Life

13, May 2025

Yaoundé: Father of Cameroonian musician Lydol arrested for fatal stabbing of 6-year-old ⁰

A deeply disturbing incident has shaken the Ngoa Ekelle neighborhood in Yaoundé. The father of renowned Cameroonian musician Lydol has been arrested after allegedly stabbing a 6-year-old child to death.

According to eyewitness accounts, the incident followed a physical altercation between Lydol’s father and the child’s father. In a shocking and horrific act of revenge, he is reported to have turned his anger on the innocent child, resulting in the child’s death.

The victim was rushed to the Yaoundé Military Hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries.

Following the incident, bystanders who witnessed the gruesome act attacked the suspect before he was taken to the hospital for treatment. He has since been arrested by authorities.

Alarming Developments: There are unconfirmed reports suggesting that this may be the second murder involving the suspect within the span of two weeks. He is reportedly under investigation for another violent incident that occurred last week.

The case has sparked widespread outrage and grief, especially given the suspect’s close relation to a public figure. Cameroonians are calling for justice for the young victim and a thorough investigation into all allegations.

By Alain Agbor Ebot

12, May 2025

French Cameroun: MNJTF Force Commander commissions St. Joseph Nursery School in Mora ⁰

In a significant boost to educational development in the Lake Chad Basin, the Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Godwin Mutkut, has commissioned the newly constructed and fully equipped St. Joseph Nursery School in Mora, Cameroon. The project forms part of the MNJTF’s Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) initiative aimed at promoting education and rebuilding community infrastructure in conflict-affected areas.

The newly inaugurated facility features two modern classrooms and a staff room, designed to provide a safe and conducive environment for early childhood learning. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Major General Mutkut emphasized the central role of education in fostering long-term peace and development.

“Education is not just a priority—it is a necessity,” he declared. “We must lead by example and invest in our children’s future to counter the narratives of those who oppose learning. Without education, there can be no progress.”

General Mutkut also highlighted the MNJTF’s broader efforts in implementing quick-impact projects across the Lake Chad region. These initiatives are intended to alleviate the suffering of communities impacted by terrorism and insurgency, while fostering stronger ties between the military and local populations. He called on the Mora community to take full ownership of the new facility and ensure its proper care and maintenance.

In her remarks, the Director of the school, Ms. Justine Suke, expressed profound appreciation to the MNJTF and the African Union for making the project a reality. “This school will lay a solid foundation for the future of children in Mora and neighboring communities

Source PRNigeria

23, April 2025

Teachers strike shuts down schools across Cameroon ⁰

Cameroon faces a major education crisis as a four-day national teachers’ strike begins on April 22nd. The “Ecole Morte” movement, led by the Collective of Teachers’ Organisations of Cameroon, unites more than a dozen unions demanding urgent reforms.

At the heart of their six key demands: the organisation of a national forum to rethink the education system, the upgrading of teachers’ special status, and a collective agreement for private school teachers. The strike follows a warning issued in March.

While the government has opened talks, including a meeting at the Ministry of Public Service on April 17, unions say the steps taken are not enough. Teachers are calling for immediate action to address chronic problems and ensure a stable environment for their profession.

Source: Africa News

17, April 2025

Afrobeats star Davido says Nigerian culture is having a moment ⁰

“We’re very popular, not only in music,” the 32-year-old Afrobeats star told AFP during a recent interview in Paris, pointing to the film, food and fashion influence his country is increasingly exporting to the rest of the world.

Even amid criticism from some that American artists are starting to crib from Afrobeats’ sound, his response is: “I like it.”

And yet, the Nigerian-American artist — a self-described citizen of the world — sees the future of the continent tied to those who stay home, rather than its influential diaspora.

“Everybody always has the American dream,” he told AFP. “Every kid that grows up in Africa wants to visit America. That’s cool. It’s okay to visit, but don’t leave your people and go there.”

Those might be tough words to swallow for his compatriots battling the worst economic crisis in a generation.

In recent years, “japa” — the Yoruba word for “escape” — has become country-wide slang for emigrating to greener, and richer pastures.

