Interview: “We Have Offered Visibility To Many Wimbum Artistes”

Who is Mr. “One Spirit”?
I am Tarla Dieudonne Njechfu, popularly known as “One Spirit.” I am a cultural promoter. I am 46 years old. I hail from Talla village in Ndu Subdivision, Donga-Mantung Division of the North West Region. I am a building construction technician and also a businessman. I am the Chief Executive Officer of One Spirit Entertainment, which was created in 2013. Though the name was formally launched in 2014. 
We started organizing Wimbum cultural events in 2013 before making ourselves known to the public in 2016. Before then, we organized events for Nso people by inviting the Kumbo-based Tongwanla Orchestra more than 10 times to play in Yaounde. This was how some people discovered me and encouraged me to also do something for Wimbum culture. 

You are preparing an important cultural event. What is it about?
It is the Sixth Wimbum Talent Awards coming up on Saturday, November 2, 2024 in Fresh Planet Hall, Carrefour Obili, Yaounde. We have retained 102 nominees for 21 categories such as gospel music, cultural music, Afro-Njang, Rap, female cultural artiste, hair dressing, fashion design…There will be a winner for each category. Winners will receive attestations, trophies and some token financial reward. 
Those wishing to vote for the nominees should go to the Facebook page, Wimbum Talent Awards (https://votefunded.com/c/wita/). Nominees are resident in different parts of the country. The only criterion is to be Wimbum by birth - both parents or one of the parents. This year our team included new categories like fashion design, hairdressing, etc. Initially we nominated 152 people for 21 categories before trimming it down to 102 nominees. Voting for the nominees started last month is due to end in two weeks, though there is possibility of extension. 

Why have you been promoting the culture of Wimbum people for all these years?
It is because we love entertainment, our culture and our people. We chose to organize the festival because we realized many young people from Wimbumland living out of home do not know their culture. Probably because they do not go home often because of the armed conflict in the North West Region. Our objective is to help unite Wimbum people and share our love with them. The festival is also a learning experience because no one person can claim to know everything about their culture.        

You love and promote culture, but you are not an artiste!
Yes, I am not an artiste, I only promote culture. The Ministry of Arts and Culture recognized my efforts by issuing me a cultural promoter attestation in 2017. The ministry has so far supported the Wimbum Cultural and Music Festival twice. For this year’s festival coming up in November, we again intend to solicit support from them.  
Our objective is to unite Wimbum people through the festival, share love and make them understand that progress and development are only possible in unity. We have built a cultural platform for the world to know about Wimbum culture - not Tarla Dieudonne Njechfu. Our platform or the Wimbum Cultural and Music Festival also helps to project Wimbum youth who are doing well in their domains, but lack visibility. 

After promoting Wimbum culture for several years, how would you assess the state of the culture today?       
Since we began promoting Wimbum culture, we have noticed some changes. Some artistes have become more popular and are doing well in their careers because of the visibility we offered them. Wimbum musical celebrities like Rinyu, Jato Sonita, Bonzais, Oken, etc, have also been attending and promoting the festival.   
Concerning Wimbum traditional dances, we have invited Bongnchupti of Taku village in Ndu Subdivis...