Pursuit” (which was  premiered in Houston, Texas, this past February 2013). Just recently, I was blessed to have the opportunity to work with one of Africa’s best directors, Frank Rajah, in Ghana for a movie titled “Refugees” which is in production. That is my biggest film project to date and I am quite excited and very much grateful to God Almighty for it.

What I like most about the North West region is the fact that not only are the people hospitable but they equally are always striving to excel with little or no governmental help, I take for example the rise of many private elementary, secondary and vocational schools over the years has made our region one of the most sought after places for education in the country. Many Cameroonians from different regions of the country usually send their children to school in the North West and with education being a powerful tool for any society, I see this as a major plus for the North West Region.

As Someone who is involved in the entertainment industry in the area of film, I am determined and working hard to excel to higher heights in my acting career which will eventually bring the lime light to the North West Region and eventually to my country Cameroon. But most especially by the grace of God, I hope to be able to produce my own movies in our region which will in turn help bring out promising talents in the North West.

More so, I have been researching and looking at getting into real estate and property management at some point, which is another area through which I can help contribute to the economic development of the North West in the future; even though this vision is still in its baby phase, I know it will materialize successfully with determination and lots of hard work. I believe our region has unexploited areas that have a promising future business-wise.

I think Project New Bamenda is a great idea to help in the enhancement of our region especially in the economical and arts/cultural sense. It’s always great to see great minds at work gearing not only to better themselves but their society as a whole.

As earlier stated, one of my biggest dream is to contribute in bringing out our film industry to make its own mark in Africa as our other sister nations are doing.

One Last One:

My favorite dish from Bamenda is Katikati (don’t laugh) and favorite place to visit or hang out is Savannah Botanical gardens and  the Saddle Hill Ranch Resort.