#10 - Fun Tyms / Duty&Responsibility/ Lumumba/ Aime Cesaire/ Inauguration postponed/ Victimization

The good thing about working hard on projects, and papers is that at the end of your labor, you can measure your results. You have produced something concrete. For me, looking back at all the documents, papers and project proposals I created, I’m motivated to do more. I’m motivated to keep pushing when times get rough, ‘cause the results are palpable. 

Business and social opportunities keep on presenting themselves to me… hmmm… I can’t even start explaining how abundant the opportunities are, and how Cameroon needs the Diaspora to come back with the skills they have; and DO-things for their country. Whatever field you are studying right now, you can be a pioneer in Cameroon. The land is wide open for that. Together we can shake up this continent!  That’s the power of Harambee, literally: “Coming together”!

I tell you, I am keeping a log of great business ideas here in Cameroon… I’m on my 9th idea already. The list keeps expanding. In due time, I’ll share some of the ideas with you.

My cousins and brothers are crazy! They are the funniest people I know. Every evening I laugh 'till my bele hurts. lol.
 














Now, every time I start speaking with a “yes we can”/optimistic and motivational tone, they start calling me “Harambe” “Harambe”, or “Sankara” “Sankara.”

They would say, “there goes Sankara again,” or “Harambe has woken up”  Hahaha… I laugh it off, but seriously, can I please express myself without being seen as a “Sankara”, “Obama”, “Mandela”??? I’m trying to follow their footsteps… but hey! those are GIANTS!  

I’m still waiting for my S.O.M though...Those who know, know what I’m talking about. 

This weekend I decided to shut down everything that had to do with work, projects, great opportunities…. on Friday afternoon my head started heating up. I said “STOP”

Friday night I was with Krys, my older brother; Yannick, my cousin, and friends of Krys. His friend did the funniest thing: He was speaking on the phone. Talking, talking, talking for minutes and minutes, then he tells his friend on the phone “Wait un peu je coupe une gorge” (hahahah…) /”Hold on let me take another gulp of beer”. Lol… then he goes on… “yeah, as you were saying!”  hahah… we were rolling on the floor laughing man… 

Saturday was so relaxing. I spent the day with mommy and Yannick. We had a huge breakfast at 10am. Decorated the house for another hour. Then went to buy some flowers at the flower market. Finally we visited Laure, and her baby Ellios. 

Baby Ellios usually refuses that any stranger touches her. As soon as you try to take her in your arms she starts crying and you can’t stop her. That’s why I can proudly tell you that, when it came to me, trying to take her in my arms, she gently trusted her arms to me with a smile on her face. To everyone’s surprise, she didn’t cry at all. Even her mom was surprised. Awwhh… I was so happy. Honestly, it’s reassuring man… sometimes kids can embarrass you in public like that, lol, or make you start doubting your motherly-potential. I’m reassured!  lol

There’s not much you can do here in Yaounde to relax and free your mind. There’s not much entertainment when you are trying to get out of your work environment or your home to change air. All the movie theaters in the city have Shut Down! There’s no mall. No cool/chill/semi-professional lounge, where you can relax. No place were you can go on roller coasters, fun rides, etc… The entertainment sector  here is somehow inexistent, unexploited… But there’s a huge demand for it…So for y’all looking for business opportunities, that’s  already one idea for you. Now flesh it out.  

At a certain point in our lives, probably when we become adults, most of the things we do is motivated by  our sense of DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY (plus LOVE, which for me should be the number one motivation; but let me elaborate on Duty and Responsibility here.) It’s the sense of duty that moves us to work for our country's prosperity, it’s a sense of responsibility that pushes some of us who have younger siblings to look out for them. It’s also the sense of duty and responsibility that keeps most married men faithful and devoted to their wives and families – ‘cause at a certain point, the love between you and your spouse might decrease, but if you are a man of honor, you will not give up on your duties and responsibilities towards your wife and family, even when given the chance to. I think that’s what distinguishes a noble act from an ordinary act.  When it’s noble, it means you went beyond your personal desires and feelings, to do what is right.

The Power of Positive Declaration – practice declaring positive outcomes when things are falling apart, practice smiling when all seems to go wrong, practice declaring “It’s gonna be a brighter Day, brighter day!” when your day looks gloomy. I tell you, it miraculously works! 

There are times I get the blues, like on Monday (out of all days!). I was kinda down… kinda in a phlegmatic mood – indifferent, non-chalant, apathetic… I didn’t want to do anything, u know… Usually, when I feel down I try to kick my spirits up, I tell myself: Olivia, “Get out of yourself and into others! Get out of yourself and into others! Get out of yourself and into others Olivia!”  (lol) until I do. It actually works! If you try to snap out of your mood, focus on someone else, try to make their day brighter. It’s contagious, you’ll feel better…

