BCA-USA Mirror 2019

BCA-USA MIRROR

BCA-USA 2019 CONVENTION WEEKEND PROGRAM Thursday May 23 7:00pm- 1:00am Welcome Night Folk Tales, Story Telling, Riddles & More African Attire Hosted by BCA Cultural Committee and Northern Chapter Gate: $25

Friday May 24 9:00am - 1:00pm Sports Activities Hosted by BCA Health Committee 6:00pm - 2:00am Night of Glamour Charity Ball - Arabian Nights (Black Tie Event) Attire: Arabian or Formal Hosted by BCA Fundraising Committee Gate: $ 150

Saturday May 25 9:00am - 3:00pm BCA-USA Annual General Assembly African Attire Hosted by BCA National Executive Committee Gate: $75 9:00am - 11:00 BCA Youth Wing General Assembly 3:00 - 4:00 PM Chapter Parade 4:00 - 4:30 PM Graduate recognition 6 :00 - 7:00 PM Dinner Family time and pictures

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

Saturday May 25 10:00pm - 3:00am Elegant Gala Night Party Attire Hosted by the BCA-USA Local Chapter Youth Gala Hosted by the BCA-USA Youth Wing Gate $50

Sunday May 26 11:00am-3:00pm Non-denominational Prayer Service Sunday Worship Attire Hosted by BCA-USA Prayer Line Ministry 12:00pm-4:00pm Brunch and Sightseeing Cruise Attire: All white Hosted by BCA Northern Chapter 6:00pm - 4:00am Annual Cultural Night Celebration Bali Traditional Attire Hosted by BCA Culture Committee Gate: $60

Monday May 27 10:00am - 12:00pm National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting Hosted by BCA National Executive Committee 12:00pm: BBQ Cook out @ the Park Hosted by the BCA-USA Northern Chapter

BCA-USA MIRROR

CONTENT Northern Texas Report 52 Middle School Continuation

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BCA President Receives International Leadership 55 Southern California Chapter Report Great Lakes Report Advertorial

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BCA Carolinas Report

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BCA-USA at the BCA-Europe Convention, Berlin 2018 60 BCA-USA 2018 Award Honorees Pearl Service Award

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Mungaka Corner: Dù’ti Mà Taŋti N� ̀ Chû Ba’n� ̀ Celebrating Bali Cultural Heritage: President’s Welcome Message

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Welcome to Minneapolis, Minnesota Executives For 2018 - 2020

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Secretary General’s Report

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Membership Growth 2016-2019

In Memoriam

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Publisher: BCA-USA Publications Committee

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Pearl Night of Glamour, Red Carpet 2018

Editorial Advisory Board & Committee Members Ma Lilian Fokwang (Chair) Ma Irene Tita (Vice Chair) Doh Geka (Ni Banyuga Pefok) Nagwa Nukuna Ni Jude Fokwang Ma Loveline Simaze Ba Nkom Gwanbidpua Tangeh Ni Kenneth Gwanmesia (BCA Comptroller) Ni Julius Ndangam (IT and Web Admin) Ba Fomukong (BCA Vice President) Ma Kehmia Tangeh (BCA Publicity Secretary)

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Pearl Passion Red Carpet, Dallas 2018

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Down Memory Lane - First BCA-USA Newsletter Fundraising Committee (FRC) Annual Report Chapter Parade, Dallas 2018

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Northern Chapter Report

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Eastern Chapter Report

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BCA Midwest

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Editorial Contact: publications@bca-usa.org © BCA-USA 2019

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Fr. Frankline Fomukong, Convention 2019 Keynote Speaker BCA-USA Southern Texas Chapter Southern Chapter Report

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BCA-USA Kids at the 2018 Convention

Interview with Prof Rose Leke

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Highlights of Thursday Welcome Night 2018

Profiles in Community Service

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BCA-USA Oklahoma Chapter Report

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Design and Layout: Spears Media Press LLC www.spearsmedia.com Printed by Publication Printers Corp.

The Official Printer of the Denver Broncos

The BCA-USA Mirror is published annually in May by the Publications Committee of the Bali Cultural Association, USA. For article reprints, permissions and licensing, contact the publications committee of the BCA at: publications@bca-usa.org

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION-USA AGM 2018

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BCA-USA MIRROR

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME MESSAGE

Ni Clarence Ndangam

Dear Members and Supporters, elcome to the BCA-USA 32nd BCA-USA Annual National Convention! It is wonderful for us to gather again in the City of Lakes to celebrate our community and organization. Building on from a successful Pearl Anniversary last year, the theme for this year’s convention is revival. As we gather this year for our annual reunion, I am mindful that we do so with deep and sad recognition that these are difficult times for our community. We cannot and should not ignore the toll that the current crisis in Cameroon has taken on our community in Bali and also here in the USA as just about every family has been impacted. We recognize the untold suffering that has been unleashed on Bali and many other communities in English speaking Cameroon resulting in so many internally displaced people, food insecurity and loss of livelihood.

Times like these also remind us of the spirit of the founding mission of BCA-USA - to come together in love and solidarity to support each other and to support the wellbeing of our community in Bali. As an organization, we have grappled with how best to support our families back home.

