Welcome to the 15th edition of Sa Majesté Magazine.
The Mother’s Day Issue! Celebrating Strength, Grace & Grit.
This Mother’s Day, we honor the women who wear many hats—mothers, nurturers, dreamers, and fearless entrepreneurs. In this special edition, we shine a spotlight on three incredible moms who have turned passion into purpose, and challenges into chapters of triumph.
Each story is a testament to the strength it takes to build a business while raising a family, the grace to juggle both with love, and the grit to keep going even on the toughest days. These women are more than inspiring—they are proof that motherhood and ambition don’t compete, they coexist.
To every mother chasing her dreams while raising the next generation—this issue is for you.
Happy reading! With love and admiration,
Ebangha Njang Editor-in-Chief
Joan Ngomba
SMM: Very impressive repertoire! Can you tell us about your journey into entrepreneurship? What inspired you to start your business?
JN: Stepping out of the idea of working for others wasn’t an easy decision because I mean, who doesn’t love those monthly paychecks? lol but when I founded Dcodedtv Studios, it came from a near death experience.
screaming for help. That’s when my partners - Niki Heat Entertainmentheaded by Wilson Nyah stepped in and everything just became easier from then on. They’ve been incredible to work with and have become like family.
ing, what do they eat, drink, wear, who do they date , where do they hangout, what sports do they like etc. Cameroon is still slow in this department but slowly but surely, we’re getting there.
SMM: Slowly but SURELY of course! Lol. I have been a huge admirer of your works for a long time now since your days at Pulse TV in Nigeria and when you moved back to Cameroon. Can you tell us the journey from Lagos back to Cameroon? How did your brands; FREAKY TABLE & DCODED TV really start?
JN: Thank you so much Ebangha I’m humbled.
Dcoded TV is all about telling the stories between the music projects, the movie premieres, etc. We are all about the lifestyle - what do the celebs do when they are not work-
Like I earlier mentioned, Dcoded TV was created to bring more eyeballs to what Cameroonian showbiz is about in terms of lifestyle - hence the first ever TV show I produced called Dcodedtv Show. A show which was broadcast on three local TV stations in Cameroon plus Vox Africa in Europe.
The show was all about speaking with the stars to know them better , covering entertainment and red carpet events and also discovering hot spots/places like lounges, hotels, top restaurants, fashion
JN: First off! Thank you so much. It was a big surprise. I had no idea about that until I woke up and saw a notifi cation from them. I thought they were Cameroonians but no! It was from Nigeria . When I found out it was thanks to us taking “Freaky Table” to Nigeria , I was even more proud. That show led the organizers to dig a little bit more into my career progression. I feel honored.
SMM: You see? By the way what does Mother’s Day mean to you personally and as an entrepreneur? And how has motherhood changed your perspective on life and success?
JN: Motherhood is everything to me and I’m very happy with where I am. I love my daughter, Talia, so much and I believe she loves me too. I’m just happy to be there to help her grow up and navigate this life. Being a mom doesn’t hold me back from my career.
thanks to my mom ( who just got retired), it was made easier. She truly helped me understand my new role as a mother and took away the stress and trauma that most times comes with childbirth. I’m grateful to her and my family for the support.
Being a mother tells me I have more responsibilities than before. I have a whole human being to be right by. I can’t mess up! I can’t allow her to grow up with no financial support and moral lessons. In order for me to achieve that, I have to work very hard , save more and make better life
SMM: Very much WORTH IT! So Joan, what’s next for you—both in your business and as a mom? I know you are also brand ambassador of LEVIM BEAUTY. But what big thing is next for you?
JN: Funny enough, Levim Beauty is the first brand to name me as their brand ambassador. I’m truly honored to join their team and if I may add, they do have a wonderful beauty products for every skin type.
Business wise, I am working on expanding my brand as a TV content producer; Dcoded TV Studios has the potential of becoming a successful media production company. If I don’t start early, I may never achieve that dream. I will also love to give acting more attention and why not produce my own movie someday (wild thoughts). Nothing is stopping me from growing and flying high.
