TIPTOPSTARS

Amongst the tools that are used in weaving development, education stands out. Clearly, it is the one with which every other tool depend, to perform the usually herculean task of nation building. Without education, life may go on, but with untold ruptures which could easily have been avoided, if the case was different. Even after they retire from active service, people have been seen, still studying and some, formally. That is undoubtedly illustrative to the fact that education is the key or perhaps gateway to every genuine progress.         

That every child has a right to education may be well spelled out and not easily contested. But that not every child has it, is a more conspicuous reality. As we write, there are still children, who because of inadequate financial and material means, are unable to go to school. Even when tuition at elementary level is generally considered as minimal or affordable, not every child or their parents have been able to raise the money. In some cases, these aspiring learners have homeless, parentless and sickness situations to deal with, making education far-fetched.

In other situations, some less privileged children who go to school have been unable to meet their basic needs. This has most often resulted to irregular attendance (absenteeism) and suspension from school because they cannot pay or complete payment of school fees. Some of them simple drop out. This had definitely had a toll on their later lives.

Though they have always made efforts, governments have been unable to totally solve this problem. That explains why the civil society has stepped in to contribute its own quota.

Sundrop Initiative holds education in high esteem, just as the non-governmental organization bothers about the betterment of less privileged children. Contributing to the education of these children is one of the organization’s most prestigious goals.

In its social development mission geared towards bettering the lives of less privileged children, Sundrop Initiative is organizing a back-to-school fundraiser from August 26-27, 2016 in Buea, Cameroon. According to the organization, the exercise dubbed NOW, YOU CAN, is a come-together of Cameroonian entertainers who are willing to give back (in this first edition, to enable beneficiaries go back to school prepared).

To that effect, a fundraiser which will be done in the form of games has been slated for Hotel Residence Carlos, Muea. During the event, movie actors, musicians, fashion designers, models, etc, will engage in games with the general public, during which time, charitable donations will be made. “This will happen on the first day, that is August the 26^th,” Elynn Fesse Basil told TIPTOPSTARS. “On day two, that is August the 27^th, we shall hand out scholarships and school materials to pupils,” the founder of Sundrop Initiative told us further.

Apart from catering for the education needs of the less privileged, Sundrop Initiative also takes and follows up cases of child abuse, child labour, domestic violence, rape, basic human rights violation, etc. It also promotes gender equality and handles gender-based issues.

In February this year, the organization visited three orphanages in Fako Division in the South West region of Cameroon. The visit was succeeded by a Charity Dinner in Buea which Apex 1 Radio (www.apex1radio.com) covered live.

Meantime, a radio documentary on the Sundrop Initiative back-to-school charity programme will be produced and aired on Apex 1 Radio in early September.

Meantime, its founder, Elynn Fesse Basil is a reputably engaged Cameroonian actress who believes that films can go beyond entertainment and be a veritable medium for development.

For more information on Sundrop Initiative and for your support, contact its head office at

Miss Bright entrance, Bomaka, Buea, Cameroon.
Tel: 00 (237) 670933409 / 694995911
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Facebook:www.facebook.com/sundropinitiative
Facebook page: Sundrop Initiative Twitter: #SunDini

Sighan and Njoume are names Cameroonian contemporary music lovers are fast getting used to since both budding artists released their singles few days ago. “They’re such wonderful singers and would be forces to reckon with,” a Cameroonian, living in Ohio, USA told TIPTOPSTARS. The music lover had just listened to Ababan and Small Mami, the said tracks that is already capturing huge attention.

“We couldn’t hesitate to sign both artists because of their irresistible voices and style,” a note from Tchac-kap System Entertainment, the record label under which the young musicians operate.

The Afro pop artists are said to be introducing an unheard and unseen rhythm which is a blend of Cameroonian genres such njang, benskin, bitkutsi, makossa, assiko, etc.

Born in Douala, raised there and in Bamenda respectively, got into entertainment from childhood with skills in dancing, singing to and acting. She represented her school as a dancer at competitions such as Challenge Vacance and Campus Celebrity.

Meanwhile, Njoume, son of the legendary makossa artist and guitar icon Njoume Maurice picked music after his dad. Prior to Small Mami, the young singer did back-up for several artists.

