Cameroon's sleepy cinema industry

The Abunaws are the best thing that ever happened to Cameroon's film industry

By the BBC's Francis Ngwa Niba in Yaounde (BBC World Service, Tuesday, 5 March, 2002, 15:40 GMT)

A husband-and-wife team of Cameroonian filmmakers is taking on the challenge of reviving the country's sleepy cinema industry. Ako and Joyce Abunaw, who are now working on their third film together, are determined to get Cameroonians watching local productions. But the problem, says Ako Abunaw, is that the home market has been flooded with Nigerian films, which are particularly popular in Cameroon 's English-speaking areas.

Nigerian productions, he says, have a "sublime mysticism" about them: They deal with controversial subjects such adultery and witchcraft.

'Potent Secrets'

The Abunaws, who were educated in the USA, are challenging Nigeria's dominance by tackling taboo subjects themselves.

Their second film "Potent Secrets" deals with male impotence and its effects on a marriage.

"Many people liked it because women are usually blamed for not bearing children in a marriage," says Joyce Abunaw, who wrote the script and starred in the film.

The couple is now working on a big anti Aids project entitled "Scenarios from Cameroon", sponsored by the British Council.

Ako Abunaw says another problem for Cameroonian filmmakers is the lack of corporate sponsors.

If businessmen understood that there was money to be made in films, he says, Cameroon's cinema industry would thrive and rival Nigeria's.

'Keep trucking'

The couple's efforts have been welcomed by a many people.

A film fan from Bamenda, David Tanyi, says: "The Abunaws are the best thing that's ever happened to Cameroon 's film industry". 

The Abunaws are optimistic

Others point out that reviving Cameroonian cinema will take time.

Ako Abunaw is certainly under no illusion about the daunting task he faces, but he remains optimistic.

"You keep trucking" he says - adding with a laugh that the Americans use that phrase to mean they'll continue to fight despite the odds.

Reproduced courtesy of BBC News Service

Comments

[pearl]

YOu are doing a great job and we will like to watch a new film from you. YOur actors are great too. What about Laura,I loved her acting and also didnot recognise her in the photos. The makeup was great.I barely even recognised the house girl.

Courage

Pearl Ngwe
New york city

[cyndy]

hello,i must say i have never had the opportunity of watching the movie but from the comments i read,its up to date.i hope it continues thus so that cameroon becomes one of the big names in African movie production.more power to your elbow

[Cabuin K. Carl]

Cameroon's film industry is sleepy not because they lack the talent, but because they don't believe in themselves.

[Tina kabba]

Hi,
I think creating a movie industry like yours is the best thing that has ever happened in our community. I believe that promoting our on culture and embrassing what happens in our own society is better. The Nigerians and Ghanians are outselling us when it comes to movies, so i think it is time for us to come out and show the world that we can do even better in the movie industry. I salut the crew of Potent Secret. I think you did a great job and please keep it up.

[Kumba Boy]

Where is Matilda's husband? Where is Claire (Ita Ndang Abety)? These are central characters to the movie.

We need their photos on your website or you are economical with intellectual property. You do not need Bebe Manga - leave her to CD sleeves.

Bemused.

KB

[Bolls]

i love acting and i will like to have a contact so i could join. I at unniversity level and i love cinematology very much.

[timbong wanishi rawoul]

i love acting and writing to,i even have a story i,ve written by name ESTRANGE but i dont have any one to promote me i live in my early twenties but very talented to the best of my knowledge i live in italy my number is 00393342831907 i really like my story to be short in cameroon.am working on the second one by tittle CONDESCEND so please i would like to hear from you guys am serious and for real please.thanks for now.

[MFUH Ebenser]

Hi, Greetings from me. Just to say keep the flame burning. One day what I call Collywood shall become a reality. My web link:kmprofilmacademy.com

[ISIDORE MBIANDA]

hey thats a great deed for the improvement of the local cameroonian film industry .well for the good of the game and a win win situation for all i suggest we ,i mean anglophone cameroonians, pull our resources together and develop our sector which is very distinct from the french.well just keep up .

[Ernest Kanjo]

My name is Ernest Kanjo, an entertainment journalist, based in Yaounde. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief of Among Youths magazine which undoubted champions the course of the film industry in Cameroon as far as the media is concerned. I want to laud the efforts of Ako Abunaw and to say that Potent Secrets is a wonderfully packaged movie. i would however enjoin him to be more present in the country so that young film makers could tap from his experience. He definitely has so much to offer. we need such "big bros" to guide our boys who too are not sleeping. Courage and keep the flame burning. You may like to read a paper I presented at a recent meeting that brought together stakeholders in the film industry in Cameroon under the banner of CFI. Click www.tiptopstars.com, also find the latest in the industry and profiles I do on our movie stars. I can be reached via 237 (99 31 94 93) or 237 (79 42 76 50) or 237 (22 31 10 14). Good luck.

[fri louisa]

hi,i am a young cameroonian actress, whose dream is to one day see collywood come to a reality and i know with movie industries like yours and with many others and even those to come, ma dream is near accomplishment,please keep up the work and why not encourage others to engage themselves in this journey of sucess for our country as concerns the movie world.GOD BLESS YOU.

[NINI]

keep the good work. Cameroon needs to rise from grass to grace and it will only do so if we the cameroonians come together to see this happen.We need a movie industry in cameroon. I have always prayed to see this happen cuz i would personally love to be a part of that industry.

[kang elung kyle]

sorry but its not on the film i want to comment.i wish to get in contact with your son my former classmate in PNEU.Please tell him to contact me with this numbers 94317518 or76055148 or 77641493

[isidore mbianda]

HELLO THE ABUNAWS,WHATS UP IN THIS NEW YEAR 2009.I MEAN IN TERMS OF NEW PROJECTS AND THEIR SCHEDULE.I HAPPEN NEVER TO HAVE WATCHED ANY OF YOUR PRODUCTIONS.PLEASE CAN U LEAD ME ON HOW I CAN LAY HANDS ON COPIES OF YOUR FILMS.THANKS.

[Camermovies.com]

Good work.
Things are changing and we will soon get to the limelight.
Promote your profiles and movies at www.camermovies.com

[Maureen Abia]

You people are doing a great job, but the majority of those who intrested in the movie industry do not know you and your worth. So try and make yousefl known. What i propose is that, you inform the public about your projects especailly those who are involved. Let it not be a family thing, discover talents,attend the C.F.I meetings then together we can reach our gaols.Actress Maureen Abia

[atia emmanuel]

hi i am a young cameroonian who just obtain a diploma in video editing and i just play the role of yvan in a recent cameroonian movie intittle my life i want to say we need big guns like you to adchive our goals in this sweet live

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[wegmuller ikome efokoa]

I just want to let you all know that my movie I have been producing for 2yrs now NOT MY WILL, will soon be out hope you all will enjoy it for info. about the movie www.notmywillmovie.com

thanks