A Review of Three Cameroonian Blogs and Bloggers

In my continuing series on Cameroonian blogs, I will take a quick look at three English language blogs that are steadily carving a place for themselves on the African blogosphere.

The first of these blogs is  GEF’s Outlook maintained by former CRTV journalist, George Esunge Fominyen who currently heads the Multi-Media Editorial Unit of the PANOS Institute West Africa (PIWA) in Dakar, Senegal.

Although a relatively newcomer to the blogging world, George Fominyen is one of the few bloggers whose postings are not limited to text entries but also include videos and podcasts of his personal reports and interviews. Asked why he blogs, George says:

One of the aims of the organization I work for is to promote the use of ICTs by the media and citizens to hold authorities accountable. We have projects to promote the use of webradio, multimedia journalism and particularly blogging. I suppose it is time for me to lead by example.

It is evident to me that communication is vital to whatever stir we intend to generate in our countries and societies. My views on political development in Cameroon, African development discourse,  international affairs, the place of the media and communication in issues of diversity, globalization and governance in Africa could possibly contribute to that change.

The second blog is Voice of the Oppressed maintained by Steve Neba Fuh a poet and journalist resident in Sweden whose blog focuses on a variety of social and political issues, and literature (poetry specifically).

Asked why he blogs, Steve says the following:

What motivated me to start blogging was primarily to share the vision of a society where the common good supersedes individual motives, where human dignity and justice are not  privileges, but  rights; where the voice of the voiceless is echoed so that somehow, somewhere, somebody will listen, and hopefully act.

My primordial concern is Cameroon, where most of the worst violations of freedoms, liberties and injustices  are experienced and a few have held  hostage the majority, under an authoritarian regime plagued with extreme corruption. Most important too, is the issue of minority rights in Cameroon and the effects, specifically the state of the so called 'union' between the East and the West .

I believe blogging is a unique avenue to express one's thoughts on issues. It provides an opportunity for a common citizen to be heard. It is a market place for ideas especially when readers comment on issues they have read. It is also a forum for learning; and above all it is one of the fastest means to relay news.

The third blog on our list is The Chia Report, run by Innocent Chia, another CRTV alum who blogs from Chicago. Like most Cameroonian bloggers, his main focus is Cameroon.

However, he is also very passionate about American politics and comments extensively on the ongoing electoral process. According to Innocent Chia,

blogging is a crossroad for me where passion meets need. An absence of passion is home to the dead and not for the living. Writing is a passion for me. There are so many stories waiting to be told, my attempt is to scratch a little deeper in providing another view or just telling it in other words. But always, the objective is to help the person, taking the pain to read my thoughts, to make a better informed decision or to take one step forward towards their goal.

Click here for a sample of Cameroonian female bloggers which appeared in Global Vloices Online.

Comments

[Bill Zimmerman]

You've uncovered some real gems here, Dibussi. My morning productivity is taking a serious hit while I read these.

[solomonsydelle]

Thanks for this. I hope to expand the list of blogs I read.

[fone]

Hi there. I am a web designer based in Bamenda , Cameroon and wishing to know where you are and what are your main objectives and what you want the public to gain from you. My office is at SONAC street bamenda, Cameroon. My Place is called 237SPACES. Call 75348619 or 96184230. Email fonemabo@gmail.com