Life

12, January 2026

Nigerian stars dominate All Africa Music Awards ⁰

Nigerian artists secured a string of victories at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (Afrima), which concluded in Lagos on Sunday night.

Global superstar Burna Boy claimed the prestigious Album of the Year award for his latest work No Sign of Weakness.

He also shared the award for Best African Collaboration with fast-rising compatriot Shallipopi, who separately won the coveted Song of the Year for his hit single Laho, which made waves on social media.

The week-long event, which had a diverse group of music experts from across Africa and the diaspora as jurors, brought together industry professionals, culminating in a ceremony where Nigeria’s current musical prowess was firmly on display.

Leading the tally for the evening was Rema, who took home three awards: Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in RnB and Soul.

Other notable Nigerian winners included Yemi Alade, who won Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary for her song You Are from the animated series Iyanu, and veteran rapper Phyno, named Best African Artiste in African Hip-Hop.

The awards also celebrated emerging talent. Qing Madi was crowned Most Promising Artiste of the Year, while Chella earned the title of African Fans’ Favourite.

While Nigerian stars dominated, the ceremony celebrated talent from across Africa.

Senegal’s Bakhaw Dioum won Song Writer of the Year and Algeria’s DJ Moh Green who scooped DJ of the Year award ahead of some notable South African DJs.

Ghana’s Wendy Shay won Best Female Artiste in West Africa, South Africa’s Nontokozo Mkhize won Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa and Tanzania’s Juma Jux was named Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa.

The success of Nigerian artists underscores the continued global appeal of Afrobeats.

The genre, which fuses African rhythms with Western influences, has seen explosive international growth in recent years.

Burna Boy, a defining figure in this movement since its breakthrough, remains one of its most prominent ambassadors, with his album win cementing his influential status.

Source: BBC

25, November 2025

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff dies aged 81 ⁰

Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican music legend and one of the pioneers of reggae, died due to a seizure followed by pneumonia, his wife said on Monday.

“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia,” his wife Latifa Chamber posted in a message on Instagram.

“I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him. To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career,” Chamber said.

“Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes. I hope you all can respect our privacy during these hard times. Further information will be provided at a later date. See you and we see you Legend,” said the message, which was also signed by their children Lilty and Aken.

Born in Jamaica in 1944 as James Chambers, he began writing songs at a young age before his father took him to the Jamaican capital Kingston, where he would take the stage name Jimmy Cliff.

He was one of just handful of musicians to be awarded the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences.

Cliff’s vast repertoire of hits included “Many Rivers to Cross”, “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, “I Can See Clearly Now” and “Wonderful World, Beautiful People”.

‘I still have many rivers to cross’

In the course of a prolific musical career, Cliff recorded more than 30 albums and performed all over the world, including in Paris, in Brazil and at the World’s Fair, an international exhibition held in New York in 1964. The following year, Island Records’ Chris Blackwell, the producer who launched Bob Marley and the Wailers, invited Cliff to work in the UK with him.

Cliff later went into acting, starring in the 1972 classic film “The Harder They Come,” directed by Perry Henzell, which introduced an international audience to reggae music. The movie portrayed the grittier aspects of Jamaican life, redefining the island as more than a tourist playground of cocktails, beaches and waterfalls.

“When I’ve achieved all my ambitions, then I guess that I will have done it and I can just say ‘great’,” he said in a 2019 interview, as he was losing his sight.

“But I’m still hungry. I want it. I’ve still got the burning fire that burns brightly inside of me – like I just said to you. I still have many rivers to cross!”

Known in part for his hit singles as well as for his covers of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now,” which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1993 movie “Cool Runnings,” and Cat Stevens’ “Wild World,” Cliff was a prolific writer who weaved his humanitarian views into his songs.

Bob Dylan said Cliff’s “Vietnam” was the best protest song ever written.

The anti-establishment bent of Cliff’s music gave a voice not only to the hardships faced by Jamaicans, but to the spirit and joy that persevered in spite of poverty and oppression. Over the years, Cliff worked with the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Annie Lennox and Paul Simon.

In 2012, he won a Grammy Award for best reggae album for “Rebirth,” which was produced by punk band Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, and another Grammy in 1984 for “Cliff Hanger.”