Following last year’s Leadership Summit Resolution to create a committee to look into this, our administration created the Bali Humanitarian Relief Fund which was mandated to define and implement a humanitarian relief initiative to support

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the people of Bali, consistent with IRS rules for 501 C(3) nonfor profit organizations. Over the 2018 holiday season, the committee successfully raised $23,000 which enabled it to buy and distribute food and basic necessities to 1700 families in Bali during the Christmas holidays. On behalf of BCA-USA, I want to sincerely thank everyone who donated to this drive.

Our deepest appreciation also goes to our local partners in Bali who assisted with distributing the much-needed relief to our people.

Despite the current crisis, let us not lose hope. I urge each and every member to revive our spirit of service and solidarity as a community. More than ever before we need resilience as a community. BCA-USA’s success has thrived on that spirit of togetherness within our membership and the commitment of all who continue to volunteer their time to serve our organization in various capacities. Let us remain hopeful that peace is possible and will happen. Staying hopeful in the face of such challenging times shows our resolve to come together and stay together.

The next few pages of this magazine highlight some of the work and accomplishments of our various committees and chapters during this fiscal year. From various chapter outreach events, to committee accomplishments as highlighted through the secretary General’s report, it is evident that our love for community remains strong. I urge you to take the time to read through this and be proud of all the successes that we have achieved as an association. I am deeply grateful to all who continue to volunteer their time to serve this association. Your dedication is what keeps moving us forward. This could not have been possible without the commitment and support of our members.

Over the past year, the Convention Planning Committee and the local hosting chapter in Minnesota have worked hard to put in place an exciting convention weekend program for us.

Starting with our welcome night, Friday’s sporting activities and the annual Night of Glamour, to Saturday’s General Assembly Meeting, a packed kids’ convention program, as well as a Sunday morning non-denominational worship and a sightseeing cruise on Sunday afternoon, there is something for everyone. Enjoy! I wish you all a memorable convention weekend and an pleasurable stay in the Twin Cities.

God Bless BCA-USA! Ni Clarence Ndangam BCA-USA.ORG

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BCA-USA MIRROR

Welcome To

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

Dear Distinguished Members and Friends, n behalf of the Convention Planning Committee, it is my privilege and great pleasure to wish you all a convivial welcome to the 32nd Annual BCA-USA Convention. We are going to have an exceptional wonderful time together. We are going to have a great deliberative time as we engage in taking our beloved organization to the next level. Welcome to Minneapolis!

The land of 10,000 Lakes is familiar to most of you. This is going to be the 4th time that Minnesota is hosting our beloved and distinguished convention.

A special welcome to those of you who will be travelling to Minneapolis for the first time.

I can say with a certain degree of certainty that the Northern chapter will be thrilled as always to welcome you again with yet another phenomenal convention after 2019.

Planning for this year’s convention has been a great collaborative effort of the National Executive Committee (NEC), the Executive, the Convention Planning Committees (CPC), the local Convention Planning Committees with the assistance of Ndantod Minnesota. These teams have been working tirelessly for

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several months to ensure that the 32nd Annual Convention will enter into the archives of our great association as exceptional and historically memorable. I will like to use this opportunity to recognize the tremendous amount of work done by the above team on planning and executing the well-designed program that you will all see.

Despite the inherent difficulties we encountered, CPC this year was really an outstanding assembly of highly respected and dedicated distinguished members. I would like to especially recognize my Co-Chair Ma Kehmia Tangeh for her relentless efforts and assistance in the planning process.

We have an exciting program with a blue print that has been programmed to ensure that your stay and relaxation in Minneapolis during convention exceeds your expectations.

Members of the Northern Chapter are thrilled to welcome you to the conventional Welcome Thursday Night at the Hilton down Minneapolis. This hotel has a ballroom that is over 24,000 square feet. With the continuing increase in our membership, we are delighted to have an event center that can accommodate our growing membership. We

BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

Ni Chris Fokumlah, Co-Chair, 2019 BCA-USA Convention Planning Committe

are happy to let you know that an additional 16,000 square feet and more if necessary is available for us during the 2019 convention.

With such space availability and for the first time in our history we can have up to 100 VIP tables and still have a lot of ample space for additional tables. You can’t afford to miss this debut of a breathtaking weekend with BCA-USA. On Friday morning as you prepare for the sports/health programs, you will find the view of downtown outstandingly attractive. Within your sight are the Walker Art Center and the beautifully restored Orpheum Theater which has it all when it comes to entertainment and beautiful architecture. At a glance you will find the US Bank Stadium which is home of the Minnesota

BCA-USA MIRROR Vikings. There is more within this vibrant City Center that is enclosed by 9 miles of skyway to make shopping a breeze for your enjoyment.

All of you distinguished members with family and friends will also experience a colorful two-hour nonstop sightseeing cruise as you explore Lake Minnetonka on Sunday afternoon. You won’t need your binoculars to enjoy the refreshing scenery of the more than 12 villages aligned on the shores of this beautiful lake.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the Mall of America which is one of the top tourist destinations in the country with over 520 stores and welcomes more than 40 million visitors per year. Attractions here include 28 plus rides to a 1.3 million gallon aquarium.