I never thought I’d hear in my life time, someone cursing Patrice Lumumba for the efforts he did in Congo. It doesn’t surprise me too much that the remark came from a Congolese. As the saying goes, You are never a prophet in your own house…  His argument though, was that “Lumumba’s fight for independence was too hasty. Congo DRC could have been like South Africa, if Lumumba had let the Belgians reign till the 1990s... When a father (i.e. Belgium)has a child (i.e. Congo-DRC), he knows when to let the child free... Lumumba  was not educated and didn’t understand his opponents; now he caused all the disasters Congo DRC is facing today. Congo DRC was better before independence than afterwards….” I tell you, I was like “AAre you really gonna curse your forefather for fighting for the independence of his people, because now there are civil unrest?” I mean, some of his arguments might be right, but the causes are totally false. I told him he was analyzing history very erroneously. As he was speaking, I was just thinking of Patrice Lumumba’s June 30th, 1960’s Independence speech in which he said:

• “Men and women of the Congo, Victorious fighters for independence, today victorious, I greet you in the name of the Congolese government. All of you, my friends, who have fought tirelessly at our sides, I ask you to make this June 30, 1960, an illustrious date that you will keep indelibly engraved in your hearts, a date of significance of which you will teach to your children, so that they will make known to their sons and to their grandchildren the glorious history of our fight for liberty. For this independence of the Congo, even as it is celebrated today with Belgium, a friendly country with whom we deal as equal to equal, no Congolese worthy of the name will ever be able to forget that is was by fighting that it has been won [applause], a day-to-day fight, an ardent and idealistic fight, a fight in which we were spared neither privation nor suffering, and for which we gave our strength and our blood…We are proud of this struggle, of tears, of fire, and of blood, to the depths of our being, for it was a noble and just struggle, and indispensable to put an end to the humiliating slavery which was imposed upon us by force…”

(Please continue reading this powerful speech here: http://www.sfbayview.com/2009/patrice-lumumba%E2%80%99s-independence-day-speech-june-30-1960/)

After reading what Lumumba said in this speech, you want to cry. Cry because we spat on what he pleaded us to do: to keep the memory of our struggles in our mind. So that no one can tell us, we fought for nothing… So during my discussion with the Congolese man, I was just shaking my head like, “Oh my, Lumumba, can you hear what your child is saying about you who struggled to give your people a sense of liberty and dignity.” 

Later on, when my mom’s friend said: “Congo DRC was better before independence than afterwards... The Belgians brought us roads, electricity…” I told him, hold on let me go get my Aime Cesaire’s “Discourse on Colonialism”, upstairs in my room, and  I’ll read to you a passage that speaks exactly what you’re talking right now. He refused, he said books are useless and authors are biased. So I didn’t read that passage to him, but I’ll quote it here for y’all to read and understand:

• “I hear the storm. They talk to me about progress,
  
  about “achievements”, diseases cured, improved standards of living. I am talking about societies drained of their essence, cultures trampled underfoot, institutions undermined, lands confiscated, religions smashed, magnificent artistic creations destroyed, extraordinary possibilities wiped out.
  

• They throw facts at my head, statistics, mileages of roads, canals, and railroad tracks.
  I am talking about thousands of men sacrificed to the Congo Ocean. I am talking about those who, as I write this, are digging the harbor of Abidjan by hand. I am talking about millions of men torn from their gods, their land, their habits, their life – from life, from the dance, from wisdom. I am talking about millions of men in whom fear has been cunningly instilled, who have been taught to have an inferiority complex, to tremble, kneel, despair, and behave like flunkeys. 

• They dazzle me with the tonnage of cotton or cocoa that has been exported, the acreage that has been planted with olive trees or grape vines. I am talking about natural economies that have been disrupted – harmonious and viable economies adapted to the indigenous population – about food crops destroyed, malnutrition permanently introduced, agricultural development oriented solely toward the benefit of the metropolitan countries; about the looting products, the looting of raw materials.

• They pride themselves on abuses eliminated. They talk to me about local tyrants brought to reason; but I note that in general the old tyrants get on very well with the new ones, and that there has been established between them, to the detriment of the people, a circuit of mutual services and complicity.”
• Discourse on Colonialism – Aime Cesaire, p. 43

• Aime Cesaire adds on: “I maintain that colonialist Europe is dishonest in trying to justify its colonizing activity a posteori by the obvious material progress that has been achieved in certain fields under the colonial regime – since sudden change is always possible, in history as elsewhere; since no one knows what stage of material development these same countries would have been if Europe had not intervened; since the introduction of technology into Africa and Asia, their administrative reorganization in a word, their “Europeanization”, was (as is proven by the example of Japan) in no way tied to European occupation; since the Europeanization of the non- European continents could have been accomplished otherwise than under the heel of Europe.” P.46

Brothers and Sisters, we have to educate ourselves. Know our history (the one written from our perspective), know where we’re coming from (the battles our forefathers-and-mothers fought), and know our worth (our heritage). If not we will be the most gullible, malleable, influenceable people on this planet earth.  