As a mother, I am Looking forward to my baby starting school. I can’t wait to watch and help her navigate that important life’s journey. It will be so exciting!
SMM: Joan thank you so much for this final advice. I pray it inspires someone.
JN: You’re very welcome.
Follow Joan on social media: Instagram: @joanngomba Facebook: Joan Ngomba Website: dcodedTV.com
Saccepting to be part of this issue. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your journey as an entrepreneur?
CN: My name is Clarisse Ndinge. I like to call myself a serial entrepreneur. Lol. I am the CEO of BetaTinz (An online media platform, which serves a culture hub), CEO of Beta Media Group (an Audiovisual production and Public Relations Company), Founder of Beta Girls Organization (An NGO which serves
SMM: Yes ma’am! Lol. So can you tell us about your journey into entrepreneurship? What inspired you to start your business?
CN: Entrepreneurship for me was a choice, and a calling. I studied Petroleum Engineering, and had high prospects to work as a petroleum engineer, but life played me other cards. Lol. I graduated in 2014, during a time when there was a big recession in the petroleum
Beta Torpoh TV show.
and oil industry. Oil companies were laying off workers and folding up. I deposited my CV in every oil company I knew, in Cameroon and out of Cameroon, but nobody ever called me.
My mom proposed that I traveled out of the country, to do my Masters, so as to increase my chances of getting a job. I refused because my son was about 3years old at the time, and I wanted to actively raise him. So I made the choice to stay and look for a way to fend for myself and my son.
I tried a couple of businesses, they all failed. I was so
to grow the community to even 3,000 followers, I sat and re-strategized. I looked at my two favorite blogs at the time; Theshaderoom(USA) and Instablog9ja(Nigeria).
I asked myself why I liked them. For Theshaderoom it was the fact that they communicated in the local parlance of Black Americans, who are their target audience. For Instablog9ja it was their intentionally dramatic captions.
So I decided to create content on betatinz’ Instagram page that embodied those characteristics: I decided to start blogging in pidgin, which is the local parlance for English Speaking Cameroonians who are my target audience, and I made the pidgin captions as dramatic as possible, by being intentional with the pidgin words I used. And it worked! In less than one year, my Instagram page grew to 10,000 followers, and it is now at 200,000+ From the success of betatinz, I got more confident and empowered to launch my other ventures.
SMM: Wow! Inspiring story indeed! So I have been dying to know LOL. How did the name BETATINZ come about? And when did you decide to make the whole BETAMEDIA a brand / powerhouse?
So when I was blogging for fun, the name of my blog was ‘Wine And Dine With The Stars’. The domain name was wineanddinewiththestars.blogspot.com It was too long. When I decided to take the blogging professionally, I decided to change the name and go with something short that represents positive energy. That’s how “Better Things” came to my mind. Then I decided to customize “Better Things” and make it unique, that’s how ‘Beta Tinz’ was born.
SMM: Lol thanks for answering the question be cause I always wondered what inspired that’s name LOL. By the way congratulations on your project MOSOROKI. Tell us about more about this project and what was the inspiration behind it?
CN: Ok, so Môsoroki is a Documentary Film; wherein five women, and one man, who are rape and sexual assault survivors from different works of life share their experiences including how they overcame the trauma. They take us through the deep feelings of pain, misery, agony they suffered and how they survived, or are surviving it.
Professionals from different fields, also chip in elaborate measures, educating survivors and the society on everything they need to know about rape, including what to do. It is now streaming on Amazon Prime, link: bit.ly/mosoroki
It was inspired by my activities via Beta Girls Organization. In 2017, I ran an online rape campaign through the organization, where I asked victims to share their stories anonymously. I got some very touching stories, so I told myself that I would create a documentary to tell stories of rape survivors, so that people can have a glimpse of what they went through and be more empathetic towards them.
SMM: What does Mother’s Day mean to you personally and as an entrepreneur? And how has motherhood changed your perspective on life and success?
Delphine
Delphine Itambi
SMM: Hi Delphine. Thank you so much for accepting to be part of this issue. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your journey as a filmmaker?