This year’s convention will culminate in a

farewell BBQ at a park chosen exclusively for your nobility. This will be the City of Fridley Commons Community Park which is less than 15 minutes from the convention hotel.

On behalf of the Convention Planning Committee, I wish you the best of time in Minnesota as you enjoy the activities carefully planned for you, your children and the entire family. I believe we all will have an energizing experience. It will always be our honor to have you come back to Minneapolis and have another sensational and jubilant convention. Wishing you all safe returns to your various destinations with God’s guidance.

Ni Chris Fokumlah Co-Chair, 2019 BCA-USA Convention Planning Committee

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BCA-USA MIRROR

Office of Mayor Jacob Frey

350 S. Fifth St. - Room 331 Minneapolis, MN 55415 TEL 612.673.2100

April 23, 2019 Dear Bali Cultural Association attendees, On behalf of the City of Minneapolis, I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone gathered for the 32nd Bali Cultural Association USA Annual Convention. We are a city full of traditional and are thrilled that you have included Minneapolis for your celebration.

Minneapolis is a unique hospitable city with outstanding cultural, recreational and meeting facilities. We have a wide variety of restaurants that cater to every palate, museums, family-friendly activities and unparalleled entertainment. We have one of the safest and most vibrant downtown areas in the country, surrounded by beautiful lake and park areas.

In addition to offering all the amenities of a world-class city, Minneapolis is also a warm and welcoming destination for visitors. Our transit system makes it easy to get around the city – whether it’s taking the light rail from the airport or travelling throughout downtown.

It is the experience, enthusiasm, and commitment of the more than 30,000 members of our hospitality community that will make your event meaningful and memorable. Our city is known for excellence in service year after year.

Our commitment is to offer and deliver to all delegates a superior experience during your visit!

Yours Truly,

Mayor Jacob Frey City of Minneapolis

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EXECUTIVES FOR 2018 - 2020

President Ni Clarence Ndangam Chapter: Eastern president@bca-usa.org

Vice President Ba Joe Fomukong Chapter: Southern Texas vicepresident@bca-usa. org

Publicity Secretary Ma Kehmia Tangeh Chapter: Southern Texas publicitysecretary@bca-usa.org

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Secretary General Ma Valeria Awah Ngafor Chapter: Southern Texas secretarygeneral@bcausa.org

Comptroller Ni Kenneth Gwanmesia Chapter: South Eastern financialcontroller@bca-usa.org

BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

Treasurer Ma Vicky Takam Chapter: Eastern treasurer@bca-usa.org

Protocol Officer Ma Susan Nabong Doh Chapter: Eastern chiefwhip@bca-usa.org

BCA-USA MIRROR

SECRETARY GENERAL’S REPORT

By Ma Valeria Awah Ngafor Dear BCA-USA Members, he past year has been outstanding in so many ways for BCA-USA. This couldn’t have happened without your continuous commitment to our trail blazing association. Your dedication at the local as well as national levels is greatly appreciated.

The success of our association is thanks to you, our members who have continued to pay your dues coupled with your generous donations.

Last year, the National Executive Committee (NEC) welcomed several newly elected executive members, chapter presidents, and newly appointed committee and adhoc committee chairs.

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Newly Elected Executive Members

Ma Valeria Awah Ngafor, SG

• South East: Ba Fobesi Roland • Southern Texas: Ni Divine Ajong

• President: Ni Clarence Ndangam (Re-elected for a Second Term) • Vice President: Ba Joseph Fomukong Re-elected for a Second Term • Secretary General: Ma Valeria Awah Ngafor • Northern Texas: Ma Candice Ngwa • Treasurer: Ma Victorine Takam • Comptroller: Ni Kenneth Gwanmesia Special Acknowledgement to all Committee and • Protocol Officer: Ma Nabong Susan Doh Adhoc Committee Chairs • Public Relation Officer: Ma Kehmia Tangeh • Culture: Ni Samkeah Titanji (Re-elected for a second term) • Education: Ni Collins Doh • Electoral & Constitutional: Ma Lehyonga Fomunung Newly Appointed Committee Chairs • Fundraising: Ma Marie Nangah • Education: Ni Colins Doh • Health: Ni Nubia Kaba • Electoral & Constitution: Ma Lehyonga • Membership: Ni Augustine Njinjoh Fomunung • Process Improvement: Ni Michael Njambed • Membership: Ni Augustine Njinjoh • Projects: Ma Vero Popoko • Projects: Ma Vero Popoko • Publication: Ma Nyem Fokwang • Social and Awards: Ma Leina Pascaline • Social & Awards: Ma Leina Pascaline

Newly Appointed Adhoc Committee Chair Adhoc Committees • Bali Humanitarian Relief: Ma Rev Pam Fomunung

Newly Elected Chapter Presidents

• Great Lakes: Ma Tema Pefok Zama

• Bali Humanitarian Relief: Ma Rev Pam Fomunung • Multipurpose Center: Ba Sam Gwanbidbila

Leadership Summit

The Annual Leadership Summit which held BCA-USA.ORG

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BCA-USA MIRROR last October in Miami, Florida was a resounding success and saw a great improvement in attendance (close to 70 participants). Thanks to the members of the executive and committee chairs who worked tirelessly to make the week end an exceptional experience. Special thanks to the Publication chair, Ma Nyem Fokwang, Fundraising Chair, Ma Marie Nangah and Social & Awards Chair, Ma Leina Pascaline. The key resolutions from the summit include: MPC Operations Plan given the prevailing Situation in Bali • Suspend work on the MPC with immediate effect while reevaluating periodically • Aggressive fund raising to meet all expectations once work resumes • BCA Role and Priorities in Bali given the current Climate • A BCA-USA facilitating group should be formed to work with the Bali community in the diaspora to come up with ways of assisting the destitute in Bali.

