The Bandjoun nomad

I had slept an average of five hours in the last few days hoping that I would give one final push towards revising my thesis. I was tired and didn't want anything to do with school. I submitted cringing with the thought that more comments on my thesis will be received and required to be resolved. But as soon as I received the email confirming that both my supervisor and the Head of School approved the final submission of my thesis, I knew my world would never be the same! WHAT! I finally received the letter that confirmed that, after SIX full revisions of my thesis from both my supervisor and three external examiners,  my thesis was approved to be published?!?  What a sense of satisfaction but at the same time the realisation that five years have actually gone past and the immediate reflection on whether these years of self-induced stress and constant bargaining for spending time with family and friends, were actually worth it.  At the same time, I got reminded of the num...

As I was about to leave Munich behind (read how I got to this point ), I still remember very clearly boarding that 8pm Flixbus. I also distinctively remember thinking about whether I would ever come back to this lovely city. A few days prior, I had such a good time with a church friend taking me out for dinner and telling me all the wonderful things there is to do in Munich, and it was too bad that I had to leave so soon.  This is Kai, the warm-hearted brother who took a chance on me and imprinted such a love for Munich and its amazing food. This was (and still is) one of my favourite dishes. Käsespätzle (german version of Mac and Cheese). At this point, I hadn't thought through the journey ahead. The only thing I knew was that a plane or train ticket was too expensive and I needed to keep a tight belt on how much I spend.  The only thing I decided to do was buy enough snacks and drinks that will allow me to sustain my journey until I reached Lisbon. I knew we will have a few ...

It was a normal working day on a hot and usually dusty afternoon in Yaounde when I got the call to come and collect my Visa for my upcoming trip to Italy. I was elated. It had been 17 years since I had last seen my foster aunts and cousins. I was beside myself.  I distinctly remember my trip back to wish my father goodbye and how emotional I was because I knew that somehow I will not see him for a long while. I remember the bus trip back to Yaounde and how surreal it all felt (especially since there was a job interview lined up in Munich).   Me on the bus (in the middle of nowhere) on my way back to Yaounde. Clearly I was too excited to sleep (like someone next to me). I was already missing my lovely Cameroon. On the news, the coronavirus (covid-19) was beginning to show its ugly head in Italy and various other neighbouring countries. My aunt even told me to postpone my trip, but it was too late. I was already packed. Don't mess with a black man and his luggage! Me, mysel...

Paid a visit to a slave museum in Mercado Dos Escravos, Lagos, Portugal. Although it's clear they tried to not be too gruesome with artifacts but rather more informative on town history and Negro assimilation, this picture struck me to the core. The African/black man/woman WAS and still IS in bondage. Bondage of the mind (self-hatred) and of the body (racism). Bondage of poor access to healthcare, housing, sanitation and job opportunities. The reflection of the chains (in this picture) symbolizes a foreshadow of its impact on our children and probably our children's children. A museum will NEVER fix that. There's so much atrocities in this world. Most of them are rationalized and institutionalized so it's negative connotations is removed (through legal jargon) or plainly ignored (through our silence). Self-reflection on one's actions in this world must be mandatory. An appreciation of the beauty of ALL mankind MUST be imprinted in our minds. "We are fearfully a...

April 2005. We were young and wild. The world and our responsibilities in it was a foreign concept. We lived for the moment. This was campus church team-building camp, where we got to let go our insecurities and just try your best. Just. Your. Best.  Somehow, that concept is so complicated to grasp and practice. We care too much about the outcome and don't focus on the process. Life will have muddy puddles and hanging ropes. Focus on the process. And remember there's always someone else going through the same thing. Reach out. You might just make a lifelong friendship. More photos:

The last couple of months have been, for a lack of the better word, life-changing. I know that such words as "flash-of-light", "out-of-body experience", "life-changing" are often thrown in conversations to get attention on yourself. But I honestly believe my life trajectory and priorities have taken a "left-turn" in the last few months. Above all, the last few months, I got to start filling the empty hole that I didn't want to admit was part of my life: knowing my roots. Visiting and staying at the places where my ancestors grew up, from both sides of my family, was an enriching experience. Getting to connect with cousins, uncles, aunts and elders have been both overwhelming and enthralling. Being away from my family has reinforced my commitment to them to strive to always be the best version of me. I've learned for the first time, a family is not where you find people that look like you but rather people who just want ...

Hi all, It's a good morning from the 2nd of January of 2019. A lot of things are on the horizon. I'm looking forward to working with influencers throughout the African continent such as Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique. Unfortunately, the behind-the-scenes cracks of such economies were glaringly obvious in 2018. The regressive policies of some governments make it very difficult to see how technology, which is inherently unbiased, can co-exist in a biased, homophobic society. The article http://atavist.mg.co.za/africa-for-pessimists-and-optimists-2018-in-review , published by Mail and Guardian sheds light into some of the concerns all interested in the wellbeing  Africa should take note of. The article is explicit in forming a picture that clearly shows there's a lot more work to be done than what meets the eyes. But one should see such problems as unexplored opportunities. I believe this continent can make sustainable changes for the benefit of all its citizens. Let's al...

  The stars had aligned. The toddler had grown enough to be ready for nature's wild surprises. He will not be scared anymore, but rather his curiosity drive him to be brave and adventurous. It was his time and no one will take it away from him. So he seized the moment as it was his own. And the rest is history...

It was a time of relaxation for the humans and time of explorations for the canines. Our two eldest boys Asterix and Obelix had such a great time that they could not contain their excitement throughout the time we were there. Our youngest ,Samson also had a blast (the story in the upcoming post).

When we read this passage (1 Samuel 21), we often forget that David lied (and not just once) about why he was alone. And yet he was known as "as man after God's own heart". Often we mistaken our current actions (good or bad) as a COMPLETE reflection of one's CHARACTER versus seeing it as a blemish/shine in our Armour that's being built over time. I believe this conditioning is the major reason why Christians (including myself) stop pursuing big dreams for God. We've forgotten that in the quest of achieving something good/great for God, failure is part of the equation. We've lied to ourselves by thinking our 'current situation/actions' ALONE determines our 'future position', hence undermining our 'heart's desire' (which has a much bigger impact). Let's get focused on what our hearts wants in our walk with God. Cherish it and harness it. The correct actions will follow suit. #goodmorning #MondayMotivation

So it was a great time at the airshow whereby Samson got to see favourite toys in 'full-scale' size. This time around, he was accompanied by his cousin which made the event all the more exhausting for the toddler-sitters: my wife and I. Nevertheless, the exciting on their faces was all worth it. I guess the child-like spirit of turning your heads towards the skies, brims with joy and purpose of seeing the great feat of human-kind which has lasting effect. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people making the trip to the airshow when the country is in such a disarray at government level. Then seeing the exciting faces makes you realize that the pride of a nation is not about those you see on TV or hear on radio: It's got to do the spirit of steadfastness and determination in the little (and not so little) boys and girls that have everything invested in seeing this beautifully diverse country succeed and be a land of equal opportunity for all. Let the dreams be ...