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BOARD PROFILE
Publisher
Professor Steven Ekema Agbaw
S. Ekema Agbaw is
a professor of English and director of the Frederick Douglass
Institute for Academic Excellence of Bloomsburg University in
Pennsylvania. He teaches Modern English and American fiction,
African American literature, Postcolonial African literature, Black
Women Writers and Non-Western literature. Agbaw received his MA in
English literature from the University of Leeds, and PhD from the
University of Connecticut at Storrs, with a dissertation on William
Faulkner. His areas of interest and research include African
continuities in American literature and culture, Postcolonial
African literature and African interpretations of British and
American literatures. He has published articles on Achebe, Conrad,
Faulkner, Morrison, Ngugi and Shakespeare. He recently edited a
collection of essays Aspects of Postcolonial Literature,
during his tenure as Fulbright Senior Specialist at Constantine The
Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia.
Editor-In-Chief
Nfor Atem F. Momanyi
He hails
from Ossing, the only bilingual (Kenyang/Ejagham) township in Manyu
Division, and also, one of a handful in the Republic of Cameroon.
After attending Presbyterian School, Ossing, he gained admission
into Presbyterian High School, Besongabang (class of 1980), and
later, Bilingual High School, Molyko, Buea (class of 1982).
He holds a
bacholor's degree and post graduate diploma in Journalism and
Communication respectively from the University of Ghana, Accra,
Ghana. A master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University
of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, and master’s degree in Management
Information Systems from Walden University, Baltimore, Maryland.
With the
guidance and tacit support of his grandfather, Ta Arrey-Eta-Agbo, he
overcame the claws of the “mighty one” by first wrestling with Ngbe
in April 1977. He did not only grow through the ranks, but also, was
initiated into the secret sub-societies of Ngbe namely, Angbu,
Bekundi, Nkanda, Nsibiri, Mboko, Okongho Atu and Obhvon. He also has
more than an average procedural knowledge in the divinity and
manifestation of Obasinjom.
Nfor Atem also
served in the following capacities over the years; Assistant Editor
of “Cameroon Times” under Editor-in-Chief Dikuba, Editor-in-Chief
of “Cameroon Outlook”, Sports Editor of “Ghanaian Voice”, and Staff
Reporter, “Weekly Spectator”, Accra, Ghana. He also had a short
stint as Staff Writer with Associated Press, Atlanta Georgia.
As a founding
member and inaugural Secretary General of Manyu Elements Cultural
and Development Association (MECA) U.S.A., he also wore many caps in
the association including but not limited to Secretary General, MECA
U.S.A. Council of Chiefs, and chapter chief MECA Georgia. He is
married with two daughters, Atem Manyi-Eta and Atem Manyi-Arrey. He
now calls Atlanta, Georgia home.
Managing Editor
Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai
Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai is an experienced communicator and team leader with over 10 years of journalistic practice, media consultancy, public advocacy and fundraising experience. An iconoclastic public intellectual, he believes ardently in the concept of open society at its most fundamental level, a society characterized by the rule of law; respect for human rights, democratically elected governments; a market economy and a thriving civil society.
The third in a family of eight, Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai attended St. Joseph’s Primary School Mamfe town and Government High School Mamfe where he obtained both the GCE O & A-Levels with a distinction as the best all-round Arts student. He holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Yaoundé. A graduate of Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government where he was an Edward S. Mason Fellow in Public Policy & Management. He also graduated from Harvard with a Master Degree in Public Administration and was the 2006 William Starr Innovations Fellow for outstanding journalistic practice. He was Managing Editor of the Harvard Journal of African-American Public Policy and first African Editor of the Kennedy School of Government Review.
His illustrious career in journalism includes stints with The Weekly Post, TODAY, Insight newsmagazine; African Soccer, The Herald and Cameroon Tribune during which time he established himself as a household name in the Cameroon media landscape. He has traveled to 45 of the 53 African countries covering events and crisis in hotspots like Sierra Leone, Liberia, Congo and the Middle East. He is a member of Foreign Policy Association.
Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai is a Consultant with the Gerson Lehrman Group on corporate social responsibility. He also works for the Share Group with special responsibility for advising non-profit organizations on the need for veritable public/private partnerships to help the fight against poverty in Africa. He is married with two children and lives in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Features Editor:
Eyongarah Kima-Tabong
Eyongarah Kima-Tabong was born in April 16, 1962 in Bakebe, Upper Banyang Sub-Division. He attended Presbyterian School, Bakebe from 1967 to 1973. He then attended Presbyterian High School, Besongabang from 1973-1978. After obtaining his GCE O-Level, he proceeded to the Cameroon College of Arts and Science Kumba where he obtained the GCE A-Level in 1980. After a year at the Law Faculty of the University of Yaounde, he passed the entrance exam into the National Electricity Corporation Middle Managers School-Ombe. Upon graduation, he worked for the National Electricity Corporation (SONEL) as Chief of Group-Accounting.
He traveled to the United States in 1987 to pursue higher studies. He attended the University of Massachusetts, graduating with dual Bachelors degrees in Business Administration and Political Science. He then proceeded to Harvard University Extension School where he graduated with a MLA. in Government (Political Science). He also obtained another Masters in Business Administration from Fitchburg State College in
Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He earned a third Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts.
In addition to these degrees, Mr. Kima-Tabong also holds various Licenses:
Registered Investment Advisor; National Securities Dealers Association Series 6, 7, and 63; Massachusetts State Insurance Licenses in Life, Health, Property and Casualty;
The Chartered Financial Consultant Certificate from the Huebner School; The Massachusetts State License for Real Estate Salespersons; and the Registered Nurse License.
Mr. Kima-Tabong worked as a Financial Analyst for Pruco Securities in Boston Massachusetts from 1995 to 1999. He worked in the same capacity for Investors Capital in Lynnfield, Massachusetts from 1999 to 2001. He then changed careers and became a Registered Nurse in 2001. Presently, he works as a Nurse Manager at Sancta Maria hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He also moonlights as an Adjunct Lecturer of Political Science at Fitchburg State College. He lives in Fitchburg, Massachusetts with his wife Joan. He is a father of seven children.
Archivist
Besong Frida Agbor
Ms. Frida Agbor Besong hails from Talangaye village in Manyu Division. Born in 1966, she attended Presbyterian Schools Ajayukndip and Ossing between1970-1978. She did her secondary education at Government High School Mamfe from 1979-1986 where she obtained the GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level Certificates.
In 1986, she enrolled in the Yaounde University, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Department of History, where she graduated with the following qualifications: BA (Hons) History (1989), Master “Maitrise” in Economic and Social
History (1990), D.E.A. History (1991). As a consequent of her indelible foot prints on the corridors of the Department of History, Yaoundé University where she graduated magna cum laude, she delved into the virgin forest of research to bring to the limelight the hidden treasures of Manyu historiography. Her unpublished Masters “Maitrise” Dissertation titled “Trading Activities in the Upper Cross River Basin: The Case of the Banyang and Ejagham 1830-1904”, remains one of the rare historical research work ever written by an indigenous Manyu historian. In 1990, while a registered student of the “Doctorat de Troisieme Cycle” in the Yaoundé University, she equally enrolled into the Teachers’ Training College Yaounde where she graduated in 1992 with the Teachers’ Diploma for Secondary Education, DIPES11.
From 1992-2003 she taught as a senior history teacher, head of department and GCE examiner in Government Bilingual High School Limbe. She is a member of the Cameroon Teachers Association (TAC), and member of the South-West History Teachers Association.
She is an activist and promoter of women’s empowerment. In this domain, she founded the Rural Women Career Training Programme – a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) in Cameroon. Her activities drew the attention of the Cameroon Gatsby Foundation – an NGO involved in Micro-Credit Schemes for underprivileged women. She later served as Secretary for the Limbe Gatsby Women’s Federation, and founder/president of the famous Mile Four (Bonadikombo) Gatsby Women’s Federation in 1999. This association today remains a shining example of the success of Micro-Credit schemes in the financial empowerment of rural women in Cameroon.
Ms Frida Besong as she was known then is no new name within the corridors of the Limbe Municipality. She was also a representative of the Women’s NGOs in the Limbe Pilot project for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative Programme. Through seminars with Cameroonian and United Nations consultants, and other stakeholders, the Municipality was able to come out with meaningful projects for development and recommendation; a consultation process which continued into other parts of Cameroon, culminating into Cameroon’s acceptance into the HIPC Initiative Programme.
Frida is veritable dynamite among her peers and has been a source of inspiration to many, especially her numerous students. After her long stay in Limbe, she then jetted to Ireland in 2003 in search of greener pastures. Her continuous desire for academics has taken her back to the bench where she is now enrolled as a Masters student in the School of Law and Government of the Dublin City University, and is now studying International Relations and Development. She is married and a mother.
