At Bandjoun Station, on the evening of September 27, 2025, the stage initially granted to Mottanni, laureate of the Cameroonian Cultural Network Tour, turned into a kind of artistic laboratory, designed to offer full expression to talented young artists from the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. Among them was Ndongmo Tsakeng, Aka Tsakeng a young woman barely 20, blessed with the gift of storytelling. Her voice, and especially her piece SOS, sent shivers through the audience.
When the echoes of the standing ovation had finally faded, I met her in private. My first question was simple: “Who are you?” She smiled, twisted her fingers nervously, then began to narrate.
« I am Tsakeng, a spoken words artist who hails from the Bamileke land. Born on November 20th 2005 in Nkwen Bamenda, I got on my first official stage as a poet in December 2024 at Saint Padre PIO choir’s Christmas concert but have been doing page poetry as a hobby since I was in form three. »
Did she attend any school of art?
« No. » Rubbing her hands a little nervously, she continued:
« I school as a scientist and still am one studying nursing sciences. Many assume a scientific background is incompatible with art but I don’t even see it as a barrier because in my opinion, more than being an educational sector of study and practice, art is a way of life, a shaping of existence, the understanding and expression of beauty… And everyone can do that. »
Her words carry particular weight knowing where she comes from. Tsakeng lives in Bamenda, a city marked by an armed conflict since 2016. She admits this context inevitably shapes her work.
« It is said that a person’s true nature is revealed when they are against the wall and the crisis in the Northwest puts you exactly in that position but seeing people swim against a current of bullets and still keep on smile, gives me endless beautiful things to write about and the voices of a whole community to echo when I speak. »
For her, art is not only expression but also healing.
« Art is a part of me that has the ability to heal the rest. »
As the interview progressed, Tsakeng became meditative, speaking as if reading from Return to Love, the highly spiritual book by Marianne Williamson filled with reflections on finding inner peace through love. Her words burned with an inner fire, woven like a rope of hope leading toward resilience.
« To create and perform as an artist despite the unfavorable conditions is a shout out to everyone, external factors should not stop you from being and expressing who you are for you are the only you and the world needs you. We draw hope from the very essence of who we are.
Seeing people shine makes you also want to shine. Seeing people shine despite adversity encourages you to want to become a better version of yourself so one can’t grow in spite of their community. »
Before leaving, she paid tribute to the one who opened the door for her.
« A shout out to Mottanni for taking this mission very personally and always giving me a stage to discover myself.
No matter what, be you because you are the only you and everyone else is taken. »
Tsakeng is still paving her way. But non doubt within her, a fire is quietly ripening, its flames destined to light up the world.
Preston Kambou
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