DI: Thank you for having me. My name is Delphine Itambi; a mother, a filmmaker and an entrepreneur. I am an Alumni of the New York Film Academy. I have been in the Film Industry for 18years. There have been good moments, great moments, bad moments, and rock-bottom moments. But in all of these moments, I choose to see every part of my journey as necessary steps for growth. Growth to where I am today.
SMM: What inspired your interest in filmmaking, movie production and directing?
DI: My interest in film production stemmed from so many years of reading novels with my siblings. I grew up in a family where novels were passed from the oldest to the youngest. As young as 12, I had read quite a few. I started to not just see the words on the pages, but imagine the actions behind those words. That is how my imagination grew and I transformed those words to Motion Picture. I got to write my own little stories at an early age. I wanted to bring them to the big screen so Delphine, The film Producer was born. In 2008 being a student at the University Of Buea, I produced my first Feature, “A Woman’s World”. A film I also played a lead role in. I loved being in front of the camera but over time the real butterflies I got were behind. Directing on the other hand was a different ball game, it needed time. A friend; a dear friend, Gertjan Zuilhof who sadly just passed (God bless his Soul) told me: “Delphine, I think you should write a short Film and Direct, I really think you should do something like that”. Gertjan’s words were the catalyst i needed to kick off my directing career. At the time, I had done another Feature,“House of Triplets” where i doubled as the director and Actor, but I don’t think i considered myself a director at that point. “ I-BEMSI ” my first short film was the film that made me realize directing was something I wanted to explore . That was the birth of Delphine the film Director. I immediately stopped acting and focused on Writing, Producing and Directing. It’s been fulfilling!
SMM: Aww sorry about your friend! Please take us through your journey a little bit. How did Itambi Studios come about?
DI: It was easy picking a name for my Film Production Company because naturally I am an ITAMBI and it was not just about me. “Itambi” is a family name. My Dad’s name passed on to us. My Dad being of blessed memory, this had to be in his honor and a celebration of my beautiful Family. In the beginning, it was not easy choosing the path of Filmmaking. My family wanted different. I wanted different before when I made a choice to study Chemistry in the university with hope of pursuing a career in Medicine. Ditching all of these to do something completely different was not easy to sell to my family, especially to my mum. My siblings could easily get the picture and wanted me to do what I wanted, but Mum was not buying it. Thankfully, after a while, she warmed up to the idea and has been very supportive since. My family basically knows every project I am working on even before I get to roll the Cameras. They are my backbone…My rock. Without them, there would be no Delphine Itambi, The Filmmaker.
SMM: WARD ZEE! Let’s talk “Ward Zee”. Good job on that project! I know it’s been a while since it came out but that was the first project of yours, I got acquainted with years ago.
DI: “Ward Zee” was my first major feature film, I remember after writing the screenplay, i gave it out to a few critics to read. Most of their remarks were great. It felt different, not just because of the drama and the intensity of it all, but it was something born from a place of Reality. “Ward Zee” was inspired by a story of a woman whose child was stolen in the hospital under mysterious circumstances. I wanted to bring to light something that was/is actually happening in our society. I wanted to create that awareness and leave the audience to ask the thought provoking questions and find the answers
SMM: What does Mother’s Day mean to you personally and as a filmmaker as busy as you might be? And how has motherhood changed your per-
Mother’s day is a time to honor my dual identity as a mother and Filmmaker. It acknowledges the immense effort I put into balancing the demands of raising my little girl and running a Film Production House, alongside other business-
es. It is an opportunity for me to reflect on my journey and feel proud of my accomplishments. It is also a moment to appreciate the support system that allows me thrive, My husband, My Family and Great Friends. It also serves as a subtle reminder of why I do all I do… A day to recharge and refocus on my purpose.
As a film maker, being a mother has greatly influenced my career. When I had my baby in 2019, it was evident to me that life would never be the same again. It would be more blissful. Looking at that beautiful bundle of joy in your hands, you really don’t care how much sacrifice you have to make to raise them. Now, my schedules revolve around my daughter. Having a partner who makes equal sacrifices in raising your child also helps tremendously. I can still pick up some film jobs knowing my husband is available to be with our daughter. And when he is not, it’s a simple “NO” from me for jobs that require me to be onset or to travel.
