Death plucks The Voice Desk Editor, Beng Humphrey.

The deceased journalist, who hailed from Weh, Menchum Division in the North West Region, was proclaimed dead Monday at a health facility in Yaounde. Beng who was known for his unique acumen was Desk Editor at the bi-weekly newspaper, The Voice. 

Reports hold that he was rushed to hospital after he was found in a bad state at sunrise Monday morning. 

In a note issued Monday, the Editor-in-Chief of The Voice newspaper, Prince Divine Divine Kwansuh, said the death of 28-year-old Beng is “sudden and unfortunate”.

He averred that: “The gap is huge. We are all hearts with his biological family, the press family, and our readership…”. 

By press time, the cause of the death of the youngster was still to be established. An autopsy is said to have been conducted on his corpse before it was deposited at the Biyem-Assi District Hospital in Yaounde, pending burial arrangements. 

Acquaintances, colleagues in shock

Beng’s demise comes as a shock to many, including his immediate family, friends and colleagues. Many have described his brutal exit as the untimely eclipsing of a journalism star.

Ngong Christian, the deceased’s younger brother, told pressmen that Beng had travelled to his native Weh village in the Menchum Division of the North West Region and only returned on Sunday evening beaming with life. 

Ngong also said the deceased slept on the same bed with his younger brother Sunday night and did not complain of any problem when they went to bed.

He said he and his sister discovered that something was wrong and raised an alarm after noticing at about 6 a.m yesterday, that their brother was laying on the bed unresponsive. One of his legs, he said, was touching the floor. 

At this juncture, Ngong said he and other relatives later rushed the journalist to a health facility in Yaounde, where he was proclaimed dead on arrival.

An acquaintance, Nchinda Frankline, who said the late Beng was like a brother to him, said he equally discussed with the deceased on Sunday night, and everything was fine.

A budding star quits stage 

He was born in 1996. Beng Humphrey’s demise is considered brutal and an untimely. At just 28, he had made great strides in journalism, communication and related fields. He is said to have started as a freelance journalist before steadily rising through the ranks. 

The late Beng is credited for being one of the leading figures that helped in establishing The Voice newspaper as one of the fastest-rising media organs in the country. The several media awards won by The Voice newspaper in the last couple of months are said to have been thanks to his dedication and hard work. 

Before joining The Voice newspaper, he worked in several capacities across different other media houses, including The Post and Canal 7 Television. He served as the Bureau Chief of the Rambler newpaper for the Centre, South and East Regions; before joining The Voice.

Beng, who was also fondly referred to as “Chairman,” by some of his peers, equally worked for the “Tum-Ke-Wi,” a Weh community newsletter headquartered in Menchum Division. 

Beng did his basic and secondary school studies in his native Weh. He notably went through Government High School Weh, from where he headed the institution’s journalism club for a record four years. 

He further studied English Modern Letters in the University of Yaounde I. The late star became a widely popular name in the institution’s Faculty of Arts, particularly in the English Department. This was due notably to his activeness and highly-acclaimed participation in the school’s activities. 

Beng was also said to be completing studies for a master’s degree in the same university before his demise yesterday. 

He was also the Director of Communications of the Toghu Army Movement, a group engaged in promoting the Toghu traditional wear from the Grassfield. As we took to press last night, details of his burial program were still sketchy.

Tributes galore from colleagues 

Since the news of the demise of the young star journalism, tributes have poured in from across the national triangle. 

Colleagues remember him for notably being a selfless, kind, soft-spoken and hardworking young man whose memories will linger for decades in their hearts.

A cruel twist of fate - Theodore Mih-Ndze, Co-Publisher, The Voice Newspaper 

Humphrey, I am utterly devastated and bewildered by your sudden passing. It feels like a cruel twist of fate, especially after we were together just a few days ago at my father’s burial. 

I am loss of words, trying to comprehend how you could leave me so abruptly. How do I explain this to those who saw you in village? This is a devastating blow, and I am struggling to cope with it. 

Highly dedicated & meticulous member - MeJU President, Cham Victor Bama 

We learned with deep sadness the sudden death of Beng Humphrey Fang, a frontline member of our organisation. His brutal departure remains a great loss not only to the media family but the nation as a whole.

