At AGM in Yaounde: UB Choir Alumni Association reviews strides, unveils ambitious projects.

The crucial gathering, which served as a platform to follow-up on the inaugural 2024 AGM which in Douala, was also aimed at fostering camaraderie between alumni members, drawn from across the country, united by their shared history and commitment to the University of Buea Choir.

Addressing members during the AGM, the Global Chairman of UBCAA, Jonas Ngeke Mofa, revealed the association's multifaceted vision. 

Ngeke Mofa said UBCAA’s priorities include assisting the UB Choir achieve its objectives, building capacity within the members of the association, as well as carrying out philanthropic activities to empower the community where they served in the past. 

He highlighted the profound impact of the choir's rigorous 30-year formation, which instilled discipline and musical prowess, enabling alumni to elevate the performance of other choirs in their respective communities and churches.

Ambitious projects unveiled

Speaking further, Ngeke Mofa said the AGM was a vital platform to engage the entire association, provide feedback and garner support for upcoming initiatives. He emphasized the building aspect of this year's AGM, beyond mere meetings. 

He presented three key projects for the assembly’s approval viz; Student Support, through tuition and accommodation assistance for current University of Buea Choir students, enhancing of campus hygiene and sanitation through the provision of customized trash cans, and the annual recognition of five meritorious students of the choir for their outstanding contributions.

"This year is not just about meetings, it is about building a legacy," Ngeke Mofa affirmed, while outlining the guiding principles for their endeavours. 

He mentioned believing in their collective potential, understanding and embracing their diversity, listening to feedback from all stakeholders, and delivering impactful projects. 

Ngeke Mofa underscored the importance of collective effort in their fundraising campaigns, noting that the aforementioned projects will revive the integrity of the choir and strengthen its presence in the university community.

A foundation built on faith, fellowship

According to Ngeke Mofa, a core element sustaining the UBCAA is the unifying force of faith. "The love of Christ has kept us together. We have Christ at the centre of the life of the choir," Mofa revealed, explaining how the spiritual foundation maintains the choir's discipline, policies, and standards across generations. 

Beyond spiritual bonds, he said the alumni contributes financially each year to support choir projects. He said the ongoing presence of the choir's president on the UBCAA executive board ensures up-to-date information and collaboration.

Enter AGM Organizing Committee Chairman 

The Chairman of the AGM Organizing Committee, Njem Felix Munjin, reiterated the unique significance of the 2025 gathering. 

"It is about us coming together to see how we can also impact the society. in which we live…we believe that when in the University of Buea, we were singing to glorify God, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. But that was all we could give then," Munjin noted.

He said now that God has blessed them individually through different ways, “it is an opportunity for us to come together not just to sing, but also to see how we can actually put that gospel into practice, to give back to the University of Buea that trained us, and to realize projects that will go a long way, touch lives from within the community and make the world a better place". 

About UB Choir Alumni Association

The UBCAA boasts a robust structure with seven active branches including Fako, Douala, Bamenda, Yaounde, USA, UK, and Canada. The branches operate autonomously, developing and reporting on their own humanitarian and empowerment initiatives. 

While the association is relatively young, having struggled for 14 years to overcome generational gaps and build its diverse membership, the current leadership is making significant strides. 

"We are succeeding to achieve that goal and the association is going to grow stronger in the years to come," Ngeke Mofa confidently stated. The UBCAA also takes pride in its accomplished members, including artists like T Son, the son of Afo'Akom, Gillian Efange, and Junior Praise.

The association's current team, elected during the 2024 reorganisation in Douala, represents a blend of experienced wisdom and youthful energy. With over 120 active members across its seven branches, the UBCAA is committed to fostering better communication and understanding, particularly for diaspora branches, to enhance participation. 

Its forward-looking agenda includes uniting members through empathetic listening and active engagement, and diligently working towards securing indefinite legal status for the association, ensuring long-term stability.

Pioneer member reflects on choir's humble beginnings

Pioneer male chorister, Singe Masonjo Jacob, offered a nostalgic reflection on the choir's genesis over three decades ago. In 1993, then Vice Chancellor, Dorothy Njeuma, was seeking students to sing the matriculation hymn for the upcoming ceremony. 

"I eavesdropped on the conversation and realised she was looking for students to sing the matriculation hymn during the ceremony which was to take place that weekend," Masonjo recounted. 

The casual encounter, he said, led to the formation of the choir with 37 girls, all from Saker Baptist College, who accepted the challenge. Masonjo’s own journey into the choir began eight months later. 

Observing a lack of male voices during Sunday church services held in Amphitheatre 250, he decided to join and contribute. Despite facing both good and challenging times, including one notably poor concert performance, the choir evolved and improved over time with the influx of new members.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3456 of Monday May 26, 2025