We take you back a few years, in the province of Adamaoua, water tower of Cameroon, its capital city Ngaoundéré, city taking its name from its wonderful mountain. This mountain, where a rock is perched at the top called the ‘navel’. Let’s not stop there and head towards the Norwegian district, attracted by the music of the canticles: the Lord is my shepherd… Manhurricane, which take us towards the Protestant college. We are there with its legendary choirs «Gospel Singers» or «La voix angélique», music groups that have marked several generations in Cameroon and beyond with their musical creativity. It is also important to mention the great choir of the Colprot, a giant choir of more than 400 students from all classes singing in unison at the famous annual Christmas concert. If I talk to you about going back in time, it’s to go back in time, to the origin, to relive moments of joy, challenges, friendship, and also to cross this group. The choristers did not forget it, links were formed, strong friendships through all these common memories that united them, thus was born, sobaaku (friends in the language of Peuhl). Friends like: Edouard (Kwas), Paco, Vakoté (Vaks), Nadège, Kodji, Temwa (Temson), Sandvik, Titi, Manfo, Waka Daniel, Massopo, Stella … First names, surnames or pseudonyms that will surely evoke memories for you, or make you smile upon reading this article.
Le Colprot (Protestant college of Ngaoundéré in Cameroon) a school like no other.
Of course, we can mention the college of Mazenod which also has this reputation, but here we are talking about the Colprot, created in 1957, a work by the Norwegian missionaries with the collaboration of Amercains from the Southern Mission. Arrived in Cameroon in 1923, they settled in Ngaoundéré and created the hospital, schools, and a college with boarding school and a radio “Sawtu linjiila. A whole ecosystem or families, young adults rub shoulders professionally and socially. Thus in their evangelization momentum will be born several churches and choirs as well reputed as each other (Voice of Hope, the cherubim,…) throughout the region of Adamaoua, from the North Cameroon then to the South Cameroon. The pupils of these establishments therefore had religious music as a hobby, among other things. With well-paced celebrations, varied outfits, local and regional musical encounters. What will promote the birth of friendships, frustrations, beautiful or sad stories, memorable trips across the country and the world. This will forever mark the majority of young people who have spent time in this region or this mythical establishment that brought together young people from all horizons of Cameroon, even beyond these borders.
Nowadays, each of the members of this association has had a different life course. One will think that they have nothing in common, or simply that it is the gospel that united them! But it went beyond, they are Christians, Muslims… Executives, employees, business men or women, they are gathered in all simplicity, anchored in friendship, sharing briefly a 2.0 village that connects them to their country Cameroon and the common denominator that allowed them to know each other.
The physical reunions around a barbecue and a song tune accompanied by a guitar, even if the very biblical lyrics are repeated in chorus as in the good old days, the heart and mind think and sing more the hope and comfort of finding themselves together far from roots. The discussions, the kongossa and the exchanges discuss concrete projects to get involved and act together.
Sobaaku is thus an opportunity to relive these moments for those in the diaspora today. It is for them to continue this adventure through solidarity between members and supporters now adults facing the challenges of life abroad. It is also thinking about the new generation that continues to renew itself at Colprot and who can have through foreign experience, advice, assistance, expertise…
This association, where alumni of the college meet, expatriates around the world (Germany, France, Norway, United States, Senegal…) was born in 2013. Each year it gathers all the members in a different city. In 2022, from June 04 to June 06 it was in Bochum in Germany, following a postponement caused by the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Bochum in Germany 2022 was an opportunity to review the meeting at Poitier in 2019, yes two years of vacuum in person due to Covid 19 but thanks to social media we remained “connected”. Mboyan Edouard, president of the organizing committee in Poitiers, made members experience good times, à la Française, although signs reminiscent of habits from our region, somewhat stained this moment: The delays, last minute withdrawals, non-respected payments of fees that impact the organization. Followed the reading of the moral and financial report, all adopted unanimously.
- The objectives for the following year are : The organization of the tenth anniversary of the association: formerly called, The amicale of former students of the Protestant College of Ngaoundéré, the first meeting took place in Norway in 2013 under the leadership of Mr. Waka Daniel. Having become an association, the choice of the next meeting was focused on Norway, to mark its continuity and honor its fathers and the strong community of Colprot relatives who are present in this magnificent country.
- Opening a bank account in France
- Awareness and mobilization of the members of the association in view of the tenth anniversary.
- Awareness of the existence of the new computer tool to facilitate work, information retention, and inter-office transitions.
- Promotion and enhancement of the association’s activities
- The search for grants for potential projects.
A new Bureau was elected with as follows : – Mr. Gérard Mbenda, President – Mrs. Cognet Valérie, Deputy Head – Mrs. Ndongo Stella, Secretary – Mrs. Dang Françoise, Deputy Secretary – Mr. Manfo Thia Frédéric, Treasurer – Mrs. Houma Pauline, Assistant Treasurer
It was recommended that given the sensitive and institutional nature of the Protestant college in Ngaoundéré, the statutes would also allow for other projects not necessarily related to the Protestant college although our target is this one.
Do not hesitate to join the association «Sobaaku» if the course you have just read interests you or simply if you are, as it is more simply said, «a former» of the sector.
https://www.facebook.com/Sobaaku