• This group will define methods of collection and distribution of supplies • Suspend all Education programs or projects sponsored by BCA USA • BCA USA is an apolitical organization and will remain neutral to any political manifestations in Bali • Structure and Processes to Support BCA Exponential Growth 1. Incentivize service by waving conventions fees for all committee chairs and past National Presidents 2. The Finance Committee needs to go operational with immediate effect.

3. Incentivize volunteerism during conventions 4. Nkap Ntod should be an Adhoc committee separate from MEMCOM run by members of the committee. Chapter presidents should be members of this committee.

• Request a complete audit of the Nkap Ntod adhoc committee • More time should be allocated for focused discussions at Leadership Summit Education Committee • Establish a BCA Scholarship Fund for BCAUSA students and define the implementation.

Membership Committee • Create an Adhoc committee to define ‘friends of Bali’ as used in the constitution • Thanks to the diligence of the NEC, we are on track to complete all the resolutions of the last summit.

BCA-USA Committee Highlights and Accomplishments Publication Committee • 2018-2019 Approved Budget: $4696 (expenses) • The Publication committee continues to keep BCA abreast on all updates from the NEC and chapters with the release of the monthly newsletter.

• Accomplishments • Member Engagement: Kept members informed of BCA activities on a monthly basis through the monthly newsletter. The committee’s communication engagement efforts were recognized by Constant Contact as a 2018 All Star Award winner.

• Revamped website: Revamped the BCA website to include several features. The redesigned website gives visitors and users more content which is easy to navigate.

The site features expanded content and incorporates fresh colors and graphics as well as new navigational tools • Information: Published a glossy magazine for the annual convention showcasing chapter activities and committee accomplishments.

Board of Directors Focus Meeting • Have a structure to ensure smooth transition Process Improvement Committee (PIC): when there’s an over haul of the executive Accomplishments • Nkap Ntod updates will be approved by The committee was able to complete 2017 NEC and the BOD. leadership assignment to complete bylaws for our 12

BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

BCA-USA MIRROR now active chapters.

Increased members’ committee participation commitment by increasing its membership from six to twelve Fundraising Committee • 2018-2019 Approved Budget: $23,900.00 (expenses); projected income: $130,500.00 Accomplishments • Launched 2019 VIP Packages (Diamond at $2,000: Paired table, entry for 2 with MPC credit of $1,700; Executive Diamond at $3,000: Individual table, entry for 2 + 1 Complimentary gold entry, MPC credit of $2,700; Platinum at $5,000: entry for 2 + 4 Complimentary gold entry, MPC credit of $4,700) • Successful 2018 Leadership Summit Fundraiser with a total of $100,000 (donations & commitment) raised.

• Launch and marketing of the 2019 Night of Glamour Charity Ball – “Arabian Nights” Health Committee • 2018 – 2019 Committee Budget: $6,000; Projected Expense: $6,820 • Accomplishments • Conducted a Friday morning physical activity session at the Dallas convention on May 25, 2018.

• Raised awareness amongst the attendees, of the Dallas convention, on a clinical study in sickle cell trait that was being conducted by the Uniformed Services University • Succeeded in weighing the Dallas convention attendees as part of the weight loss contest.

Social and Awards Committee 2018-2019 Approved Budget $6,820 (expenses) Accomplishments • The Committee organized and executed a very successful kids program during the 2018 convention in Dallas.

• The Committee planned a fun filled party bus ride in Miami during the Leadership Summit last year.

• Oversaw the nomination and recognition

of deserving members who contribute in various capacities to the association.

In addition to the budgets listed above, the NEC approved budgets for the rest of the committees as follows: • • • •

Culture Committee: $ 5,650 Education Committee: $6,750 Membership Committee: $3,600 Convention Planning Committee: $14,375.

Other budgets that were approved by the NEC include: • Presidential: $5000 • Secretariat: $3000 • Treasurer: $ 4400 Bali Humanitarian Relief 2018 ended with BCA-USA members coming together to put smiles on the faces of our fellow brothers and sisters in Bali during the Christmas season. Collectively, we raised more than $23,000 which helped provide food to more than 1700 people in Bali over the holidays. “There’s nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of his/her way to make life beautiful for others” Mandy Hale.

We applaud the Northern chapter under the leadership of Ni Patrick Nyuga for working diligently to make this convention a great success.