Beng was a highly dedicated and meticulous member of our organisation. He was a selfless, committed and humble personality who contributed enormously to the growth of Menchum Journalists' Union, MeJU. 

He served our journalism organisation in different capacities including Assistant Secretary General, a position he held until his demise. His exit has indeed created a vacuum that is hard to fill. We extend our sincerest condolences to his immediate family and his employer, The Voice Newspaper.

A devastating, piercing loss - Ayang Macdonald 

Learning of the death of Beng Humphrey is devastation for me. I was just going through some professional WhatsApp groups and I stumbled on the news and it was so piercing for me because I knew Mr. Beng quite well. 

He was a friend. We did a lot of things together. In fact, he facilitated a couple of interviews for me one of which recently had to do with a social media influencer who has been for voter registration.

So, Mr Beng facilitated my access to that influencer who is based in the United States. Beyond that, Beng looked up to me as a professional senior. He showed me a lot of respect and I also showed him a lot of respect because of his calmness, intelligence and his sense of detail. 

It is but sad to start a new week by learning that he has been taken by the cold hands of death. All we can say is ask for the Almighty God to take his soul in His bosom. I also wish a sincere condolence to his family. His immediate and professional family. 

Great loss to Cameroon’s media fraternity - Ndi Eugene, CAMASEJ Yaounde President 

It is very shocking that we got up to the news of Humphrey’s death because I was with Humphrey the week before last. He was preparing to accompany his boss, Theodore Ndze, to bury his late father. I thought I could go to the office today and meet him so we could discuss on how it went. 

But unfortunately, Chairman, as we always referred to each other, is nowhere to be found. It is more than shocking to us. He was a very active member at the level of CAMASEJ Yaounde. Everybody who has been coming to CAMASEJ Yaounde meetings and any activity of CAMASEJ will understand Humphrey had been a very active member since he joined CAMASEJ. 

He contributed to everything, be it intellectual, financial, material, anything that CAMASEJ was doing, he was always there. We also remember him for always wearing a smile. He was hardly seen in bad mood. He was always smiling with everybody. He articulates well. Talks well. He is somebody we will greatly miss at the level of CAMASEJ and the journalism fraternity as a whole. 

Smart, soft-spoken with burning desire to learn - Samson Websi, senior colleague

I am really shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Beng. I first met the dynamic journalist on a television panel at CRTV Mballa II. 

Since then, everywhere we met, he would always move to greet me. We always had very enriching professional discussions each time we met. He was smart, humble, soft-spoken and always burning with a desire to learn. My heartfelt condolences to The Voice Newspaper, his biological family and the press corps.

He was loving professional brother, colleague - Mildred Ndum, colleague 

It is a great loss. I came to know Humphrey through the Rambler Newspaper. I knew that he was someone who is from my division and my subdivision after reading one of his articles. He was from Weh while I come from Esu. I got marveled after realizing that. 

I also importantly realized that he had a very good pen and was very professional. He was linguistically inclined. I worked with him at The Rambler newspaper and had been close to him since 2017. We were also together in the Menchum Journalists’ Union.

He’s left legacy that will be cherished forever - Beng Emmanuel, former schoolmate 

Beng Humphrey was an incredible individual who went against the grain. Beng had an immense passion for journalism and communication. During our secondary school days at the journalism club of Government High School Weh, we often talked about being amongst the finest journalist in the country. We grow up to love the job together. 

His demise is a big loss for the press and for the people of Weh whom he cared so dearly for. My dearest brother the impact of your kindness and wisdom will forever be remembered by those whose lives you had touched. Your remarkable character leaves behind a lasting legacy that will be cherished forever.

He was kind, lovely & selfless - Lang Gabriel, friend 

He was the kindest, loveliest, most selfless person you will ever meet. You were brave, funny, and always there for anyone who needed it. There is not enough paper in the world to even begin to write a tribute or eulogy for you, but no one deserves it more. 

Friendship is a connection that does not weaken in death, but instead grows stronger for those who remember. The loss is immeasurable, but so is the love left behind. In celebration of a life so beautifully lived, your vibrant memory lives on in gentle spirit with the earth. Till we meet again.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3218 of Tuesday September 03, 2024