Success is being able to create a positive impact around the people I love the most, nothing else matters as long as that impact is positive and they have on their biggest smiles.
SMM: “Success is being able to create a positive impact around the people I love the most”. ABSOLUTELY!
What’s the biggest challenge of being both a mom and an entrepreneur?
DI: The biggest challenge is “Time”. You want to maximize the time you have as an entrepreneur and also be around your child. Naturally, you just have to create a balance. I don’t see the “Time” factor as a challenge once you accept your new status of being a
mom, wholly. As a Mom and Entrepreneur, you cannot do the things an entrepreneur who doesn’t have child to raise would probably do. Once you find peace in that duality, it becomes easier to manage both responsibilities and letting go of things you cannot control or change. This is essential to your mental health and the overall health and happiness of your child.
SMM: Looking back on your journey, what’s one thing you’re most proud of as both a mother and a woman in film?
DI: The fact that after 18 years in the Film industry, I can still look back at every decision I made with a smile. I am proud of myself for choosing the rocky path, instead of taking the easy way out to put my stories on the big screen. I am proud of myself for sticking to my Original ideas at every time I was/I’m faced with the option to compromise the “Theme of My Story” for financial gains. I am proud that even though I find myself in an industry that is quick to dilute values, I stuck/stick to mine, and my Family can still look at me in the face and say they are proud of me… And I am also very proud of the little impact I have created in the industry, the few film aspirants I have guided, People I have touched with my works and the lifetime brotherhood/sisterhood bonds I have created with some filmmakers. I am not one to forget where I come from. My family roots and career roots are extremely important to me and so is my Privacy. I have been able to stay on the low all these years because I do not seek to be Famous, but for my works to reach the ends of the Earth .
As a mom, the most I am proud of myself for is being able to totally dedicate myself to raising my daughter.
When I had her, I was determined to be present and to make the sacrifices necessary to raise her myself. I have so many reasons I did not want her raised by a nanny. My Husband and I have made it work for 6 years. It’s something we are proud of. Making sure she always feels safe is Priority on our Lists.
SMM: So Delphine, if you could go back in time, what’s one thing you would do differently in balancing business and motherhood?
DI: Looking back, there is nothing I would love to do differently balancing motherhood and business. I think this is why it was always very important for me to be self-employed. To own my own Company and Business. To be in control of my “Time”. I go to work when I can and if I cannot, then I cannot. I make time home to catch up with what I would have done in the office while being next to my daughter. It’s pretty easier now with two employees at the Studio and someone running the clothing shop (Blank Street Wears).
Since I also own a Fashion Brand called DAB (Named after my Daughter), I also find the time to make new designs in-between all that I do. I am typically at work 8-6 on weekdays. Sometimes I have to pick my daughter from school not for home, but the studio to catch up a few more hours of work when my husband is out of town. I also now spend most Saturdays at the studio with her. The rest of the weekend is Family time home. So, you see, there is really no other approach I would have taken or I would take to balance being a mother and running a business.
SMM: Good works with DAB! So what’s one piece of advice you’d give to moms who want to get into the film industry? Like, what advice would you give to those that are afraid of pursuing that dream of theirs?
DI: Stepping out of one’s comfort zone can always be very scary, but if you want to be great, legendary, you’ve got to do something different. What is the worst that can happen? Failure? Well, take the risk and if you fail, at least you would have tried. But what if you succeed? Imagine that…What if that is your Calling? The reason you were born…Your sole purpose in life…Think about it…How big is your passion? When we do what we do, it is not just for us, it is the messages that we embed in the arts that we send out, the people we touch and the communities we transform. So, yes, embrace it, take the baby steps, do the research, take the classes, learn, and do not go there clueless. Do not give room for doubt to set in. Most people are miserable and even depressed with their jobs, despite the big paycheck. So, for once, step out of that comfort zone and do something that gives you butterflies. That gives you a reason to not just wake up from your bed, but jump out because you can’t wait to do what you do. I am not saying quit your 9-5 Job blindly and adventure. Take your time to grow in your future job and when it’s safe enough financially to quit your 9-5, then you can take both legs out and start Living, not just Existing….