Cliff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Source: Reuters

21, November 2025

Cameroon’s Critical Shortage of Incubators Puts Thousands of Newborns at Risk ⁰

Cameroon loses nearly 10,000 newborns every year due to a severe lack of incubators and trained paediatric staff. The problem is especially acute in conflict-affected regions like the Northwest, where hospitals such as Bamenda Regional Hospital operate far below required capacity—only six incubators for nearly 20 babies, many of whom are pre-term and vulnerable to infections when forced to share equipment.

Mission hospitals face similar shortages. Mbingo Baptist Hospital, one of the country’s top referral centers, runs on just four incubators, a situation worsened by the Anglophone Crisis and COVID-19, which drastically reduced patient access. Nationally, Cameroon records high child mortality: nearly 90,000 low-birth-weight babies are born annually, and about 10,000 die from preventable causes. The country’s under-five mortality rate remains far above global averages.

Experts say the crisis is driven by chronic underfunding. Cameroon allocates only around 4% of its national budget to health, far below the 15% Abuja Declaration benchmark. Despite incubators being relatively affordable, most hospitals lack them, and paediatric specialists are also in short supply—only about 200 paediatricians serve 15 million children, with many doctors leaving the country for better conditions.

Efforts to improve the situation are emerging. MP Peter Njume has launched a Parliamentary Caucus on Health Financing to push for increased domestic funding. Meanwhile, a coalition led by Professor Pius Tih and the African Children’s Healthcare Fund is working to build Cameroon’s first dedicated paediatric hospital, which would include modern neonatal care equipment and specialist staff.

With children making up nearly half of Cameroon’s population, experts warn that expanding paediatric services is urgent if the country hopes to reach universal health coverage by 2030.

Source: Trendsafrica

12, November 2025

Petit Pays is “Forever” ⁰

Petit Pays – Rabba Rabbi, long-awaited Album titled “Forever” is out for production and will be marketed on all digital platforms from November 20th, 2025.

This is a product from his high-definition studio in Bomono-Douala, Cameroon. The album, comprising 13 songs, is a diverse mix of genres, including Makossa, Afrobeat, Zouk, and Rumba.

The album is a nostalgic reflection on his career debut, a blend of tradition and modernity, featuring complex, sophisticated instruments and rich orchestrations that showcase the singer’s artistic merits. He promised his fans the best, and he delivered.

9, October 2025

Queen of the Rosary College, Okoyong Alumni: Happy Feast Day ⁰

I recently heard on the grapevine that the indefatigable women who graced the paths of the all girls secondary school named after Our Lady of the Holy Rosary raised over one hundred thousand dollars during their AGM to renovate their alma mater. This is an incredible milestone. This is a testament, an eloquent one to the deep appreciation each member has of the role that institution played in their lives. Never forget that this used to be the lone Catholic girls school in the South West Region. In fact, it is the first girls secondary school in Cameroon. For each decade of the rosary, I would like to celebrate ten OPSAN Characteristics. If your mother, sister, wife, friend, colleague is an OPSAN, check this out.

OPSANS are proud, I mean very proud of their alma mater. I don’t want any controversy but if you did not go to QRC Okoyong or Lourdes, pray for your parents. The envy of every child. Between the 60’s and 90’s, if you didn’t have a girl friend in one of these two schools you were playing in third division League. These girls and women have earned their stripes. After all, they claim Mary, the Mother of God as theirs. Please am talking of Catholic schools oh!

Next, OPSANS are very enterprising. They are very business oriented. The Bible tells us Joseph, Mary’s husband was a carpenter but tells us nothing of Mary’s occupation. Don’t mind that bible. Show me an OPSAN who is not entrepreneurial and I can bet you she is OPS – Okoyong Past Student but not an OPSAN.

Third, they are very generous. If you are drawing up a list of donors and you don’t have an OPSAN on your list, then you are barely scratching the surface. They know how to give! They learnt from the generosity of Our Lady who so graciously accepted to take the risk to become the mother of God.

They are prayerful. If you know an OPSAN who doesn’t know how to pray especially the rosary, she needs deliverance. Those who want to, are great prayer warriors and those who don’t have time for it, just do not have time. If you have problems and do not have an OPSAN prayer warrior, you are toast.

