At audience with culture minister: Author, Gaston Kelman, presents latest publication, urges youth to celebrate national heroes.

The author has also called on youth to celebrate national heroes. The book is expected to be launched December 05, 2023. 

In the publication, the author celebrates the life of Cameroonian freedom fighter and hero, Ruben Um Nyobe.

During the audience, Kelman also presented his upcoming publication which focuses on the life of Manu Dibango and Makossa.

The Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt, applauded Kelman for his initiative to recognise national heroes and exalted him to do more.

“You are among the few citizens that the Ministry considers members of honour and personalities of reference,” the Minister said, adding that “we, however, encourage you and urge you not to relent your efforts”.

The Director of Books and Reading at the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Mballa Elanga Edmond VII , explained that: “The idea is simply to tell all of us that we have historical personalities and emblematic characters who must be valued and made known as widely as possible”.

He added that the ministry was accompanying the author “to ensure the circulation of his publications so that the majority of Cameroonians can have access to them and in so doing promote our culture, actors and history”. 

Minister Bidoung Mkpatt, Gaston Kelman & MINAC staff after audience 

Why Om Nyobe deserves more

Author Gaston Kelman explained that his motivation for writing the book was because he felt that Um Nyobe had not been given the honour he deserves considering the role he played in the country’s history.

Kelman explained that Um Nyobe, known in Bassa as ‘Mpodol’, which means the one who speaks for people, is one of the main figures in Cameroonian history. 

He said it is on this that he decided to take the commitment to recognise Um Nyobe in a publication. 

Kelman who is noted for writing essays and novels, however, revealed that he wanted an active piece, so decided to write a drama publication.

“I want it to be played, I want people to know something about Um Nyobe, it is not history, I am not a historian” he said. 

Wake up call for Cameroonian writers

Kelman told the press that the works of most writers was “really disgraceful”. He and lamented that “African writers don’t write for Africa, they write for Europeans”.

“We have to present our space as we love it,” he said, adding that: “I remember not long ago, the only space of writing in Cameroon was the country side, the village, almost never about the place we see today. Even with the cinema or movies, we are used to showing pieces that talk about sorcery, witchcraft”.

He called on authors to change the narrative of their publications.

“We are undergoing a renaissance, and then we should ask ourselves, what do we want our future to be? What identity are we creating for ourselves? Let’s stop writing for white readers” Kelman said.

About the book

It is a rendez vous between Um Nyobe and the youth of today. A young journalist goes to Um Nyobe and asks him “why did you call me?”

Um Nyobe responds, I did not call you. You want to understand what I did and I am going to tell you what happened and now you have all the means to go and do the job, I have done mine, it is left for you to do your own part.

Other Publications

Kelman has several publications to his name and he is widely known for his most famous publication ‘Je suit noir et Je n’aime pas le manioc’- I’m black and I don’t like cassava.