“A Dream Come True”: Summit Magazine Hits the Stands!

A Most Welcome Addition to the Cameroonian Media Landscape

In the early 1990s, the media landscape in English speaking Cameroon was dominated by a plethora of newspapers which focused primarily, if not entirely, on politics. The exception was Cameroon Life Magazine which dwelt on culture, the arts, and literature and health issues, although it’s main focus was on the fiery politics of the time. Since the demise of CAMLIFE in the mid nineties, there has been an increasing public demand in the Englishspeaking parts of the country for magazines that deal primarily in non-political and human interest issues. For example, a magazine that goes beyond the news headlines to put a human face on the key socio-political actors of the country, and showcases Cameroonians who are excelling in their respective fields of endeavor or making a difference to their communities.

Today, the decade-long cry for a non-political English language magazine has been answered with the launching of Summit Magazine, the brainchild of Kange Williams Wasaloko, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of FM 94 in Yaounde and head of the Information and Conferences Unit of University of Yaounde 1.

The maiden issue of Summit Magazine will hit the stands in the first week of May, and will be launched at the Yaounde Hilton on May 8, 2007. Launching ceremonies are also planned for Buea and Bamenda.

The maiden issue includes a foreword by veteran journalist Peter Esuka, profiles of poet-politician-traditional ruler Mbella Sonne Dipoko; the traditional ruler of Mankon, Fon Angwafor III; veteran journalist Adamu Musa who abandoned his CRTV job for a cushy position at the World Bank in Washington, DC., only to heed to the “tug of patriotism” after a few years and return to Cameroon to his first love, CRTV; Dr. Enow Tanjong, the brain behind University of Buea's very successful Journalism department, among others. The maiden issue also returns to the untimely death of Bate Besong, Kwansen Gwangwa'a and Hilarious Ambe. Reverend Nyansako-Ni-Nku, moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon and current President of the All African Conference of Churches graces the cover. Summit Magazine also has a fashion corner and a very colorful Feminine section.

According to Wasaloko, Summit Magazine uses a lighthearted and informal, but serious approach to people and issues – just like Ebony Magazine which served as an inspiration in terms of content and print quality. It was this search for international printing standards that made him travel all the way to the emirates to print the maiden issue. Wasaloko insists that Summit Magazine is not a political magazine even though it will profile many politicians of different political persuasions down the road. “We are interested in the human interest side of events, issues and actors.”

So does Summit Magazine have a  redeeming social value other than plain entertainment? “Of course!” exclaims Wasaloko. He points out that for once, when Cameroonians open a magazine, they will not be looking at gloomy economic statistics, reading heartbreaking stories about socials ills, or witnessing acrimonious political debate. Instead, they will be served with very inspirational and uplifting stories about people who have survived against all odds, people who are making a difference behind the scenes, or simply people with interesting lives – a real asset in a society in dire need of role models...

We welcome this new addition to the Cameroonian media scene and wish it a long life.

Click here for a preview of Summit Magazine in PDF format (1.34 mb)

Comments

[nlatane]

Well, this is inspirational and I wish to congratulate the editors for such a rich and diverse magazine. We really need a magazine which highlights and brings issues of our cultural life and literature in Cameroon.

We need this kind of ventures which resonates with our values and aspirations. I am tired of reading foreign magazines where it sometimes becomes fortuitous to stumble on an article about Cameroon. I think most are too contrived for my liking.

Long have we basked and vaunted in the image of Cameroon as Africa in miniature. Let the literature of our country attest to that. I'll be looking forward to picking up a copy near me.

[Dr Joyce Ashuntantang]

Good Job, Wasaloko. I can't wait to lay my hands on a copy. Now that your dream has come true, dare to push the dream as the years roll to the next level- visions?

More grease...

[Agborballa Nkongho]

Awesome Wasa. I am very proud of the excellent job you are doing. Please keep up the spirit and always strive to improve on the content and the quality of the paper. How can those of us out of Cameroon get the paper?

[Mwalimu George Ngwane]

Congrats
Wasaloko has always been in the mainstream of communication and information in this country. Before giving birth to his baby he must have weighed all the odds especially with regard to sustainability. CamLife,Times and Life,The Nationa, Insight and The Post magazine have either disappeared or do make sporadic appearances. Since Summit is first and foremost anglophone focussed, Can I invite all citizens of Anglophone Cameroon stock in Cameroon and the Diaspora to help this baby grow through sponsorship,donations, and adverts. Most especially The Summit may think of a Board of Trustees to help with strict management. I cannot wait to buy this maiden issue going by this rich Dibussi's review.
Goodluck the Summit as you aim for the summit
Mwalimu

[Felix N. Fon-Ndikum]

Wasaloko,

Thanks for hanging on to your dreams, and not allowing it to be deferred! May you have the ressourcefulness and tenacity to bring us to the point of EUREKA!

We need to be directed towards the summit...thanks for taking this much needed bold move. We are "in dire need of role models" today in Anglophone Cameroon - and i see in this dream-come-true of the SUMMIT a great step in the right direction!

Go for the summit with the SUMMIT magazine!!!

Uncle Fritz

[Chica Fabulous]

A trip to Cameroon is costly, prozac has side effects, drinking gives you hangovers, therapy's expensive. For quick and effective relief - or at least some temporary comfort that we are not so disconnected from the motherlode [Cameroon] try "Summit"
Kudos for a job well done and intentioned.

[Aaron Agien Nyangkwe]

Sincere congrats to Wasaloko for for the faith in a country whose citizenry craves more for beer than reading. I look foward to obtaining a copy once it hits the nws stand.
And since the magazine has to be doing with the human interest part of Journalism, we will like to get more and investigative write ups on "Why Cameroonians prefer beer so much", "Why the sky rocketting quest for fake diplomas in Cameroon only now?", "Why Cameroonians don't more fill football stadia", "University of Buea, a place to be" (No bias on former Alma Mater), etc, etc.

[Enow Egbe]

Good job Mr Wasaloko.Good magazine cover, good publicity but where can we find the magazine here in Buea?