Ababan and Small Mami were recorded at the No Hitz No Records studio in Buea and produced by Philbillbeats. Both artists were guest on Apex 1 Radio’s African Fiesta on August 10, 2016 hosted by Kristen Asiedu and Ernest Kanjo.

For more information contact:

(+237) 67001224 & (237) 676019008 Facebook: Njoume official

Sighan official  YouTube : tchac-kap system  Soudcloud: tchac-kap system

It’s fair to say that where one is born becomes the starting point in shaping our world view. Those born in urban spaces are generally open to various ways of gaining knowledge and skills to “get ahead”compared to those who are from rural areas. This does not mean that people from the rural areas can’t dwell with urbanism or become urban dwellers themselves. This piece only looks at those in rural areas since it defines a large section of our populations in Africa.

Note that those in the rural parts of our continent sometimes migrate to urban areas. Here too they have to grapple with their new environment; cope with new information from this strange environment while trying to succeed in their venture. The speed with which they succeed depends on how quickly they are able to unlearn some of their earlier “conditioning” that they have lived through, which continue to define their lives into the future.

In most of Africa where the word “entrepreneur” could be as strange as cheese is to some, their immediate environment and the way they relate to it becomes the only defining panels on which they can write their own experiences of how to succeed. “Conditioning” as it is used hereis how anyone with these rural experiences has been limited by their surroundings and their ability to gather, organize and use knowledge is limited as well. This has nothing to do with inherent entrepreneurial spirit – their ambitions and traits acquired when exposed to new and thriving environments in an urban setting.

The limits of information, the availability of vital clues, the understanding of how information can be used in this day and age, has them at a disadvantage. This contributes to how well they compete in the global space of building a small business. One is tempted to think that they didn’t push orwork hard enough; didn’t have enough ambition, but the limits exist within the context of how much they are exposed to. Their last resort is to come to the city. However, they are still confronted with their limited knowledge of accessing the information they need to get ahead in life or to build a small business.

How long they take to adjust to this new space and fit the elusive pieces of the “success” puzzle depend on their earlier “conditioning” which is a great hindrance in forging ahead. This could partly be the reason why entrepreneurship is struggling to take hold in most of Africa. Those living in the information drought conditions will often hear: “Study hard so you can get a good job” which prevents“think like an entrepreneur”. To me, the “study hard” notion is one of the worst things anybody can say to a child. What if we reverse it and propagate it in the same spirit? Study hard so that you can invent things; start a business; create new things that don’t exist now.

I am sure it will also create new “conditioning”, one that is tilted towards creating new things and/or entrepreneurs capable of taking on the frontiers of global commerce. Could the “study hard” conditioning be a hindrance to how most black youth think in most rural parts of Africa? My suspicion here is that the development of “gut feeling”, the killer instinct which are key traits of an entrepreneur is suppressed through this conditioning that takes place during the early formative years. Considering that Africa will have the youngest population in the world by 2040, how our youth is “conditioned” today to take on the world, to become global citizens, and to dare to dream, becomesthe corner stone on which our future success will be built.

From author : Solomon Atah is a Small business advertising specialist, a Personal Brand expert. He is alsothe Author of #HelpHope 7 Quantum Humanomics – Follow Twitter: @SolomonAtah: Instagram: @solomonatah

Editor's Note :Solomon Atah is a venerated broadcaster who provides valuable inputs to Apex 1 Radio. He is also a conference speaker and civil society promoter. He resides in Johannesburg, South Africa

Rita knows how much I hate dying minute invitations but she keeps sending them. Someone invites you for a party as though they wanted to send off an extra invitation which they did not want to waste.

EDITOR”S NOTE  Ifaana – The Jotter is a specialized column on TIPTOPSTARS that addresses common society issues that works enormously on our understanding and perception of people, places, events, etc. The columnist, Ifaana Qualar, a young Cameroonian communicator and actor, is a keen observer of her society’s evolution. This evolution comes along with a whole lot of phenomenal trends that never escape the writers attention. She is known to move along with a mini note book in her hand bag. Each day she steps out of her home, this note book records ever ‘insolite’ (odd) that comes it way. Translating it into pieces of publishable writing has been Ifaana’s most recent professional assignment and the Doula-based reporter finds infinite pleasure doing that. You may like to share your stories with her as well. Contact the writer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it     Ernest Kanjo