Their school motto is semper fidelis – Always Faithful speaks to a quality that is so rare to find today. If you are looking for partners who can be faithful, if don’t get an OPSAN, na you know! Don’t ask me if I have one? The answer is no! Why not? I knew this late. But I hail, OPSANS. They know how to remain faithful in marriage. I know what am talking about. I know two of my SHESAN brothers married to OPSANS and a Birocolexsan married to an OPSAN. If one cocoyam can spoil a whole pot then I don’t need to know many OPSAN girls to draw my conclusion. If your experience is different, write your own. Even though, I guess many more OPSANS are married to SOBANS as LESANS are to SHESANS. If you want to argue, check Dr Omer Yembe and Faustina Yembe.

Hmmm. Who sent me to take on ten and am only on the fifth and already doing “cherchez le mot.” The devil is a liar…

These women are Queens! So “show-show” for them is just normal. Remember we have women, ladies and then queens. They are classy and classic! You must be of a certain class to go to QRC. “Amba” has pressed spoil on this but nothing can take away the fact that they imbibe and exude the Queenship of Mary. When you go to a school named after The Queen you cannot be anything else but Queens.

They like gossips, fights but remain true sisters. We watched the “palapala” that led to a divided kingdom of OPSA America. Beneath this was the cry for excellence, each wanting to outsmart each other in doing the best. That’s why that conflict did not last long. If you doubt it check your sister Alumni mothered too by Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary. Theirs is thawing now but you blazed the trail and led by example and today you are better, bigger and stronger. Over one hundred thousand dollars raised in 2025? That’s strength, Unity, generosity, Queenship and you name it.

OPSANS know how to enjoy themselves. I have often wondered how these women trained by Rev Sisters ended up not becoming Rev sisters? I know an OPSAN nun, a no- nonsense sister who hired me and fired me after one year and then I chose her to be my spiritual director. How did this story end up here? Have you attended an OPSAN party? Try! You go dance “Bayangi” dance and enjoy yourself until…I don’t know why they are not organizing more parties?

They are roses and like every rose they have thorns. You cannot have one without the other. Give them their roses!

Tenth…. Add yours! Let me spare you: They know how to organize.

Happy Feast Day OPSANS

By Bobe Lambert Mbom

8, October 2025

Dolly Parton posts ‘I ain’t dead yet’ after sister sparks health concerns ⁰

Dolly Parton has released a video, telling fans “I’m not dying”, a day after her sister asked for the public to pray for her, sparking concerns about the US country star’s health.

“I know lately everybody thinks that I’m sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard,” the musician said in a video posted on Instagram on Wednesday, which she filmed while shooting commercials for the Grand Ole Opry music venue in Nashville.

The video came after her sister apologised for scaring fans in her initial Facebook post about Parton’s health.

Parton, 79, was recently forced to pull out of a Dollywood event after being diagnosed with a kidney stone.

In her video, Parton thanked fans for their prayers, and explained that “I didn’t take care of myself” after her husband died earlier this year.

“So I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of,” she said. “So anyway, when I got around to it, the doctors said ‘we need to take care of this’ and ‘we need to take care of that’. Nothing major, but I did have to cancel some things.”

Parton also laughed about an AI photo she had seen, which shows fellow country star Reba McEntire at her death bed.

“We both looked like we need to be buried,” she laughed.

“There’s a lol of rumours flying around, and I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I’m ok,” she said.

She ended by assuring fans: “I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me, and I ain’t done working.”

It comes after her sister Freida Parton posted that she “hasn’t been feeling her best” and asked fans for their prayers.

But in a second post on Facebook, she clarified: “I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly.

“She’s been a little under the weather, and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer. It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister.”

In the previous post, her sister said she had been “up all night praying for my sister”, who, she said, “hasn’t been feeling her best lately”.

Freida Parton did, however, ended her message on an upbeat note.

“She’s strong, she’s loved, and with all the prayers being lifted for her, I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine,” she wrote. “Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”

Parton had been scheduled to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in December.

But she postponed the gigs until September next year, telling fans she needs “a few procedures” to deal with ongoing “health challenges”.

Kidney stones are a common ailment, with more than 1 in 10 people affected according to the NHS. Larger kidney stones can cause considerable pain, and can lead to infections and other issues if not treated.

Earlier this year, Parton lost her husband Carl Dean after nearly 60 years of marriage.

She later dedicated a new song, If You Hadn’t Been There, to his memory.

The musician is best known for a string of country crossover hits including Coat of Many Colors, I Will Always Love You, 9 To 5 and Jolene.

Her Las Vegas stint would have been her first visit to the Strip since the 1990s, when she performed alongside her Islands in the Stream duet partner, Kenny Rogers.

