TIPTOPSTARS

The least thing you would want to do, if you knew Titus Banyoh in the 90s, is to call Batimu FM (www.batimufm.com) a surprise. Rather, the online radio outfit is a logical result of some glaring passion which Le Brave ({literally meaning brevity} as the ace broadcaster became known when an unconditional lover of the say-it-as-it is option) had overtly displayed in his school days. The coming of Batimu FM, one of Africa’s most prominent online radio stations was therefore obvious.

“Finally, I’m able to listen to Batimu FM, thank you for this great initiative bro”, “I don’t need to congratulate you on what you know how to do best, I can only encourage you to keep the amber burning…”, “Great job Batimu FM, my first time listening to this, no turning back”, “Great work Titus, I’m proud of you and Batimu FM”. These and more are the kind of reactions the creation of Batimu FM generated at inception.

Talking to TIPTOPSTARS, Felonis, a Sierra Leonean living in Ohio, USA said Batimu FM is the station that has conveniently found a comfortable spot on her radio taste bud. “I feel really good when listening to the station and Batimu FM will be my friend forever,” she revealed.

“I like projects that introduce a change, Batimu FM has brought the difference we would normally expect in a sector as vibrant as online broadcasting. I can bet for it,” Hartley, another Ohio resident who hails from Ghana, told us.

Just like Felonis and Hartley, scores of other fervent listeners of the station that went on the air in February 2014, have had the Belgium-run station bookmarked on their computers and would easily be caught logging on to savour, not just the irresistible music selection Batimu FM is now known to dish out, but some of its extra-ordinarily creative shows. One of them, Africa Family Show (Saturdays from 7pm to 9pm GMT +1) is a veritable “ressemblement” of everything that causes satisfaction on radio – information, education and entertainment.

Meanwhile, Talent Promo (Tuesdays at 7pm GMT+1) is now one of Africa’s biggest radio platforms that recognize young and talented people the continent prides itself of and promotes them. It is a conversation between the host and the guest star whose story is told to the world. “It was so wonderful and inspiring being on the show,” one of Talent Promo’s guests had mentioned to TIPTOPSTARS. In one of its sellout episodes, Talent Promo received Honorine Express, the famous Cameroonian social media social critic whose videos on thought-provoking issues have pulled much attention and winning a lot of authority for the young and bold speaker. Other guests have been Julia L. Ngam (entrepreneur), Missy BK (singer and philanthropist), Andy T Many (gospel artist), Vomumse aka Charlo Magique (gospel singer), Shaz (singer), Nkanya Nkwai (actor/producer), Nanje John (filmmaker), Kang Quintus (actor/producer), etc.

Perhaps, the top notch of the station is Pepper Soup, a show in pidgin (lingua franca) that discusses social vices that have pinned society from progressing. The show, hosted by the station boss himself, Banyoh, is said to be no respecter of people. In a plain-truth fashion, it nails the nail on the head with the fervent hope that change, rather than feeling embarrassed, would be considered. “When you no vex, you go understand and change” is the Pepper Soup watch words, call it slogan.

Prior to enrolling into the University of Buea – Cameroon, where he studied Journalism and Mass Communication, the founder of Batimu FM had been attached to CRTV Bamenda as an informal trainee. During this time, he grabbed from the experiences of some older people in the profession including Ephrain Banda Ghogomu, Vukuga Nintchou, Ngobesing Suh Romanus, Divine Nchamukong, etc.

Upon graduation, Banyoh collaborated with Cameroon’s national radio station, CRTV, worked for Magique FM, one of the pioneer privately-run radio commercial radio stations in Yaounde and RTA (today Ariane TV) where he was Editor in Chief for Television news before relocating to Europe in 2003. If he had several dreams, Batimu FM was one of them. And if it has transformed into a reality today, Le Brave is a happy man and thankful to God – just as happy as fans of www.batimufm.com who have confirmed that listening to the station makes them feel good.

A society where women boldly think that self-reliance and entrepreneurship are a concrete answer to unemployment and a leeway towards a much-needed socio-economic development is a society that is ready to rail into modernity.

If many more young Cameroonian women are going to adopt, express and follow up this vision, just like the Bold and Beautiful Camer Ladies have done, then, there is the likelihood that the country’s youth development challenges may soon be history. The BBCL as the group of young entrepreneurs is simply called have visualized a Cameroonian society where women will emerge as examples to emulate by thriving in a soothing economic environment they themselves would have created for the betterment of all.

If lifting the prize of Best Artist/Performer in the 2009 Campus Celebrity song contest (with FBI-Generation song group) was an early sign of Inspi’s eventual music prowess, writing songs at the tender age of 11 and even showing interest in the art at 8 were bigger indications. Unlike scores of other gifted young people, the Legendary Boy (as the Cameroonian Hip-Hop singer is also fondly called) found his passion so early and did not hesitate to explore it.

The December 15, 2015 release, It’s Alright (a single) is a great revelation of a musical skill represented in voice, melody, beats, etc. According to the singer’s producers, the release of the 3.56-minutes-long track is just preceeding that of other singles that will culminante in an end-of-2015 album.

Inspi has performed at several public events in some of the major towns in English-speaking Cameroon, including Buea, Bamenda and Kumbo. The 22-yaer-old singer whose manager, Princewill "BAO2" is said to be his classmate has been on stage with some renowned young Cameroonian musicians, including award-winning Achale and Gasha. He is currently being propelled by the White Gold Entertainment label. Watch out for this young and talented singer !