Special thanks to the Convention Planning Committee chairs Dr. Chris Forkumlah and Dr. Kehmia Tangeh and their team for collaborating with the Northern Chapter representatives to make this convention one of the most memorable. Your commitment is testament to the fact that team work makes dream work•

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BCA-USA MIRROR

BCA-USA Ŋkâb Ntɔd Update

By Ba Fomukong, Vice President

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CA-USA experienced an increased re/ enrollment into the Nkap Ntod program for the 2018 -2019 year. Following the 2018 Leadership Summit resolution, Nkap Ntod became an ad hoc committee independent of the Membership Committee. The Nkap Ntod committee includes all chapter presidents. On April 6th 2019, BCA-USA youth wing lost an enrolled child of a Nkap Ntod

member. Ni Sidney Nubia Fokum was a BCA-USA child from the Great Lakes Chapter. The Nkap Ntod for Ni Sidney Nubia Fokum’s beneficiary was $5000 based on his enrollment in the program at the time of his passing.

Below is the 2018 -2019 break down by chapter/ age of the Nkap Ntod program. Children aged 0 – 17 are not eligible to contribute in case of an occurrence.

Nkap Ntod

Voluntary BCA-USA USA Member Support Program

WHAT: Assistance for BCA-USA Nkap Ntod Members & their Children in times of death.

WHO BCA-USA Members and their Children (1-17) Membership dues PAID (After June 1, 2015) And sent to national treasury.

HOW Pay your national dues and a One Time $50.00 enrollment fee plus $10.00 per child 1-17 years.

WHEN Open Enrollment is June 1st - September 30th each year.

1 year of membership in Nkap Ntod receive payout of $7,500 at the time of occurrence.

New Nkap Ntod Members:

2 years + of membership in Nkap Ntod receive payout of

How to Pay 1.

Pay through your chapter. Be sure payment is sent to the national treasury by September 30 th.

2. Pay to the national treasury: Bank of America, Bali Cultural Association Account number: 4880 2460 6264 When you make a bank deposit, be sure to contact the treasurer at: treasurer@bca-usa.org If it’s a check deposit, notify the treasurer about the deposit day and amount. If it’s a cash deposit, please take a picture of the receipt and email it to the treasurer.

3. PayPal: Epayments@bca-usa.org

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Benefits

Nkap Ntod is active Beginning October 1 Annually For new enrollees.

Membership dues and Nkap Ntod Enrollment must be sent to national treasury by September 30th Annually.

Current Nkap Ntod Members: Membership dues must be sent to national treasury by September 30th Annually to stay active.

$15,000

at the time of occurrence.

Child Benefit Payout: $5000 (With parents, members for 2 years).

Payout: $2,500 (With parents, members for 1 year)

Provide name(s) for all payments and ages of children (1-17) It is always the responsibility of the payee to get their information to the national treasurer.

BCA-USA MIRROR

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH 2016-2019

By Ni Augustine Njinjoh, Chair of Membership Committee

Chapter ID STUDENTS (18-25) SOUTHERN TEXAS - HOUSTON [S.TX, LA] SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - LOS ANGELES [S.CA, AZ, HI] SOUTHEAST (ATLANTA) [AL,FL, GA, MS, TN] OKLAHOMA - OKLAHOMA CITY (OK, AR) NORTHERN TEXAS - DALLAS [N.TX, NM] NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - SAN JOSE [N. CA, NV,UT] NORTHERN - MINNESOTA [ND, SD, MN, WI] NORTHEASTERN- NEW YORK [NY, PA, NJ] NEW ENGLAND - BOSTON [ME, VT, NH, MA, RI, CT] MIDWEST - KANSAS CITY [CO, IA, KS, MO, NE] GREAT LAKES - CHICAGO [KY, IL, IN, MI, OH] EASTERN - WASHINGTON, DC [DC, DE, MD, VA, WV] CAROLINAS - CHARLOTTE [NC, SC] Ages (0 - 17) Grand Total

Count of 2016-2017 Dues

Count of 2017-2018 Dues

Count of 2018-2019 Dues**

Growth Rate 2018-2019**Vs 2017-2018

58 51 7 48 68 41 13 27 6 9 15 18 170 8

85 68 9 46 75 66 26 31 7 15 17 22 231 8

79 70 7 53 94 64 31 43 8 24 18 35 229 8

-7% 3% -22% 15% 25% -3% 19% 39% 14% 60% 6% 59% -1% 0%

539

706

763

8%

Count of 2018-2019 Dues** (Annaual Registration Ongoing)

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THURSDAY WELCOME NIGHT 2018

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BCA-USA KIDS AT THE 2018 CONVENTION

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PEARL NIGHT OF GLAMOUR, RED CARPET 2018

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BCA -USA IN THE COMMUNITY BCA-USA CHAPTERS REACH OUT TO SERVE COMMUNITY NEEDS

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he BCA-USA Community Outreach Program (COP) seeks to strengthen community partnerships and chapter engagement with local communities through volunteerism. The initiative, which was launched three years ago and is coordinated by a subcommittee of the Membership Committee, seeks to encourage and support BCA members to become involved in their local communities by providing voluntary support to organizations and initiatives that impact the community. Since its launch, several BCA chapters have volunteered in various initiatives in their communities. Here, we highlight some of the ways in which our chapters have fostered community engagement by giving back to their communities.

Besides the many benefits to volunteering, giving time to local communities enhances BCA-USA’s visibility in communities where our members reside while also teaching our children and future leaders

the importance of giving back.

