ISSUE VII A LITTLE MOTIVATION FROM CAMEROONIAN WOMEN. SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC SHOOK OUR GENERATION IN WAYS WE HAD NEVER IMAGINED. DON’T GIVE UP. WHERE THERE IS LIFE, THERE IS HOPE.
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Editor s Note “As much as 2020 was an incredibly challenging year; as millions of people in every corner of the world have been plagued by wide scale suffering and distress from the pandemic, we are just very thankful we are still alive and God has been grateful! But 2021 will be a more hectic year because of the work I piled up in 2020 (because of the pandemic lol my excuse) and since we were never prepared for a pandemic and lived through it in 2020, in 2021 I am ready for whatever comes our way! Be safe out there everyone and happy new year 2021! �
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ebangha Njang
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bine Moukouri
Ebangha Njang
DESIGN TEAM
Bine Moukouri Divine Fakembe
CONTRIBUTORS Eva Sobila Asaba Louma Pearl Clementina Nkemanyi Joan Ngomba Akenjem Besong Clarisse Ndinge China Sukally Stephanie Tum Queen Nora Anyi Asonganyi MC Charlene Elisabeth Leila Biloa Sa Majeste Magazine is published by Sa Majeste Company. Houston. Texas USA Contact: +1(832)-584-4212 Email: samajestemag@gmail.com
Like every other professional field, the Corona virus made its presence felt in the world of media. As you all know, working in media means meeting people...be it in on a TV set, at a radio station or on the field so you can imagine how complicated it got for media personalities to do their job. Being that working in media makes us frontline employees, we had to figure out a way to go to work while respecting the health measures. I stopped going to work because I was scared. I couldn’t see myself leaving my home during the outbreak. People had lost their lives and let’s be honest, many people didn’t wear masks or follow the health measures. The pandemic affected me negatively and positively. Negatively because being confined easily messes up a person’s mental. You could easily fall into a routine that doesn’t benefit you. Positively because I was able to use new technology to do my radio show from home without a problem. I was able to learn different self-improving techniques to occupy myself, know more about myself (self-reflection) and maintain a healthy mindset. 2021 is going to be a challenging year for me. Challenging because projects I planned to do in 2020 have crossed over to 2021. Is it more work than expected? Yes however, if we can live through a pandemic, we can live through getting our projects done no matter what. The phrase I keep saying in my head to keep me going is “Double the work, double the fun”.
Eva Sobila OAP, Artist Manager, A&R
My name is Mary Asombang Asaba; A Cameroonian artist, song writer and performer born on the 07/07/1992. I am originally from Lebialem in the South West Region, signed under the label Starfish entertainment. I released my first single titled “Yele” on the 25th of November 2020 2020 was a tough year and very challenging for most people due to the global “COVID-19”pandemic and the ongoing Anglophone crisis. For me, the beginning of this year was more challenging than any other year. I had so much work and had to move from one town to another just to survive. Fortunately for me, I got an offer towards the end of the year which changed my life for good. I would say the year 2020 ended well for me because signing with starfish entertainment is one of the most beautiful things that happened to my career. The reception i got for my first project was and is still overwhelming!!!I I want to take this opportunity to thank my entire team for trusting me and for the work they have been putting in just to make sure I succeed. A big shout out to my friends, family, fans and to Sa Majesté Magazine for giving me this platform. I promise to give just the best of music to the public. All I need is your unending love and support; I promise I won’t let you guys down. 2021 is coming with a lot of beautiful melodies for you guys and I can’t wait to share. I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year.
Asaba Musical Artist
PEARL LOUMA “ Work it forward ! “ People need to position themselves to win even against unknown challenges. The only way that is happening is if your stance in whatever service, product or solution you’re providing to your clientele is consistent and compelling.
Pearl Louma Designer, Artist Manager
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CLEMENTINA NKEMANYI I am the CEO for the brand Clemani. Clemani is about changing lives through clothes, instilling confidence through clothes, managing and empowering minds through clothes and using fashion as a means for global impact.Clemani sought to give people the opportunity to think beyond their scope and think globally expressing their attitude ,dispositions ,temperament all expressed in clothes.I am a Cameroonian fashion designer currently in ghana to improve upon my fashion design skills.IT all started with the love of art when I just graduated from the university of Buea with Bsc in educational psychology, I wanted to further with masters in psychology because I wanted to become a psychologist/ counsellor. One day my mother told me a story of how she wanted to become a fashion designer but that dream didn't happen due to financial difficulties in the family at that time and her sewing machine had to be sold for the family to use the money and start a small restaurant so that dream was dead to her.However I started developing a strong desire for fashion but I kept denying it until I finally accepted to try it which made me to forgo my masters degree and decided to start working with Cameroonian fashion Designer khamals in Buea she boasts that drive in me and from there I decided to go to Ghana and improve upon it.
most creative student and thanks be to God it was success and with the huge support I got from my family and friends.So my talking to God at that lockdown period gave me a focus, a message and an identity so it kind of boast my confidence and made me to understand that there is nothing to be scared of as long as I am determined to work hard at every goal and dreams.Now am a graduate from 2 fashion schools, I have a brand name Clemani, I have a message, a brand identity and ofcourse a platform.
