HAPPY 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DULCE CAMER!!!

August 2009 saw Dulce Camer reaching its first year as the number one blog for all Cameroonians!!!!! The blog with info and Gossip on all the Craziest, Sexiest, Coolest, Trendiest, Most Fabulous Cameroonians out there doing their thang!!

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I remember telling Ms Tabe after she interviewed me last year in August that I would like to interview her on the blogs first anniversary – it seemed only fair to reverse the roles in a year so I could ask her some questions also!! ;-)

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Voila! Herewith the interview, a little insight to the patriotic head behind Dulce Camer, whom you would never have guessed has a split personality! Read on, read on and find out more…

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Also a brief interview with both Ngum Ngafor and Isabel Bezeng who are working with Tabe on the blog follow hereon too; but first lets speak to Ms Tabe Cynthia!!

TABE CYNTHIA

SA – Firstly I must thank you for allowing me interview you as requested when I was interviewed 1 year ago to launch Dulce Camer, tell me how proud you are of your 1 year old baby.
TC: I am extremely proud of how we have grown and I am also immensely grateful and proud of all those out there who embraced this initiative and kept on sending me names of people they thought I could interview. This blog wouldn’t be where it is today without the support of the readers and followers. Thank you!

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SA – What did you aim to achieve?
TC: The aim of creating this blog was to showcase Cameroon through its many and diversed talents. Before I started this blog I knew nothing on the Cameroonians out there who were doing stuff and now, I am so proud because I discovered a lot of talented and hard working Cameroonians doing one thing or another to make themselves and their country stand out. We are now competing with the Nigerians and the Ghanians and that is a great thing!

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SA - Are you pleased about the number of talented Cameroonians there are out there or did you source them out before embarking on the blog.
TC: I had no idea of who was doing what. I just threw myself hoping I would come across them and lo and behold I did and people who heard of the blog via Facebook kept sending me names too.

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SA - How do you source each talent and what does each interviewing process involve?
TC: First of all, you have to be doing something like running a business, fronting an initiative, singing, dancing, designing, styling, writing, the list is endless. If I come across a name of a person or if I am sent a name from other people or from Ngum (aka the archive, for her knowledge!), I contact the person first to tell them about the blog and what it aims to achieve and wait for their response. If they are interested, I then request their contact number (as I do my interviews by phone to give it that personal edge!), schedule an interview date and time and then come up with questions after my research on them. Thereafter, I call the person and conduct the interview and voila!

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SA - A bit of a hard question but have you had a favourite feature to date? your most funniest, problematic, inspirational etc
TC: I would say everyone I have featured on the blog has been inspirational as everyone has a different story to tell and different means to how they got to do what they are doing. I definitely enjoyed talking to the 2 ladies behind KiRette Couture as what they had to say mirrored my very emotions on Cameroon and its lack of advancement.
I have not had any problematic interviews yet, thank God!

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SA - Where do you see DC in 5 years time
TC: We want DC to be more than a blog and currently we are working behind the scenes on a lot of things we want to do with DC. I can’t reveal for now what they are as we are still putting things in place however, I can say that we are going to become a dotcom, making us the number one entertainment and information portal. We also have a PR side called Dulce Camer PR. So if you are a business, a budding artist (musician etc), a designer, a writer, or if you have events you want promoted or marketed, contact us for a proposal. We will be happy to assist you as we are looking to catapult the image of Cameroonian individuals and businesses in the UK and abroad through original and high quality publicity strategies. Keep your eyes peeled on DC to find out more on where we are heading.

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SA – The Tabe I know is a ms fashionista! Would you ever consider a career in this field having been so exposed to it especially during this last year whilst working on Fah-schyon blog?
TC: Hmm, ms fashionista?! I have a passion for fashion and I also love to play with a wide variety of images and looks and it is for this passion that I started the Fah-schyon blog to show people the movers and shakers of fashion from the African continent. At the moment, I am involved with Camer Couture which aims to catapult the talents of Cameroonian fashion designers to the world who are otherwise oblivious to their creativity. We will be throwing a unique and chic fashion showcase launching October 17th at the Shoreditch Studios here in London. So, to go back to your question, I am already working within the fashion field as a facilitator to these designers. I love the backstage work so watch out for more things coming up!

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SA – Is this how Camer Couture came about? And what are your aspirations for this first show in October?
TC: Yes, this is how Camer Couture came about. Our aspiration is to put on a great show which is very different to what the community are used to seeing. We also aspire to showcase these designers’ creativity and talent adequately and educate people on Cameroon, dubbed Africa in miniature.

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SA - So, tell us all about Tabe Cynthia, likes, dislikes, passions, inspirations and aspirations?
TC: I am reserved but yet outgoing, loyal and encouraging and friendly but too independent! I love to cook, to listen to music and I am very passionate about interior design too. I love colour, my 2 favourites being blue and green (turquoise, absolutely love it!). I am inspired by Africa, Nigeria especially is the source of my inspiration and I aspire to do a great deal to make sure that Cameroon is known for more than just Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o. I dislike procrastinating and individuals who have no ambition.

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SA – What makes you cry?
TC: Sad news, especially death makes me cry. I also cry when I am very joyous!

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SA – What makes you smile?
TC: When I think of my blessings, hear a funny joke or when I watch kids play…their innocence and sense of freedom makes me smile.

