Emmanuel Asafor
The Favoritism Problem Goes Deeper Than Age
The writer questions whether Cameroon's youth are truly equipped to lead the country, arguing that the systemic rot of favoritism, nepotism, and tribalism is not an older generation's failing but has thoroughly infected young people too. A personal anecdote about an ambitious peer revealing his intention to staff government positions exclusively with former schoolmates becomes the lens through which to examine whether structural change is possible.
Choosing Your Battles: A Lesson in Protecting Your Vital Space
A motorcycle fare dispute in Yaoundé becomes the occasion for reflection on when to engage conflict and when to let it pass. The writer argues that preserving one's energy and peace of mind is more valuable than winning every small disagreement, even when principle seems at stake.
We Need Our Own Heroes: Reading Albert Acha as Cameroonian Myth
The writer reflects on the absence of African fictional heroes in his own imagination, shaped by Western comic pantheons, and discovers in Hesley Fonane's detective novel *Sense Pass King: The Case Files of Albert Acha* a Cameroonian character worthy of that mythic weight—one who reads the signs of his own landscape and mind with precision.
The Timelessness of a Brief Life: What Bob Marley Teaches Us About Legacy
The writer reflects on attending a Bob Marley commemoration festival in Douala and considers why a musician dead for nearly four decades remains so vital to people across continents. Through Marley's music, spiritual practice, and philosophy of mental emancipation, the piece argues that meaningful impact transcends the length of a life.
On Youth and the Persistence of Patronage
This piece interrogates the assumption that generational change alone will solve Cameroon's structural problems, using a personal anecdote to argue that favoritism and patronage span all ages, not just an older generation. The writer contends that meritocracy cannot take root until the mentality that privileges kinship and loyalty over competence is genuinely abandoned.
Felix Fomengia and Light Gate Solutions: Building Value in the Digital Age
A profile of Felix Fomengia, a self-taught programmer from the University of Buea who has developed over fifteen apps addressing real problems—from coding motivation to educational resources to telecom utilities. Through his startup Light Gate Solutions, he exemplifies how Cameroonian youth can create meaningful digital products despite significant structural constraints.
Youth Entrepreneurship 1: Snapburger
A reflection on discovering Snapburger, a new burger joint in Yaounde opened by two university students, and what their venture represents for Cameroon's economic future. The piece weaves personal appetite for authentic American-style burgers with broader observations on the role of entrepreneurs in building a robust economy.
Elections in Cameroon: The Question of Meaningful Participation
As Cameroon approached its 2018 presidential elections, the writer examines whether calls for voter registration and participation signal genuine democratic hope or merely performative civic duty. Through a critical history of electoral governance, the piece questions whether votes in Cameroon meaningfully reflect the will of the electorate.
ENAM and the Illusion of Change
The writer examines how Cameroon's elite civil service institution, ENAM, perpetuates a cycle of careerism and self-interest rather than public service. Through a personal debate with a friend who entered ENAM, the piece argues that the institution embodies a deeper cultural problem: the pursuit of stability and status over genuine nation-building.
ENAM and the Machinery of Complicity
A writer examines how Cameroon's elite civil service school perpetuates a self-serving administrative culture that prioritizes personal security and enrichment over public service. The piece traces how even newly appointed officials adopt the same mindset as their predecessors, ensuring the status quo survives generational turnover.