Honestly 2020 impacted my brand in a positive way and even the negativity I faced shaped me and my brand.2020 started with just one goal in my mind to finish my fashion course in ghana and go back to Cameroon and start but due to covid fiasco those plans had to be adjusted because classes had to stop and we all had to be indoors but the amazing thing is at that point I didn't even know what brand name I had to use, what message I have behind my brand and no brand Identity and I was always running away from that because the vision I have for the brand scare me cus it looks like is not possible so I had to spend most of my time during the covid period talking to jesus so I can know the direction to go and after the lock down I had to start preparing for 2 major graduations from 2 different schools almost to take place same period.It was so challenging as I had to come up with 2 different collections to showcase on the runway which i emerge as the
Clementina Nkamanyi Designer
What's next for me in 2021 In 2021 Clemani the brand is going to be launched and established. The world is going to know what clemani is all about and they are definitely going to feel it's impact because Clemani is going to be the biggest, the largest ,the richest and the most influential brand in the world. We are building our team ,our administration, website and various social media platforms .So this 2021 is a preparation time for Clemani to be launched. Watch out world clemani is coming.
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Covid-19 pandemic hyjacked 2020 and was such a life-changing experience. It brought with it panic, a halt of activities as we know them and it truly required creativity and innovation to actually survive. That’s how my new TV show, Freaky Table was born as a result of the need to find a means through which the culture and artistic landscape could continue ticking and champion discussions around the industry. A Pop Culture critique show, has been sourly lacking in Cameroon and I had to identify that gap and fill it. The formula was to bring social media to TV. The show is hosted by myself, Kwoh Elonge & Yana Jr. and it essentially looks at what’s trending and goes beyond just surface banter into having real analysis and discussions on them. We are bent on setting the agenda on these topics, to reflect how these discussions are had and/or should be handled in our ecosystem. #FreakyTable has garnered unprecedented positive reviews and has achieved more than I could even imagine in under a year (April 2020). So, from a year that forced plans to change, 2020 also marked one of my biggest years professionally and has opened doors to brighter and bigger aspirations.
Joan Ngomba Media Personality
Akenjem Beso O.M Medical House Call “Quality Healthcare at your doorstep” “Every situation may not be good, but there is always something good in every situation.” This quote resonates in me as I think of the moments in 2020 when I would receive phone calls from patients with nothing but tears for fear of their life due to the COVID 19 pandemic. When the state of mind for some patients became compromised due to major depression and anxiety leading to pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. When O.M Medical House Call had to realign and refocus on quality of care and not quantity. Through it all hope was restored, tears were wiped away and relationships changed from provider-patient to a lifetime of friendship. Despite the steady increase in deaths, related to COVID 19 cases in 2021, many still pose the question “ Do I really need to be vaccinated?” The true question should be “Do I want to part of the solution?” As a medical clinic, we choose to be part of the solution. We choose to increase awareness by providing COVID-19 testing to both insured and uninsured patients. We choose to increase sensitization of COVID-19 immunization in order to achieve herd immunity. “We can choose to be affected by the world or we can choose to affect the world” We choose to make a difference !
Dr. Akenjem Besong Medical Doctor
ong. MD
Cla N
arisse Ndinge I have been active in the media space in Cameroon since 2013. I first got into Media through blogging, and I still do blog, via Beta Tinz I did radio for a few months, then I got into TV as well. Right now I am active in the online media space via Beta Tinz And on TV via Beta Torpoh. Concerning my work online(Beta Tinz) the COVID19 crisis has not really affected my daily life. I do nearly all of my work online with my phone. So... As for #BetaTorpoh which is a TV show I had to take a pause from shooting for a while. The new challenge I encountered during the time of confinement for my online media #BetaTinz was the need to be more creative with content. Due to confinement many had loose time on their hands. How do I exploit that to keep my audience glued to my page? For those of y’all who don’t know #BetaTinz please check her out here: instagram.com/betatinz So that challenge gave birth to a new segment on the page #AskBetaPipol which has significantly increased engagement on the blog. There’s usually an opportunity in every situation. May we all have wisdom to see it and the wits (savoir-faire) to exploit it!