On the lighter note, this friend of my mom from Congo was telling us anecdotes of Mobutu’s reign in Zaire. He said in primary school they used to recite: “Mobutu was born in 1930, his Mother, Mama Yemo was born in 1923…” They used to recite it all the time. It’s after 32 years of Mobutu rule, once he died that people started saying “hold on, what are we saying? There’s something wrong here… 1923? 1930?” lol. It’s after Mobutu died that the wax fell off their ears and the scales off their eyes… 

So, we have to postpone our Harambe inaugural Ceremony, from the 5th of November to the 12th, one week later. Ask me why? Because, the 5th is the eve of a “political event” in Cameroon. Ask me which event that is? It’s the birthday of Paul Biya’s ascension to power. Excuse me, it’s the Twenty-seventh birthday of his ascension to power. You know, it’s like the US celebrated November 4th every year, for 2+ decades, to commemorate Obama’s ascencion to power. Actually, I could try to understand people doing it for a magnificent, charismatic and honest persona like Obama, but otherwise, I’m shaking my head in disapproval! When my advisor advised we postpone our event, I was like “Does it  really have to be that deep?”  jeezz…. Now, we have to reschedule everything because of that event. But as much as I pout about it, we don’t have much choice. It’s the smart thing to do at this point, ‘cause here’s what happens on the eve of the President’s-ascension-to-power-birthday: All the elites, people of influence, politicians, and Business men trying to preserve their businesses on the good side of politics, go to their villages to celebrate that day. You go and celebrate, not necessarily because you  adhere to it, but you go mostly to show that you don’t oppose to it. The crazy

thing is that, I’m sure most of the times the president might not even request all those celebrations in his honor…. Anyways, back to my point: the target population we are aiming to bring to the event, i.e. the important decision-makers, money-makers, and movers-and-shakers would probably not be available that day to attend our inauguration. So, November 12th it is…. 

Every time I manage to do my Harambe pitch in French, without blanking and stammering; and I  convince my listener, I always feel like clapping for myself. :-)

I need to quote what Blaz, the President and founder of Blaz Design, the biggest designer in Cameroon, told me at the end of our meeting today. First let me explain the context of the meeting: One of my great mentors/advisers/partner in the US, Daniel, referred me to this great man. I met him today and during the course of our meeting, he introduced me to a very famous journalist in Cameroon (that I already knew) who was also meeting with him at that time. The “coincidence” is that, she’s also working on a youth empowerment project. So he told me “well speak to this journalist too.” After I did my Harambe-thing we were all on the same frequency. He expressed interest in supporting us, and will follow-up for further discussions… What stroke me the most, however, beyond our discussion on Harambe and the need for the youth to be engaged, is his humility. As I stood up to leave his office, he escorted me to the door, and said something like this: “I don’t believe in coincidence, I believe in the power of God bringing people together, and we were all meant to meet ( you, me and the journalist), there is a purpose to this. I have my very fruitful enterprise, but I don’t think I’m the best Cameroonian, or the greatest man in this nation to deserve all this (wealth)… I think if God gave me all this wealth, I need to give back. I have a responsibility towards my fellow brothers and sisters. That’s why I support your endeavor…”  Whoaw… I was impressed to hear these words, this statement of Service and Responsibility coming out of a Cameroonian middle-aged-businessman’s mouth. I’m still amazed at his grandeur-d’ame! 

I’m a Cameroonian in Cameroon; Yet, I miss all the American holidays such as Labor Day weekend, Halloween and Thanksgiving… I wish I could celebrate it here... I think I should start Americanizing my entire family and get them to celebrate those days. Lol

Victimization!!! Victimization! I should write an entire entry on Victimization, and how practically every Cameroonian have subscribed to that word/feeling/state of mind. People looveeee being the victims here: Victim of their social circumstances, victim of political circumstances, victim of economic circumstances… you know how victimization goes… everything happens against you, you can’t do anything because you’ve been victimized… “The teacher doesn’t like me”, “my mother doesn’t love me”, “my dad is always absent”, “My family doesn’t have money”, “I can only have a job if I know someone”, “the president is corrupt”, “my daughter is ignoring me”…. What don’t you hear from a Victimization-adherent? I tell you, sometimes I want to shake people up and tell them “WAKE UP!” “GET OVER URSELF!” “TAKE CONTROL!” “YOU CAN DO IT!”

I mean…I myself I have lots of stuff I can say I’m a victim of… my life is not all pink and gravy. There are some things I wish could have happened otherwise, but hey! What can you do? You dwell on it and say life is unfair? You keep an eternal grudge against someone for the offense he/she did to you? Life is a choice man… You either choose to let setbacks, offenses and deceptions shape your future or you choose to not be reduced by them. It’s a choice.

 I’m writing this down, not only because I have a King-of-Victimization in my life (yet at this point I'm immuned to  emotional blackmail), but also because this week I heard it so much that I’m like “Enough!” It starts irking me each time I hear someone playing the miserable “look at what happened to me!” “Look at what he did to me”, “look at what she did to me”, “look at how life is to me”…. I wish I could have 5 mins on national TV to speak to my brothers and sisters, and knock that spirit of victimization out of them! 

At the end of the day, what matters the most is not where you’re coming from, but where you’re going to… 

Keep Loving, Keep Giving, Keep Blessing :)

Olivia