Davido, born David Adedeji Adeleke in Atlanta, in some ways straddles the tension between a growing, bustling Nigeria of more than 200 million people and a world that finally seems to be waking up to the so-called Giant of Africa.

Speaking to AFP ahead of the release of his new album, “5ive” — out Friday — he confidently says the record “is going to touch every part of the world.”

“We have music for the French people. We have music for the Caribbean people. We have music for the Americans, Africans, everybody,” he said.

“It’s like a full, global package album.”

– Eight million monthly listeners –

With some more than eight million monthly listeners — including Britain’s King Charles — Davido is riding, and shaping, the global Afrobeats craze.

But Davido himself is also a product of African music.

Nigerian-American singer, songwriter and record producer Davido, poses during a photo session in Paris on April 14, 2025.

“I grew up in an African household where we were always throwing parties, music was always playing in the house, going in the car to school, my parents playing music,” he enthusiastically recalled.

As a teenager, a cousin in the industry took him to a studio, where “for the first time, I saw somebody create music… African music.”

“That’s when I fell in love with it,” said Davido, spotting a grey conical woollen cap and jewellery dangling over a black T-shirt.

A few years later, he was mixing and mastering his own tunes by the age of 16, drawing inspiration from artists such as P-Square, a Nigerian duo that drew some of their hits from American influences such as Michael Jackson.

Davido now sees artists’ musical influence flowing across the Atlantic in the other direction.

“It’s a privilege for another culture to try to imitate what you’re doing,” he told AFP in response to a question about critics who accuse American artists of trying to mime Afrobeats’ style.

“In Nigeria we do hip hop too. We have rappers that rap. We have people that do R&B.”

“Music is a universal language. So I don’t see any problem with that.”

Davido counts among some of his popular tracks “Unavailable” and “Aye”.

– ‘African music has changed narrative’ –

For all his worldly outlook, Davido said he hasn’t lost focus on Nigeria.

'African music has changed the narrative of how Africans are looked at around the world,' says Nigerian-American singer Davido — ‘African music has changed the narrative of how Africans are looked at around the world,’ says Nigerian-American singer Davido © JOEL SAGET / AFP

“We’ve been going through hard times,” he told AFP. “Nigeria is a very rich country with so much talent, so much grace, so much opportunity.”

“I was asked a question saying, why don’t we sing about (Nigeria’s struggles) in our music?” he recalled. “I was like, man, that’s not the type of music my people would really like to hear.”

“I have sung about it in the past. But I’m very vocal about it more in Africa than in America.”

As he prepares to embark on a world tour — including stops in Paris, London, New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles — he knows where at least part of his success has come from.

“African music has changed the narrative of how Africans are looked at around the world.”

Source: AFP

8, April 2025

CRTV pays 850M CFA Francs, settling artist royalty arrears ⁰

State broadcaster, CRTV, has cleared its 850 million CFA franc debt to artists, settling royalties owed for the 2015-2017 period.

The final payments, totaling 531.25 million CFA francs, were disbursed after an initial 318.75 million CFA franc installment in December 2024. This resolves the second tranche, also 318.75 million CFA francs, due since December, and the third, 212.5 million CFA francs, due since February 2025.

These arrears stemmed from the use of artistic works, including songs, photos, and books, broadcast, performed, or adapted by CRTV. The payments cover rights holders represented by the former Collective Management Organizations (OGCs) authorized before December 2017: Sociladra, Scaap, CMC, Socam, and Socadap. A memorandum of understanding governing the settlement was signed between these OGCs and CRTV on September 4, 2024.

The announcement comes after artists began a strike on April 2, 2025, outside the Prime Minister’s office, demanding the owed royalties. This payment appears to address their demands.

“This outcome will give artists some breathing room,” said Élise Mballa Meka, general supervisor of the Special Collection Operation for Royalty Arrears (Orsar).

Sam Mbende, deputy general supervisor of Orsar, added that “the five OGCs will proceed with a social distribution of the funds in the coming days, for the benefit of the rights holders of the reference period (2015-2017).”

