Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
For the second time in three years, Cameroon Radio & Television, CRTV, is making strides and grabbing awards in the international scene. After David Chuye Bunyui in 2011 with the programme – The Virgin’s Monologue, here comes another award winner from CRTV, Tabe Enonchong Enoegbe with her programme – So Far, So Near. Tabe, a talk show host on CRTV made the difference at the 25thedition of the URTI Grand Prize, which was unveiled in Paris France, October 17 2013. Just back from Paris, Tabe granted this
Tabe Enonchong receives the URTI Award from URTI officials while CRTV GM, Vamoulke appreciates the accompanying certificate
exclusive interview to iCameroon.com, where she talks about URTI, the award, her motivation and her prospects.
Excerpts:
Which organisation is behind the award you just won?
The competition was launched by URTI – International Radio and Television Union. URTI has existed for 63 years. It is launched yearly
L-R, HE Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Cameroon's Ambassador to France(with mic) CRTV General Manager, Vamoulke and Tabe Enonchong at the URTI Awards ceremony
with this year’s theme; FRONTIERS. Participants were required to choose an angle from the theme and treat it. I spoke with my colleague of CRTV radio, Shifu Ngalla and he proposed that I talk about marriage. From there, I moved on with the support of my boss in the department of programmes, CRTV – Radio, Celestin Boten.
What is the content of the programme you submitted?
A delighted Tabe Enonchong, 2013 URTI Award Winner
I focussed on inter-tribal marriages. It might be so normal because it happens every day. But it is the manner in which the story is told and the message behind it. I narrated the story of a man who leaves Bangangte, West Region of Cameroon to Mamfe in the Southwest Region of Cameroon, to get a wife. I looked at all the hurdles, challenges, obstacles and misconceptions about one another’s tribe and came to a conclusion that only love can make a man or woman
The URTI Awards
wait for up to 4 years to convince their parents on their choice of a partner. In my programme, I brought in the couple to give their experiences; Sinclair in French and Nicole in English making it the only bilingual programme in the competition. Love and tolerance are the values promoted by URTI including bilingualism. So, the programme we forwarded brought out all of that.
Why did you win?
I was told I won because the programme was simple, short and straight to the point. I said all that was necessary in 13 minutes and in simple language, clear speech, good narration and good music that is relevant to the theme. So the margin between my programme and that from Italy and Algeria that came at the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively was 21 points. There was no election to get the number one as the rules of the competition states because we are talking here of 135 programmes from 46 member countries of URTI.
What goes with the award you have won, besides the gold medal you have?
The Award is a gold medal, an attestation of participation and an envelope of encouragement. However, my presence in Paris, France was more important to me. I had the chance of meeting with all those who matter in the audiovisual world. It was a wonderful experience.
What did it take to prepare your content?
I did that programme in 3 days; wrote the script in less than 30 minutes; did the interviews for 30 minutes and edited for an hour. I do not know how long my Sound Engineer, Metomo, took to do the mixing. It was a great job! He did the right interludes; music, sound effects were in place. Before I went to meet Nicole and Sinclair, I already had my script and directed questions that responded to what I had written. I had only spoken to them on the phone and when we met, I told them to narrate their story; curiously they were all in the spirit, given that they spoke in the absence of the other. That is why it was so natural and some of the interventions where shocking but necessary for the message to go through.
How relevant is your content to the Cameroonian society and the world in general?
The programme is very relevant in Cameroon, with over 180 ethnic groups, over 50 years after independence, we still find it difficult seeing ourselves in the other person, we cannot accommodate the other, we always want to focus on who we are and where we come from, in relation to the other. That is not necessary, we are from one source; sons and daughters of one Man, all made in His image, we are one and the same person. So, if we could stop this syndrome of the THEY and US and start thinking of WE, we would get to know that frontiers are only in our imagination.
Is this award of yours a plus to Cameroonian journalism?
Of course it is! We have resources in the world of journalism in Cameroon. My worry is that we all seem to be so attached to our comfort zones when there is a lot to explore. I did this programme not out of conviction that I would win but as a sign of obedience to my boss. We have a lot of potential if we could just put our imagination to play, we would go places.
What does the award brings to CRTV, where you work?
A lot of honour. It is the second time in 3 years CRTV is getting the gold. You will recall David Chuye Bunyui won in 2011. Even in the history of the competition, no country has won twice. These are indications that there is substance in CRTV.
Will you still take part in the competition next year, knowing that it is a yearly issue?
I will tell you things always work well for me when I do not plan
Does this award indicate how much contribution you have made in the
business of journalism?
It is for you to say, those of you who listen and watch me, on what contribution I have made. My eleven years in broadcasting I think has been quality time, not just boxing the air. The trophy is a good motivation to me.
You will go to sleep now?
I would not go to sleep; instead I am on my marks ready to take off.
Tell us more about yourself…
I am Mrs ENOEGBE nee TABE EBANGHA ENONCHONG. I would be 40 next year. I have 3 children; George got to college this year, there is Takor and Nadia. I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. My father is a retired journalist. I am from Besongabang village in Manyu Division, Southwest Region. Maybe now I should say Nchang village in Manyu Division that is where my husband comes from. For those who thought it was my story, I will tell them my husband did not have to go that far as the title of the programme says SO FAR, SO NEAR. I like to cook, watch a lot of movies and my job is my passion.
Interviewed by Walter Wilson Nana
