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| Gerald Sunjo Layu |
My name is Gerald Sunjo Layu.
I’m a Banso man and a “Bamenda boy”. I attended
nursery school up the Hill at Veterinary Junction, in what is now the actual
veterinary building if memory serves. Then I did a round of primary schools
over six years: first CS Bayele, then St John’s Foncha Street, then PS Atuakom;
a change of scenery that would overwhelm any pilgrim. I attended college at
Sacred Heart Mankon, then high School at GBHS Bamenda - two head-spinning years
in which I spent just as much time attending booms in Bambili, Mbengwi and an
assortment of other venues (along with ill-advised forays into Bali) as I did
within the four walls of a class. I read law afterwards at Birmingham
University in the UK and spent a further six years in Europe after my degree
putting off an inevitable return until I caught the business bug and rode a
wave of optimism home.
My most enduring and nostalgic memories have Bamenda
as a backdrop though: crossing “two bridge” from Bayele and having close shaves
and near misses all the way home; collecting even-tempered dogs in the
“quartier” with my mates while at St John’s and going hunting for squirrel and
cutting grass around the hills of what is now GTHS Bamenda and beyond; Coupe
Top at Ntamulung; Chinese and Indian films at Rota. That was my Bamenda.
Over the years of the life of the nation, the people
of the North West have demonstrated a resilience and a single minded
determination to succeed in less than perfect circumstances. There is a
disciplined approach to life and living which is in our DNA. Our parents insisted
we become professionals: doctors, lawyers, engineers etc and invested
forcefully in that ideal. No football, music or other frivolity. At least not
back then. Whatever the demerits of this approach it is mighty hard to make an
argument against it as I think it has served our generation well. The PNB
ambassadors I see on this blog are testament to that.
Our parents educated us and built homes on modest
incomes. Njangis and the Credit union scene are lasting tributes to a rare
fiscal discipline. In addition to tireless toil, North-westerners take every
aspect of tradition seriously: our elders, our dialects, and all those routine
cultural rituals and observances that punctuate daily life. These things define
us. They are who we are.
I live in Douala and co-own and run a boutique hotel
in Limbe with my brother called Autograph. A good many PNB readers are our
loyal guests. At least I hope so. As tough an economy as ours is I remain
convinced of the possibilities and opportunities in an emerging Bamenda and in Cameroon.
Our generation has the opportunity to shape and contribute to the
entrepreneurial landscape of the future. In concrete terms it means being bold,
taking risks and above all fostering a collaboratory spirit among us.
Bamenda has been good to me. A “New Bamenda” I suspect
will be even better for us and future generations. I commend the ethos and
timing behind the Project New Bamenda initiative. Bamenda, I feel, is taking
confident, visible strides into the future at the moment. One can feel the momentum
building; one can see the progress being made. I believe in partnerships.
Partnerships of ideas; partnerships in effort; a collective approach in service
of a grander vision for our town and region; a pooling of financial and human
resources with generous doses of creativity and innovation. Previous
generations provided the platform and we have the opportunity to make use of
the skills and tools at our disposal to creating a vibrant business
environment.
One Last One
My favourite place in Bamenda is the Station hills.
Not so much from the top down - as much as the town coming into view upon
arrival gives me pleasure - but looking at them from the bottom up. It’s always
given me a feeling of security; like we are walled in. A sort of “Fortress
Bamenda”.
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