Source: BBC

17, September 2025

Germany: Cameroonian nurses set up association ⁰

A group of Cameroonian nurses in the Federal Republic of Germany have set up the Cameroonian Nurses Association (CNA) to help carry out their valuable work.

The organization, which will be inaugurated this Saturday, comprises registered nurses working in Germany from Cameroon.

There is a huge number of Cameroonian nurses in Germany at the moment and many are based in the North Rhein Westphalia region.

Cameroon Concord News understands that the group was established to unite nurses of Cameroonian origin under one umbrella and to promote excellence in healthcare, professional development and community well-being.

The Cameroonian Nurses Association (CNA) also strives to provide nursing support, share vital health information, and encourage healthy lifestyles within communities.

Through collaboration with institutions in Cameroon and Germany, CNA aims to enhance nursing education and create pathways for Cameroonian nurses aspiring to build successful careers abroad, while contributing to improved healthcare standards at home and beyond.

The founding members are experienced healthcare professionals who are seeking to bring Cameroonian nurses together to promote collaboration, mutual support, and professional growth.

The Saturday 20 maiden event beginning at 4 pm prompt will be hosted at Talent Werkstatt, Oberhausenerstr 192 in Mulheim Styrum.

By Chi Prudence Asong in Mulheim

16, September 2025

Manyu Cultural Festival: Heritage and Unity as Birmingham Hosts First-of-Its-Kind Jamboree in the UK ⁰

In March 2021, the Manyu community in Europe, together with friends of Manyu, came together with an ambitious vision: to create a forum where members could connect, support one another, and foster both personal and professional growth. The goal was to build a thriving, vibrant Manyu community in Europe. The initiative also aimed to provide a platform for Manyu children to interact and thrive while complementing and collaborating with existing Manyu associations across Europe. The name of this new association is Manyu Solidarity Group.

During the weekend of 29-31 August 2025, the streets of Birmingham came alive with rhythm, flavour, and tradition as the city hosted a three-day cultural festival unlike anything the Manyu community in the UK had ever seen. The festival was powered by Manyu Solidarity Group. From Friday’s welcoming meet-and-greet to Saturday’s vibrant showcase of traditional performances and Sunday’s barbecue finale, the event drew hundreds of attendees, some reconnecting with their roots, others discovering them for the first time. For a first-time event, the turnout was extraordinary: over 380 guests on the opening night, more than 550 on Saturday, and a lively crowd of over 340 for Sunday’s barbecue. This was more than a cultural celebration; it was a bridge across generations and a show of unity within the Manyu community Europe.

The Friday evening merriments set the tone for the festival and were emceed by Yvette Bissong and Dr. Nelson Agbor. Guests were welcomed with warm smiles, a delicious tanchut soup, and complimentary drinks. “I haven’t tasted tanchut soup like this in my over 50 years on earth,” said Lady Claire Obioma from London. The atmosphere was one of joy and reconnection, further lifted by the presence of esteemed Manyu traditionalists, including Sessekou Gaspari of Norway, Chief Eyong Paolo of MECA Germany and Sessekou Wilson Eyong of Ireland. The crowning moment of the night was the entrance of His Royal Highness Chief Prof. Negbo Abangma, who effortlessly blended history with his present. It was a truly glorious sight. As Mgbe UK performed their Manyu cultural formalities, the evening faded with love and anticipation for the next day.

If Friday was for tasting, Saturday was for witnessing. Under the leadership of Nfor Mgbe Dr. Agbortoko, the day featured live Monikim dances, Bekundi processions, and a show-stopping Obasinjom invocation. The energy was electric as attendees didn’t just watch, they participated. For some, it was their first experience of live Manyu cultural performances; for others, it was a long-awaited reconnection with their custom. “I am so proud of what the organising team and many volunteers achieved this weekend,” said Prince Julian Ebai, Chairman of Manyu Solidarity Group. Free food was available throughout the event, with snacks and drinks offered at below-market prices. A highlight for the children was some surprised pizzas from Domino’s. In the end, strangers became friends, and the sight of Nyene Mawn, Eyumema, MOHWA, and Manyu Simple Sisters celebrating together with laughter and joy was simply heart-warming. Manyu in Europe was truly alive.

