Mouelle Kombi dedicates Grand Prix Littéraire du Mont Cameroun award to Biya.

The award was presented to him by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt, during a ceremony held at the Artists’ Lounge of the National Museum in Yaoundé on September 23, 2025. Minister Mouelle Kombi dedicated the prestigious literary prize to President Paul Biya.

The event was organised by the National Association of Cameroonian Poets and Writers, APEC, led by Dr. Pascal Bekolo Bekolo, who also serves as the National Coordinator for Literary Arts Pool at the Ministry of Arts and Culture.

According to the organisers, the competition aimed to honour leading figures in Cameroonian literature. They said it attracted over 30 contestants across various categories, including poetry, novels in French and English and works in Cameroonian languages.

In his address, Dr. Pascal Bekolo Bekolo expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Arts and Culture for its support. He explained the significance of the award’s name, stating, “This prize was baptised the Grand Prix Littéraire du Mont Cameroun to reflect the unifying nature of the competition and its importance in the literary domain, embodying the collective spirit of the nation”.

Minister Mouelle Kombi expressed gratitude for the recognition from his literary peers. 

“I am overwhelmed as an author and poet to be crowned with this award. The Grand Prix is a symbol. As I advance in my writing career, it is important to recall that we are on the verge of a very important election. These poems are intended to guide Cameroonians in making the right choice, the choice of the person to whom I dedicate this award, President Paul Biya,” he stated.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister Bidoung Mkpatt began by paying homage to the late Director of Books and Reading at the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Mballa Elanga Edmond VII, whom he described as a pillar of the event. 

“The best way to honour his memory is to continue working tirelessly for the betterment of the sector,” Minister Bidoung Mkpatt said.

He further commended the participating writers, assuring them that the nation is grateful for their contributions. 

“The Grand Prix Littéraire du Mont Cameroun has come to revitalise the book sector, both socially and economically. This initiative aligns with the vision of the Head of State, who is himself an author with his book, Communal Liberalism,” the Minister concluded.

The emotionally charged ceremony also included a tribute to the former Minister, Abouem à Tchoyi, of blessed memory and former president of APEC. All participants in the competition received certificates of participation and plans were immediately announced for the 4th edition.

By Albert Njebusi,Journalism student on internship 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3576 of Friday September 26, 2025