In July 2021, Sam Mbende, then vice president of the Special Commission for the Recovery of Royalty Arrears, revealed that approximately 25 billion CFA francs ($41 million) in arrears were owed by roughly 30 companies and users following six months of fieldwork across Cameroon. He highlighted that three brewing companies alone owed 16 billion CFA francs ($26 million) for the 2005-2017 period, according to the former chairman of CMC’s board.

Source: Sbbc

31, March 2025

Biya regime pledges to repay 616M CFA Francs to Baccalaureate examiners ⁰

The government has acknowledged a 616 million CFA franc debt owed to teachers by the Baccalaureate Office (OBC), stemming from unpaid travel allowances for examiners, anonymizers, and center supervisors, according to a statement released March 26 after discussions with education unions.

The government clarified that the debt results from tax deductions imposed by the Directorate General of Taxes on exam-related payments, which are legally exempt from withholding. Officials stated that “steps have been taken to rectify the situation,” indicating an intent to reimburse the wrongly withheld funds.

This revelation follows a prior admission by the OBC in February 2022 of a 1.4 billion CFA franc debt to teachers from the 2021 exam session. OBC Director Étienne Roger Minkoulou attributed the ongoing financial issues to “a systemic inability to plan ahead,” citing uncertainties in candidate numbers, personnel requirements, and available funding.

Separately, the government addressed outstanding payments to teachers by the General Certificate of Education Board (GCE Board), the anglophone equivalent of the OBC, pledging that disbursements would commence today, March 31, 2025. The statement also recommended a review of assessment procedures for the Baccalaureate and GCE Advanced Level exams to alleviate financial strain.

Source: Sbbc

1, March 2025

Angola: Cholera outbreak kills over 200 ⁰

The number of people killed in the latest cholera outbreak in Angola has risen to 201, the country’s Health Ministry announced.

A total of 5,574 people have been infected since early January, the ministry said in a press release on Friday.

Cholera cases have been reported in 13 of Angola’s 21 provinces. The outbreak originated in the capital province of Luanda, which has recorded the highest number of cases, followed by the neighboring provinces of Bengo and Icolo e Bengo.

13, February 2025

Cameroonian PhDs: Poor Helpless and Desperate ⁰

On February 12, 2025, the Collectif des docteurs/PhD, chômeurs indignés du Cameroun (CDPCIC), a group of unemployed PhD holders, sent a letter to the senior divisional officer for the Mfoundi division, Emmanuel Mariel Djikdent, announcing their intention to stage a peaceful march in Yaoundé on February 20. The protest follows the publication of results from the second phase of a special recruitment program for university lecturers in the country’s newly established public universities in Bertoua (East), Ebolowa (South), and Garoua (North).

The collective, which represents doctorate holders struggling to find employment across Cameroon, voiced strong dissatisfaction over what they describe as “inconsistencies” and “injustices” in the selection process. According to their letter, the march aims to demand an additional recruitment round to include PhD holders who were unfairly excluded from the final selection process.

Allegations of Favoritism and Unfair Selection

In their correspondence, the group raises several concerns regarding recruitment criteria and candidate eligibility. Their primary grievance is the alleged mismatch between some selected candidates’ profiles and the advertised positions, a situation they claim has opened the door to favoritism and a disregard for meritocracy.

They further denounce the inclusion of already-employed civil servants in the recruitment process, which they argue contradicts the initiative’s original intent—to provide opportunities specifically for unemployed PhD holders, as instructed by the President of the Republic.

Another major point of contention is what they see as a blatant injustice: some newly minted PhD holders, who defended their theses only days before the results were announced, were hired, while more experienced doctorate holders with years of teaching and research experience were left out. “These are the pioneers of our public and private universities, some of whom are already advanced in age, and they should have been prioritized for recruitment,” the collective stated.

Adding to their frustration, some advertised positions reportedly disappeared from the final list of recruitments, despite having qualified applicants. For the unemployed PhD holders, this further deepens their disappointment and sense of exclusion after years of academic pursuit. These grievances have compelled the CDPCIC to take action, organizing what they insist will be a “peaceful march” in the capital.