Clarisse Ndinge Media Personality
Je suis China Sukally, maquilleuse (MUA) basée à Yaoundé. Je poursuis mon rêve / passion depuis 2015. L’industrie du maquillage se développe de plus en plus au fil des années et cela a aidé les femmes Camerounaises à être plus conscientes de notre travail et à reconnaître notre travail. Nous savons également que chaque travail a des défis et l’un des plus grands défis aujourd’hui est la concurrence. Nous avions déjà cela à gérer et la pandémie de 2020 ne faisait qu’empirer les choses. Je pense que jusqu’à présent, c’était l’une de mes pires années en matière de travail. D’habitude Décembre est un mois complet, mais l’année dernière, très peu de personnes se sont mariées, donc moins de réservations. Heureusement, je ne vis pas seule, mais passer des mois sans travailler n’était pas facile parce que tout le monde avait peur d’être infecté, et on ne voulait donc pas prendre de risques. Je pense que l’événement qui a marqué ma vie jusqu’à présent était mon fameux maquillage AVATAR. 2020 a été une année très triste et tout le monde essayait de s’occuper le plus possible. Ma confiance en moi en ce qui concerne le travail avait vraiment diminué et voir à quel point ce maquillage avait eu un impact lorsque je l’ai posté était vraiment énorme! Cela m’a rappelé que j’existe toujours, je suis toujours talentueux et je n’abandonne pas. J’espère que 2021 pourra m’aider à découvrir de nouvelles choses comme “Celebrity Stylist” que j’ai commencé à la fin de l’année dernière et aussi à travailler sur des meilleures techniques de maquillage.
China Sukally MUA, Celebrity Stylist
In 2020 after the release of my movie “Saving Mbango�, It was scheduled to premiere the movie in the US after the successful national tour we had in 4 cities in Cameroon, due to the unplanned lock down in the US, as a result of the outbreak of the unpredicted COVID-19, the initial plan was to premiere the movie in two US cities (Chicago and Washington D.C in March) in a movie theater which was later cancelled, but to not waste a massive opportunity and resources, my team was able to escape the shackles and make the movie available online which permitted people to watch from home from all over the world where Amazon Prime Video is accessible. As much as I was disappointed for not getting to the opportunity to premiere my movie physically and meeting friends and fans to celebrate the movie with, it was a blessing in disguise cause putting the movie on Amazon prime video and going digital made the movie available to a larger audience which meant making more money and staying in business. We also had several festivals we were nominated for in France, Morocco, Nigeria etc cancelled due to the pandemic, my team and I lost an opportunity to travel around the world and network with other filmmakers. 2020 was a bittersweet year for me as a Producer though. 2021 promises to be a much better year and hopefully I accomplish more than I did in 2021.
Stephanie Tum Actress, Entrepreneur
2020 I believe was tough for some and a blessing to others. I will consider it w a blessing because everything tough situation is there to give you lessons and clarity on how to move into the future. The COVID-19 pandemic really slowed down a Lot of things for me especially the launch of my skin care line Chocoskin. It did not only delay it but caused the business deal to crash and put me back at square one. I was the most stressed I have ever been for days but also the most motivated to start over and succeed. Forward to 2021, despite all the challenges, My resilience topped all and pushed me to reach my goal and I will be launching my all Natural Unisex Skin care line ; Chocoskin pretty soon.
Nora Ndem Actress, Model, Entrepreneur
I'm the type to focus on the positive side of every situation so as exhausting as 2020 was, it made no exception. I took advantage of the critical economic atmosphere to rebrand my organisation. I improved my business systems, procedures and built a stronger and more resilient team by teaching them how to better identify problems, quickly come up with solutions and effectively implement them. Equipped with this new energy, we went a step further and gave our office space a face lift in the spirit of ending the challenging year on a high and bright note which worked out as planned. We are maintaining this same high energy through 2021 by promoting our strengths and managing our weaknesses as a team. So, like many other business owners, 2020 served me fresh lemons that I used to mix myself a chilled glass of classic mojito to drink in 2021- cheers.
Anyi Asonganyi MUA, Designer, Entrepreneur
MC CHA
ARLENE Due to the Pandemic, I started my virtual show tagged Chit-Chat with MC Charlene on Instagram, where I host and interview entertainers worldwide, and also an avenue to support the upcoming artistes/entertainers. I also focused on promoting my sports brand SLT fitness “Sweat Like This fitness�. Yes, I miss the shows, I miss the crowd, I miss the stage and also I miss the cash lol. No show means no money, I lost a lot of shows in 2020 due to the pandemic, but I thank God that I am alive, that I am an essential worker and that despite the pandemic I also hosted a number of Virtual events which was a great experience even though it is not like the real thing, when the crowd is there. I am very positive for 2021, I am putting more efforts in promoting my sports brand SLT fitness, making my dance classes virtual, still carrying on with my show #ChitchatWithMcCharlene on Instagram, getting to know more entertainers worldwide and a couple of other great things. And also wishing to be back on stage as soon as everything goes back to normal. One thing about me is that I like to stay positive, I am relentless when It comes to doing what I love and I don’t let anything stop me. I believe that no matter how hard life hits you always wake up, believe in yourself and keep on working! Nothing can stop you from reaching your goals as long as you believe!
MC Charlene MC, Media Personality
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ELISABETH LEILA BILOA Je m’appelle Elisabeth Leila Biloa , Directrice de publication chez HER BEAUTY MAGAZINE. 2020 m’a appris une chose c’est qu’il faut savoir se diversifier et que derrière chaque crise il y’a des opportunités à saisir. En 2021 , notre plus grand défi sera de proposer un contenu encore plus édifiant et heureusement nous avons la bonne équipe pour ça , et espérons avoir un meilleur impact dans la vie des camerounais.
Elisabeth Biloa Entrepreneur
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