June 2018: BCA-USA members in Denver partner with local charity “A Little Help” to help home bound seniors in the community with various household tasks October 2018: Members of BCA Northern Texas spent the morning volunteering at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) - a local non-profit organization that provides nutritionally complete meals to malnourished children.

November 2018: BCA Members in Great Lakes spent Thanksgiving Day volunteering at a soup kitchen in Michigan January 2019: BCA-USA Carolinas chapter prepare food for a homeless shelter February 2019: BCA Oklahoma members volunteer at the Oklahoma food bank

BCA Oklahoma members volunteer at the Oklahoma food bank, February 2019

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BCA Northern Texas members volunteer at Feed My Starving Children, October 2018

Mid-West (Denver), Helping Seniors in the Community, June 2018 BCA-USA.ORG

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BCA Great Lakes Volunteer at the Annual Thanksgiving dinner organized by the Westminster church of Detroit, 2018

Southern Texas members volunteer at a local food bank, March 2019

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BCA Carolinas prepare and deliver food to the homeless

Community Outreach during Convention 2018: Park clean-up BCA-USA.ORG

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PEARL PASSION RED CARPET, DALLAS 2018

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

BCA-USA MIRROR

PROF ROSE LEKE BALI ICON & AWARD-WINING AFRICAN SCIENTIST To start off, please tell us about yourself.

My name is Rose Gana Fomban Leke. I am Emeritus professor, researcher and global health scientist. I taught at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaoundé 1 from 1985 to 2013 when I retired.

I served as Head of Department of Infectious Diseases and Head of the Biotechnology Center at the same time for 8 years prior to retirement.

I am currently the Board Chair of the Institute of Medical Research and the Studies of Medicinal Plants (IMPM).

I have been married for 48 years to Emeritus Professor Robert John Ivo Leke, Obstetrician Gynaecologist, who was Head of Department at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Yaounde 1, before retirement. He has been Dean at the Universite de Montagne Medical school in Bangante for four years and is now Provost at the School of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC) in Kumbo.

I am mother of four children and grandmother of four grandchildren.

Thinking back to your childhood, what got you interested in science and motivated you to pursue a career in scientific research?

Having had surgery and recovered from a lung abscess at the age of 6years, I was curious and

Prof Rose Leke

determined to try to understand what happened to me, and was determined to do something in the medical field. Credit goes to my father, a headmaster and later on a labor officer, who always told me I had to excel in science. My parents instilled in me the sense that I had to strive for excellence through hard work, perseverance and the fear of God. In my family, hard work and excellence are key to all our activities.

I went to the first girl’s secondary school, where Biology was the only science subject taught at the Ordinary Levels. But when I went for the Advanced Levels, I decided to take on Chemistry and Physics, not having done them at the O’ levels.

That was daring, and I had to work

so much harder than the others.

I have to tell you about my first big hurdle. In my last year of studies in high school, over 50 of us wrote the African Scholastic Program for American Universities (ASPAU) exam to go study in the USA. 17 boys and 1 girl were successful in the written examination. The one girl was me. We went to the interview conducted by Cameroonian authorities. The panel was composed of all men and one lady. When the results were released 12 boys succeeded, the only girl had failed the interview. It was scandalous, but normal in our situation. This was in 1966. A door closes, a window opens. Sometime later, an American was sent from the State BCA-USA.ORG

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BCA-USA MIRROR Department, Dr. Moffly, to our boarding school, CCAST Bambili, to look for me. He took me down to Yaounde, the capital city, and made sure I was assured another American scholarship before he left. So I finally got to the USA, on the KennedyAhidjo Scholarship. I am told I was the first Fulbright student. And of course in the US, hard work and excellence was the mode so there was no looking back. I received a scholarship for the Masters, and also later on got the Canadian IDRC scholarship for my PhD. When I returned home, I was recruited into the Medical school at University of Yaoundé 1. It is there that I rose from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor and Full Professor, becoming Head of Department and Director of the Biotechnology Center before retiring in 2013. During that time, I taught and researched on onchocerciasis and later malaria. Supervising medical students’ thesis and graduate students was and still is very fulfilling. Though I am retired, my research lab is still fully functional and I enjoy the interaction with the young students, the future of tomorrow.

You have won global accolades and numerous awards for your research.

I have received many awards during my career, and I will just name a few.

In 1999, I received the Merit Prize in Science and Technology awarded by the First Lady of Cameroon on the first Special day to Honor the Cameroonian woman.

In 2001, the Soroptimist International Club of Yaounde

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crowned me Woman of the Community.

My expertise in research for health was fully recognized when a presidential decree in 2002 named me the Board Chair of the Institute of Medical Research and the studies of Medicinal Plants (IMPM).

In 2003 the Chevalier de L’Ordre de la Valeur was given to me on the occasion of the Journee Universitaire des Sciences et de Technologie.

In 2004, I was crowned Mother of Ngali II village on the occasion of the inauguration of two water wells drilled with funds from ICIDR/ HIRE malaria projects awarded by NIH to me and my team. The water wells were inaugurated by the then Minister of Higher Education, Prof.

Maurice Tchuente.

In 2009 I received the Officier de L’Ordre de la Valeur,at the 40th Anniversary of the Faculty of Medicine, UYI, Cameroon.