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SA – Thank you for giving this interview Ms Tabe and we can only pray it goes from strength to strength!! and of course thank you for your hard work on the blog.
TC: Thank you for keeping to your word and making this a reality. Thanks to all those who have been with me throughout this year. Please continue to read the blog and leave your comments, whether good or bad we want to know what you think! Stay blessed and sweet as always ;-))

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Now lets hear what Ngum Ngafor and Isabel Bezeng have to say!

NGUM NGAFOR

SA -Your thoughts on DC please.
NG: It grew way bigger and faster than I imagined it would and that’s amazing! DC is a reference point for all things fantastically Cameroonian. People come up to me all the time to tell me how much they love it and the pride it brings them. That assures me that we have achieved something.

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SA -What made you decide to work alongside Tabe on DC?
NG: I love her ideas and “yes we can” attitude. We also have similar tastes in many things. Cynthia first struck me in an article she wrote for MIMI magazine (we both freelanced for the publication but did not know each other) about the “bush faller” phenomenon in Cameroon. I tried in vain to get in touch with her so when I stumbled upon her on facebook and found out what she was planning regarding DC, I jumped at the chance of a joint effort.

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SA - What is your role?
NG – I am a writer/researcher. We all have a say in what makes the site’s content.

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SA -Where do you see it going, what is your aim and aspiration for DC and how would you like to see it evolve?
NG – We see DC becoming a magazine. Our goal is for it to be the definitive Cameroonian showbiz/current affairs hub.

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SA - Tell us about you. Your likes, dislikes, passions, inspirations and aspirations. What makes you tick?
NG – Hmm.. [laughs]. Music! If it sounds good, I’ll listen to it. I live for words (they have such power) ideas and positive people. I can’t stand religious, political or any other form of extremism. I also dislike the idea of not believing in people and endless possibilities. Education, women’s issues and Africa are always on my mind. I am currently inspired by the Zambian economist, Dambisa Moyo and share her ideas about ending Africa’s dependence on aid. It makes my blood boil that week out an existence when ours is the richest continent on earth! Everyone should read Moyo's book, “Dead Aid.” My family too is amazing! Their belief in me is unconditional. I still pinch myself when I see what my sister, Anrette’s clothing label, KiRette Couture (she co-owns it with an old school friend, Kibonen Nfi) has mushroomed into and how fast it is growing. This and the successes of other Africans offer us a snapshot of what we can achieve for our motherland if we believe. My aspirations? They are so many [laughs]. How about retiring to my gorgeous, Shiri Achu-designed Baforchu farmhouse? I need high-flying media/PR career to pay for that right?

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SA - For you Ms Ngum, my architectural services will be affordable - I promise. Beautiful Baforchu farmhouse it will be!! I can see it already!!
OK, lets conclude with you and I must thank you for giving this interview. I am not alone when I say thank you for your hard work on the blog and we pray it grows from this 1st birthday to many many more.

NG- It is always my pleasure Shiri. Best wishes to you too. DC’s got to have the scoop when your beautiful art is featured at the Tate Modern and the likes of it!

ISABEL BEZENG

SA -Your thoughts on DC please.
IB: DC has grown from strength to strength within the last 12 months and at the moment it is the number one Cameroon blog for all entertainment news. DC is a platform for promoting established and up-coming Cameroonian artists.

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SA -What made you decide to work alongside Tabe on DC?
IB: When you look at the Cameroon media industry, there isn’t a lot of outlets that focus on entertainment news. When I first saw DC, I wanted to be part of it, because I felt it was new, innovative, creative and very different from most Cameroon media. I joined DC because it has a young Cameroonian team which is capable of addressing many issues concerning their peers. As a woman, I felt most of the other media didn’t cater for my needs. DC promotes Cameroonian talent and presents a more positive side of the country.

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SA - What is your role?
IB: I am in charge of marketing and public relations (PR). My role involves developing strategies to increase readership. I worked on the popular “Seven Wonders of Cameroon” campaign that we ran to mark the national day (20th May) celebrations. I was also part of the recent“Bring Back Makossa” drive. Monitoring traffic flow on the blog is another important duty.

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SA -Where do you see it going, what is your aim and aspiration for DC and how would you like to see it evolve?
IB : I see DC moving from a blog to an online magazine with richer content and interactive features. We aim to make DC the first stop for latest news and gossip about happenings in and around Cameroon. Another goal is to secure continuous growth in readership.

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SA - Tell us about you. Your likes, dislikes, passions, inspirations and aspirations. What makes you tick?
IB: I like my family and friends, absolute dislike ignorant and narrow minded people. I love fashion and shopping - especially shoe shopping. There is just something about shoes! Inspiration? I think once you know what you want in life then you can easy draw it from anywhere and anything. I have not got any particular source of inspiration. I always try to make the best of every situation that comes my way. I see life as a continuous learning process and aspire to be the best in whatever I do. What makes me tick? Hahahaha. I would say good company, especially my family and friends; it has to be my family. I absolute love and always look forward to family gatherings. They are always full of jokes.

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SA Thank you for giving this interview Ms Isabel. Again, I am not alone when I say thank you for your hard work on the blog and we pray it grows from this 1st birthday to many many more.

So there you have it people, until next year, stay well and blessed and lets continue in sharing and contributing to the blog to strive to make Cameroon a force to be reckoned with!!

Tabe, Ngum and Isabel, we thank you for your relentless hard work – you are all blessings to our nation, Cameroon!!!

Take care all & God bless!

Shiri Achu (SA)