Protests Extend to the Great North

The discontent is not limited to Yaoundé. Another group, the Collectif des titulaires du doctorat/PhD du Grand-Nord, has also announced a peaceful demonstration in Ngaoundéré, the capital of the Adamaoua region, scheduled for February 21, 2025.

Like their counterparts in Mfoundi, these doctorate holders say they are expressing their “profound indignation” over what they view as social injustice and geographical discrimination in the recruitment results. According to them, the selection process failed to implement the “affirmative action” principle meant to favor candidates from underrepresented regions, particularly in Cameroon’s northern regions, where access to opportunities is perceived to be more limited.

On February 4, Séraphin Magloire Fouda, Secretary General of the Prime Minister’s Office and Chairman of the Central Supervision Commission for the special recruitment program, announced the results of its second phase.

This initiative aims to recruit 150 lecturers for the three newly established public universities, created by presidential decree in January 2022, for the 2024–2025 academic year. Eligible candidates had to be under 45 years old as of October 1, 2024, hold a doctorate or PhD, and reside either in Cameroon or abroad.

Launched in 2023 and set to conclude in 2025, the recruitment process seeks to strengthen the teaching workforce at these universities, which admitted their first students in the 2022–2023 academic year but continue to face a significant faculty shortage.

Source: Business in Cameroon

22, January 2025

Miss Cameroon: COMICA increases age limit for contestants to 35 ⁰

The Miss Cameroon Organizing Committee (COMICA) announced on January 16 that it has updated its eligibility criteria, raising the maximum age limit for contestants from 28 to 35. This change, shared on the committee’s social media platforms, aims to “allow more young women to compete and represent the beauty, intelligence, and diversity of Cameroon,” according to COMICA.

In addition to the age increase, the minimum age for participation has also been raised from 17 to 18. COMICA President Ingrid Solange Amougou clarified in an interview with SBBC that this decision is not modeled after other pageants, such as Miss France, which recently eliminated its age limit of 24 to allow all women over 18 to participate. “We’re not imitating anyone. The expansion came a little late, but it’s to align with international pageant standards,” she stated during a phone interview.

Amougou noted that the decision was partly inspired by Miss Universe and numerous requests from women over 28 who expressed interest in competing. This adjustment follows other inclusion initiatives implemented by COMICA in 2023, which permitted young Muslim women to compete while wearing their veils and allowed contestants to choose whether or not to participate in the swimsuit segment. Additional measures were introduced to enable young mothers with children over two years old to compete.

The Miss Cameroon competition, established in 1960, has experienced several periods of inactivity before being relaunched in 2002 under COMICA’s leadership. Each year, the competition attracts many young women aspiring to win the prestigious title. The 17th edition, concluded on June 28, 2024, saw Raïssa Noura Njikam from the Northern region crowned by Chantal Biya, Cameroon’s First Lady.

Source: Sbbc

12, January 2025

Mamfe: Church hails diaspora for giving toilets to Saint Mary’s Catholic School ⁰

The Roman Catholic Church has lauded Boh Nchang Europe (BNEu) for constructing a modern toilet facility for the Saint Mary’s Catholic School Nchang to put an end to open defecation among pupils in the school.

The Regent Chief of Nchang, Ta Martin Ettasco who commissioned the toilet project recently and handed it over to the Diocese of Mamfe, commended BNEu for keying into Bishop Abangalo Fondong’s plan to put an end to open defecation in the bush in Catholic schools.

Ta Martin Ettasco said that the toilet project would prevent pupils from contaminating diseases associated with open defecation, and keep them clean and safe, stating that the project was a selfless service to improving the well-being of the current and future of the pupils.

Speaking exclusively to Cameroon Concord News the President of Boh Nchang Europe Dr Tataw-Mbimbeng opined that the provision of toilets in schools and the benefits they inevitably offer cannot be stressed enough.

The much respected Dr Tataw-Mbimbeng furthered that adequate sanitation facilities are fundamental to creating a conducive learning environment, improving students help, and curbing the spread of preventable diseases.

Dr Tataw-Mbimbeng also pointed out that the intervention of BNEu would go a long way to complement the efforts of the government towards the provision of equitable and quality education for the citizenry.

By Soter Agbaw-Ebai