SMM: What’s next for you—both with Itambi Studios and as a mom? Any upcoming projects we should be anticipating for?
DI: A lot has been up with Itambi Studios lately. I know many people are like after “Just A Minute” what is next? We also shot the first Season of a TV Series titled “The Counselor” last year. We are currently wrapping its post–production as we prepare to film Season Two. I know that not even Behind The Scenes (BTS) Images are found on the media space yet, but this is very intentional, for personal reasons. But we assure all our fans, promoters and the entire public that “The Counselor” is coming
to them anytime soon.
We are also gearing up to produce our first ever Audio Web Series titled “Whispers Of The Starry Sky”. This will be a 12 episode Series of 5 minutes each. We will be for the first time diving into the world of AI; something we are really excited about.
We have a “Film Studio” and we do a couple of our productions there. We are open to the public as well. Come talk to us about your unique ideas. Together, let’s bring them to life. If you can’t fine-tune these ideas, no problem, we are still here for you to make sense out of nonsense …hahahahhaha. Does’t matter how shallow your idea is, we will make it an Original concept with Depth.
To conclude, I would like to wish every mother out there a happy Mother’s Day, you are doing an incredible job! Some days, it is going to feel like the world has its weight on you but even on those days, know that you are loved and you are the light of this world. When you feel those moments, just lay back on your couch, relax and when you wake up, you will be rejuvenated to pick it all up again. It is not easy being a mother to your child/children or someone else’s but it is the MOST beautiful feeling in the world! Happy Mother’s Day Warriors!!!
SMM:Thank you so much Delphine and Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
Follow Delphine on social media: Instagram: @delphineitambi
Facebook: Delphine Itambi
SMM:
Can you introduce yourself and share a little about your journey into fitness coaching.
SM: My name is Ticha Sonita Manka, 31years old and a mother of two (a boy and a girl). Not only am I a fitness trainer, I am also a nutritionist based in Buea-Cameroon.
Being a fitness coach is a dream come through for me, because I get to do what I am passionate about which is helping people ( women in particular) to be in shape, fit and overall wellness.
SMM: What inspired you to become a fitness coach, and how has motherhood influenced that journey?
SM: After the birth of my second child, I gained a lot of weight. So much that I lost my self confidence. Until one day, when I decided to change everything about my lifestyle, beginning with my body and my nutrition. I worked hard day and night for months and years and the results started to show. It started from “Sonita I love your body » to «Sonita please help me get back in shape”. Just like that, I started training and so far it has been an amazing journey.
SMM: How do you define success in both your career and as a mother? And how do you manage your daily schedule between coaching and taking care of your family?
SM: I would say I am doing an amazing job as a mother and a fitness trainer thanks to the undiluted support I get from my partner, who is also my number 1 supporter, and my younger sister. Waking up to prepare the kids and dropping them off in school before heading to the gym, is not an easy job. Plus while at the gym I have to train all my clients before training myself. After workout I head home to make food for the house then later prep myself and head to my job side ( I own a herbal shop).
SMM: What are some challenges you face juggling both roles, and how do you overcome them?
SM: I face so many challenges being a mum and a fitness trainer, and my greatest challenge is not being able to get enough rest daily. Building my career, taking care of the kids and my spouse takes a lot out of me. But I remain grateful to my spouse for being my backbone, very supportive and understanding. He finds ways to cover up in areas where I am lacking.
SMM: If you could tell moms one thing about chasing their dreams while raising a family, what would it be?
SM: Before being a mum and a wife you are “you”. Find time for yourself, get back your self confidence, eat right, train hard, take care of your body, invest in good skincare, hang out with friends, celebrate yourself on every little win. It is called SELF LOVE. A happy mum is a happy home.
SMM: Thank you so much Sonita and happy Mother’s Day to you.
SM: No. thank you. Happy Mother’s Day to you as well.
If you wish to connect with Sonita with some fitness training questions, reach her at sonitamanka678@gmail.com
PATRIARCHY IN AFRICA
As we celebrate our mothers through out this month of May, it’s only fair we dig deep into the Silent Battles they fought/fight as an African mother and wife in a patriarchal society.
