Book Launch : David Noundji Unveils “Bouts d’Histoires”

David Noundji, a theatre actor, folktale performer and a retired Regional Pedagogic Arts Inspector with the Ministry of Secondary Education, on Saturday September 4, 2021 in Zingui Theatre/ Cultural Centre, Ekoumdoum, Yaounde, launched his first ever published work. After more than 30 years of a theatre career. The 78-page collection of 26 oral stories or folktales, entitled, “Bouts d’Histoires” (Pieces of Stories) is worth at least 3,000 FCFA. It is published by Auteurs Pluriels, Yaounde.
The colourful ceremony held against the background of soft percussions on Mvet, guitar, armpit and standing drums, xylophone, rattle and other traditional musical instruments. David Noundji and Harouna, a visually-impaired artiste, performed a folktale on the endless bickering and rivalry between Present and Past. After centuries of feuding over who is better, the end, the two finally agree to bury the hatchet and work together. The event also saw command performances by François Alima, Jessica, Rosine Nguelle, Race Ngambo, Bertrand.
Admitting that he was lazy in writing, David Noundji commended Francis Beidi, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Auteurs Pluriels publishing house for never letting up the pressure on him to publish. Thus, “Bouts d’Histoires” Noundji’s first ever published work. The book, comprising 26 folktales, is divided into two parts. The first contains true-to-life stories about people with mental challenges; while the rest are folktales created by the author himself. The themes in the stories include pride, theft and the general representation of life. “Writing an oral story is different from performing it,” Noundji pointed out. Adding that it is better when a performer publishes folktales. He said story-telling seeks to entertain and educate (teach moral lessons).
Beidi urged parents to take up t...