By Sunday, the festival had already secured its place as a landmark event. The closing day featured a barbecue made possible by the thoughtfulness and hard work of Ms. Aggie Epaw, Mr. Valery Bissong, Mr Jerry Eko and Ms. Jacqui Bissong. The air was filled with the aroma of sizzling meats, fish, and burgers, accompanied once again by free drinks. Children played in the park, and many remarked that the weekend had shown them their culture and community is alive and thriving. Phone numbers were exchanged, future plans were made, and discussions of making the Manyu Cultural Festival an annual tradition were put in place.

What set the weekend apart was its authenticity and spirit. It was the first time this cultural tapestry had been woven so vibrantly and publicly in the UK. “We started with a dream and a few determined people,” said Chief Fidelis Takor of the organising committee. Prince Ebai added a note of reflection: “We must start looking after the vulnerable in our community and use every opportunity to celebrate ourselves. We can’t wait until someone dies to shower them with praises. Manyu Solidarity Group will continue to invest its energy in pastoral care to ensure our members feel loved and supported.”

The weekend marked the launch of Eyoungoh Manyu, a remarkable compilation of academic works by distinguished Manyu minds and scholars. Contributors came from as far as the United States, Cameroon, and Norway. The book is highly recommended for its educative, informative, and persuasive nature. Eyoungoh Manyu stands as both a documentary and an archive of our proud culture, traditions, and customs—reminding all Manyus that they are custodians of a unique heritage that must be preserved.

Thanks to the trust, energy, and commitment of its members, Manyu Solidarity group has grown to over 445 members, making it the largest gathering of Manyu people and their friends in Europe. Over the past two years, its members and leaders have regularly reached out to those in need of companionship by visiting, shopping, and even cooking for them. It is now standard practice for the leadership of Manyu Solidarity to call unwell members, send get-well-soon cards, and quietly help individuals with their CVs, enabling many to regain paid employment. Prince Julian Ebai closed the barbecue with these words: “Over the coming days, after a rigorous accounting process for transparency and visibility, the proceeds realized will be sent to Mamfe General Hospital to address a specific need. Your attendance and support this weekend is a clear declaration that we are all committed—working hand in hand—for an even better spectacle in 2026. See you all next year, by God’s grace.”

Chief Oru, President of MECA Birmingham also reminded attendees: “For just £35, many have enjoyed a memorable event, made possible by the sacrifices of the organizing committee and the generous contributions of groups and individuals who believe in Manyu. We must continue to move from strength to strength, as one indivisible Manyu, while respecting the diversity and autonomy of our unique communities in the UK and across Europe.”

MOHWA Global, Nyene Mawn Europe, Manyu Simple Sisters, EYUMEMA, and the Cameroon High Commission, Mr and Mrs Charles Mambo, were among the many generous donors who helped make the Manyu Cultural festival a success. As the grills cooled on Sunday evening and the last notes of music faded into the warm August night, one thing was clear: this was not the end, but the beginning of something greater. “This is history,” said Ms. Yvette Bissong of Kent. “And great actions always demand a sequel. 2026 here we come.”

By Sessekou Isong Asu

London Bureau Chief

Cameroon Concord News Group

4, September 2025

Congo-Kinshasa declares new Ebola outbreak as death toll reaches 15 ⁰

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared a new outbreak of the Ebola virus, which has killed 15 people since the end of August, the health minister said Thursday.

The new outbreak is in central Kasai province, Samuel Roger Kamba told reporters in the capital Kinshasa.

The last outbreak of Ebola in the vast central African nation was three years ago and killed six people.

Twenty-eight suspected cases have been recorded, according to provisional figures, with the first case reported on August 20 in a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital.

“It’s the 16th outbreak recorded in our country,” Kamba said.

First identified in 1976 and thought to have crossed over from bats, Ebola is a deadly viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids, causing severe bleeding and organ failure.

The deadliest outbreak in the DRC – whose population numbers more than 100 million – killed nearly 2,300 people between 2018 and 2020.

Six strains of Ebola exist.

Source: France 24

4, September 2025

Italian designer Giorgio Armani dies ⁰

The Italian fashion designer and billionaire brand owner Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91.

He was the archetype of Italian style and elegance, reimagining men’s and women’s suits for a modern audience.

His company Armani expanded from fashion into an empire spanning beauty, fragrance, music, sport and even luxury hotels, bringing in more than £2bn a year.

Donatella Versace paid tribute to the late designer on her Instagram page, posting a picture of him, saying: “The world lost a giant today, he made history and will be remembered forever.”

Source: BBC