And to crown it all, in 2011, I was one of the happy recipients of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award for Women- Central Africa, awarded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I received congratulations from the President of the Republic and the First lady, and other high officials of the State.

In 2012 I was recognized by the Cameroon Professional Society (CPS) and received their distinguished award for excellence in the sciences, in Washington DC, USA. In 2014 after presenting the 2014 Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lectures for three consecutive days at the University of Ghana in Legon, I was highly honoured with the DSc Honoris Causa awarded by the University of Ghana.

In 2015, I was elected Honorary

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International Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).

This was presented to me at the annual meeting in Washington D.C. In 2018, I was overwhelmed when I was nominated as one of the nine women in the world as Heroine of Health 2018. The ceremony took place on the 20th of May at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva.

The Director General of WHO, the Regional Director of WHO/AFRO, and our Health Minister Andre Mama Fouda and his entourage were present. A great way to be ending a very fulfilled career.

I am a member of the Canada Gairdner Foundation Global Health Award Advisory Committee from 2016.

During their annual meeting in November 2018, the Cameroon Medical Council, Order of Cameroon Doctors, in a hall full of young and older doctors; most of whom were students I had taught at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical sciences over the years; I was robed and crowned as the Queen Mother of the Cameroon Medical Community.

It was a great honour, getting this national recognition.

On 24 January of this year, the medal of Commandeur de L’Odre de la Valeur was tied around my neck.

I am most flattered and proud of all these recognitions and awards.

But my greatest hope is that they will serve to encourage more women - and Cameroonian women in particular - to pursue a career in the scientific field.

Tell us about your research on malaria in pregnant women. What motivated you focus on this research area?

BCA-USA MIRROR malaria. The laboratory also went on to collaborate with the University of Hawaii, to follow up pregnant women and follow up the children from birth to one year, and much later look for these grown children to study how immunity is acquired.

The laboratory now has added on studies on HIV, on Microbiome, and on fevers in general.

What are some of the challenges of the fight against malaria?

My areas of research are in the immunology of infectious diseases, particularly malaria, in pregnant women, in children and in the population. Of course, working in Global Health, I am also involved in other important areas such as Polio, HIV, and now introducing Microbiome research into our laboratory. I am also very taken up in building capacity for research on the continent.

With regards to my research on malaria during pregnancy, as I was growing up, I remember my mother boiling leaves of papaya, guava, and fever grass, etc. for me to sit over covered with a blanket to treat the fever I had. I was told it was malaria. I was curious to learn more about this and see how I could help prevent other children from being put through that. So I was set in my mind to work on malaria.

I returned home with a PhD in Microbiology/Immunology with a thesis defended on malaria in the

mouse model, at the Universite de Montreal in Canada and then set out to carry out research on malaria in Cameroon. My husband being an OBGYN had stories to tell in our discussions at home about pregnant women and malaria. So after writing and obtaining a grant from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Health Institute, we put together a multidisciplinary team of scientists in Cameroon and in Georgetown University to study malaria in children, in the population and in pregnant women.

When a woman is pregnant, she develops the placenta as the baby’s “chair” and the malaria parasite also enjoys binding to this organ, the placenta. Malaria parasites may not be seen in blood taken from a finger prick, but they will be in the placenta. This is detrimental to the mother and the growing foetus.

So we decided to understand the immunopathology of placenta

As for malaria, there are many challenges. Malaria is a disease of poverty.It is a disease that can be prevented and can be treated. We find more malaria in poor areas, and poverty breeds more malaria.

A lot has been going on in the fight against malaria. Funding has greatly increased. There are more partners and preventive measures such as the distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLIN’s) have been scaled up. This has helped reduce the burden in many countries, though the use of the nets is questionable in many communities.

We are now talking not so much about control as has previously been the case, but about elimination.

There is a reduction in the number of deaths, and many small countries are moving towards elimination.

Eleven countries in the world are still high burden countries, ten of these are in Africa, and India is the 11th.

Cameroon happens to be one of the ten high burden countries in Africa.

The World Health Organization and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership have now launched a strategy for those countries called High Burden HighImpact. However, the anopheles BCA-USA.ORG

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BCA-USA MIRROR mosquitoes that transmit malaria are becoming more and more resistant to the insecticides, and the parasite also developing resistance to drugs used for treatment.

Much is going on in control, prevention and case management, and in research and development.

Much still has to be done to reduce the burden for the population to have better health. I hope and dream of a malaria-free Africa.

Looking back at your long and accomplished career, what has been the greatest achievement of your career?

One of my best moments as a researcher is when students I have supervised carry out and defend their work and demonstrate the acquisition of excellence in scientific research. That assures me that I have a legacy - the next generation will continue the work I have been doing and even do it better as I always say.

Recently I graduated grandchildren, my former students have become professors and their students were defending PhD theses.

I was the happiest scientist on that Jury. Also, when l am solicited to give a plenary lecture, and after working very hard to prepare it, it is always a pleasure and joy for me to speak in front of learned scientists in many international venues. I have always had very positive comments on my talks. It is very self-fulfilling. I am grateful to God for that expertise inculcated in me.

What challenges have you encountered as a female scientist?

A female scientist has to work twice as hard and be highly

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competitive, not concerned about comments made, people always have to talk, so while they bark, you move on.