In the simplest of terms, Patriarchy is defined as the dominance of the male gender in the family, society, in political and financial settings. The male has the power to make all the important decisions related to various issues including property, education, careers, businesses, marriages, moral practices, etc. on behalf of any other members of the family.
Growing up in an Africa, I realized women put in an extra effort to prove themselves all the time; at work, at home, etc, they accepted to be looked down upon and endured it because it’s a “norm” but deep in their hearts, they knew it was wrong. They had to take a major burn of this prejudiced and unfair patriarchal mindset which is based on gender inequality.
Fathers, brothers and male colleagues are giv-
en obvious priority over the females in most spheres of life. Men are served food first and the kitchen is a
woman’s place regardless of if she had a job as well or not. African women had to work, cook for their husbands and children, clean the house with little or no assistance from men. In Career choices. men are allowed a wider range in career options, while women are restricted to a very few, socially acceptable choices. Women become the flag bearer of most sacrifices, in the name of family honor and are denied the social and domestic rights in some situations.
A disturbing fact is we females are guilty of encouraging patriarchy knowingly or unknow-
SMM: Hi Manka’a. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into making skits?
Manka’a: Hi! My name is Blessing, but most people know me as Manka’a Spice. I’m 12 years old and in Form 2. I’ve always loved making people laugh, but I officially started making skits when my cousin, Pa Ngwa, encouraged me. We did a video together, and people loved it, so I just kept going!
SMM: Your real name fits your role in the Cameroonian skit making sector. You’re a blessing lol. What do you love most about being a skit maker/comedian at such a young age?
Manka’a: I love that I get to make people happy! Seeing people laugh and enjoy my content makes me feel so good. Plus, I get to be creative, try different characters, and just have fun.
SMM: How did you and Pa Ngwa start working together on skits? What’s your relationship with Pa Ngwa (I know you earlier mentioned he’s your cousin) —how is it like doing comedy with Pa Ngwa?
Manka’a: Yes Pa Ngwa is my cousin, but he’s more like a big brother to me. We started working together because he was already making skits, and one day, I just joined him. We realized we had great chemistry, and now we make people laugh together. Working with him is amazing because we always have fun, but sometimes we laugh too much while filming! LOL
SMM: LOL. Where do you get ideas for your skits? Do you and Pa Ngwa brainstorm together?
Manka’a: Most of our ideas come from real-life experiences—things that happen at home, in school, or in the streets. Sometimes we sit down and brainstorm, but other times, funny things just happen, and we turn them into skits.
SMM: Do you ever disagree on a skit idea?
Manka’a: LOL! Yes, of course! Sometimes I have an idea, and Pa Ngwa is like, “Nooo, that won’t work.” Other times, he has an idea that I don’t like. But in the end, we always find a way to make it funny.
SMM: LOL. Who are your favorite comedians or content creators that inspire you in Africa? Do you have any?
Manka’a: I love Mark Angel, Caro & Copees, and Aunty Felicia! They are so creative and make me laugh all the time.
SMM: Yea I love Caro & Copees and Auntie Felicia too lol. If you could work with any famous skit maker or content creator, who would it be?
Manka’a: Wow! I would love to work with Funny Emma. That would be a dream come true! Funny Emma is also a child comedian, and working with him would be amazing because we both understand what it’s like to balance school and content creation while making people laugh. I think we’d create something really funny together!
SMM: Whoever Funny Emma is, I hope they see this!! LOL. So what’s the best part about working with Pa Ngwa?
SMM: Aww! So what advice would you give to other kids who want to start making comedy skits and be as effective and creative like Manka’a Spice?
Manka’a: Just start! Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Be yourself, be consistent, and most importantly, have fun with it. If you enjoy what you do, people will enjoy watching you!
SMM: Manka’a Spice, thank you so much and keep focusing on school ok? Happy Mother’s Day to your mom on our behalf.
Manka’a: Thank you!
Connect with Manka’a on Facebook: Manka’a Spice Official.