Technical Director
Tabe A. Joseph
Joseph Tabe is a
son of the Takwai Chiefdom, in Manyu. He is deeply committed in
promoting Manyu culture and identity. He is a graduate of
St. Joseph's College, Sasse and GHS Mamfe, Cameroon before
going to the USA
In
the USA, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin,
Stevens Point and the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul,
Minnesota where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer
Science and Mathematics and a Master of Science in Computer
Science respectively.
He has developed and
supported many computer programs in Corporate America. And
he is using his experience to support the ManyuExpo project
and other Manyu Organizations. He also taught Mathematics
and computer science in the Minneapolis Public Schools,
Minnesota. He was the PRO of MECA-USA from 1999 -
2003. He enjoys collecting Africa music.
Historian & Advisor
Etup-Etup-Ntui Ashu James Tabot
Etup-Ntup-Ntui (Ngbe
Society Sub-chief) Ashu James Tabot hails from Bachuo-Ntai, Mamfe
Central Sub-division. He attended Basel Mission School Bachuo-Ntai
and later, Roman Catholic Mission School Bachuo-Akagbe before
proceeding to Cameroon Protestant College, Bali. He obtained the GCE
O/L certificate in 1965 and went on to teach at Presbyterian
Secondary School, Besongabang from 1965 to 1967. Ashu then had a
one-year stint as a laboratory technician with the CDC research unit
at Ekona.
His stint as
technician in the chemical analytical laboratory at Ekona influenced
him to major in chemistry when he studied at Njala University
College in Sierra Leone. Ashu later moved to the Pennsylvania State
University in the United States where obtained a Master of Science
degree in Fuel Technology.
For nearly one and
a half decades, he taught thermodynamics and chemical kinetics in
the faculty of science of the University of Yaounde. He later moved
back to the United States where he worked for JMG Manufacturing,
Inc., Framingham, Massachusetts, as Director of Research and
Development. He is a co-inventor of the “Decopier”, a machine that
functions as the reverse of a photocopier.
He also developed
many other new products for the company. Information on these
products is proprietary. He has published some of his research
findings in scientific journals like Photochemistry and Fuel.
Additionally, Ashu co-authored a book on coal gasification and
liquefaction. Ashu presently teaches at Caritas Labouré College in
Boston, Massachusetts. He is Assistant Professor of Health Career
Opportunity Program (HCOP) and Assistant Director of Academic
Planning and Support Services.
Etup-Etup-Ntui Ashu
is not only a member of Ngbe Society with an abundant and vast
knowledge of both its constitution and processes, but also, a keen
student and raconteur of Manyu history and culture. He is married
with four children.
Historian & Advisor
Sessekou Sammy B. Arrey-Mbi
Born on November 22 1945,
Sisuku Arrey-Mbi Sammy is from the Kingdom of Bachuo-Ntai in Mamfe
Central Sub-Division. He is a product of C.P.C Bali and CCAST,
Bambili. He obtained a combined B.A Degree in English Studies and
Modern History from Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone, in
1973; a Postgraduate Diploma in English, Modern Letters from E.N.S.,
Yaounde in 1975; an M.ED in English Language Studies from the
Victoria University of Manchester, United Kingdom in 1986 and a
Master of Science in Technical and Professional Communication (MSTPC)
from Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta, Georgia in
2001.
Besides his long tenure in
the classroom as a senior English Language and Literature teacher
both in Mamfe and Bamenda, Sisuku Arrey-Mbi will long be remembered
as the uncompromising Secretary General of Teachers Association of
Cameroon (TAC) who used that position to spearhead the fierce
Anglophone fight against the Biya regime which resulted in the
creation of the Cameroon General Certificate of Education Board
which now takes care of end-of-course examinations for Anglophone
students.
More so, Sisuku Arrey-Mbi
is not only a mentor’s mentor and inspiration to many both in
Cameroon and the U.S.A., but also, a cultural bulwark in Manyu
Division. Still so, very few of Sisuku Arrey-Mbi’s irk and stature
has taken a keen interest in the affairs of Manyu Elements Cultural
and Development Association (MECA U.S.A.). He will long be
remembered as one of the guiding forces towards the overall success
of the association.
Sisuku Arrey-Mbi now leaves
with his family in Atlanta, Georgia, where he teaches English
Language and Computer Skills to high school students.
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