Men have tried very hard, sometimes in public, to put me down, without success. They water down positive comments made about me, they pretend to pay no attention, whereas if it were a male, there would be acclamations. I realized this early enough in my career, and so was very cautious. Not only men, women are also women’s worse enemies, but let’s leave that aside for now. There were always the jealous ones, who tried to block most of what I tried to do. I was progressing well in research, and one day the big boss of the institution aggressively asked me to take away my laboratory from his building. I survived that as another boss saved me. I must also emphasize that I have gained more respect from men – male colleagues, who see me as a scientist and not as a female.

One thing my father always stressed on was humility, simplicity and positive thinking. Humility is a virtue which if over used, others can very nicely cease the opportunity and make you a subordinate. I realized that early. So I would in all humility show some aggressivity (a little of it) when necessary, and promote myself, learn to say NO in a very kind manner, and not compromising when I should not, no matter what the pressure. In so doing I have often gained more respect from men – male colleagues.

When I go to national or international meetings where I am the only female (and there were many such instances), I had leave my woman hat outside the door and

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wear my scientists’ hat. We are all scientists, that is the way it should be.

As you know, there are relatively few women in STEM. What advice for aspiring women scientists?

There are lots of programs and initiatives today encouraging women into STEM, and increasingly more women are getting in. We had classes in the Faculty of Medicine where there were more women than men. More women are enrolling into the School of Engineering. So much is being said and done for women, sometimes I worry that the young men may feel abandoned.

Nevertheless, the sensitization for more women into STEM has to start at home. Girls get dolls for Christmas, boys get tractors.Girls are cooking and washing dishes while boys are playing and carrying out “scientific” discussions with their friends. We should correct this. And then continue from home to primary and secondary school.

I would stop at nothing to commit myself in encouraging women to excel and sail to higher heights. Scientific research is the core of development in the field and more so than simple involvement in science; I would like to encourage more young women, the girl child, to explore the varying options of research.

You have been an inspiration to so many and a mentor. Tell us about some of the mentorship programs you have been part of.

I have been a teacher, a researcher, and a mentor over the

BCA-USA MIRROR years. In my retirement, I decided to take on mentoring young women scientists to help them build a successful career. So let me introduce you to an endeavor I cherish a lot, and work very hard for: Higher Women Cameroon, a consortium of mentors and mentees/protegees.

When I got the award from the African Union, a mission ascribed to us was to see how we can work with and encourage younger women in the scientific arena. This was fixed into my mind. So, I got together a few senior scientists and we responded to a call from TDR where we got $10.000 and initiated a mentor-mentee program. We had about 20 mentors with about 5 or more protegees each, making a total of over 100 mentees. We do holistic mentoring directed towards the whole person. We have published in Nature, in The Lancet, and other very reputable journals about the mentoring we are doing.

I am amazed at the testimonies we get from the mentees. Women who had given up and were down the ladder are now getting grants and going all over for conferences with oral and poster presentations. I feel very fulfilled. We have a slogan: Higher Women, Still We Rise. Our logo has an older scientist pulling a younger one up the stairs. And we always invite men to our meetings.

We need them around, so there is complementarity.

What other initiatives are you involved in within the community?

In carrying out my research, I always tried to do something for the community in which I work.

In Simbok, we helped the

population obtain money from the US Embassy to put up a building which we used as a Health Center.

In Etoa, we got students from Georgetown University, our collaborating institution, to do a cookie sale which gave us enough money to get electricity from the main road in Simbock to the Health Centre. In Ngalli II, we asked and obtained from the NIAID/NIH which was funding our project there, $10000 which was used to put in two wells to provide potable water to the community. I have been the recipient of a Community Woman Award for Soroptimist International in Cameroon.

I am also a member of Fed Fed Bali sisters, and this association is very involved in developmental projects. I am very proud to be one of them. I am also a member of the Catholic Women’s Association, and was National Vice President many years ago.

As the Executive Director of an NGO, MC-CCAM, in the fight against malaria, we are doing much in communities in collaboration with the Malaria Control Program.

MC-CCAM is also collaborating with SANOFI on a project on “Malaria in Schools”.

All these keep me very involved with the communityall over the country.What has kept me going also is that I have lived my life with a purpose. It is important to live a life with purpose, a goal.

Faith, family, friends, and being Bali a woman are very important to you.

Tell us about these and how these have shaped you.

fervent Catholics, and I grew up in a home where faith and moral values were instilled in us. My family and I have continued in this path. I am very busy with international and national obligations, but they never hinder me from fully practicing my faith. I am a member of Opus Dei, where we strive according to the founder, to sanctify our daily work.

My husband, Prof Robert Leke is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist. We have four children, who are doing very well, and four grandchildren, expecting two more this year. What a Blessing. We are forever grateful to God.The external family is also very alive in our lives. And I am proud to have a few dependable friends.

Being from Bali, I am a member of the Fed Fed Bali sisters. We have values and morals that exemplify us all, and humility is a virtue we all try to emulate.

I prescribe to women three Cs: communicate, complement and collaborate. Women must learn to communicate by sharing with each other the right information that will help change their lives. They must work towards complementing each other and consider the opposite sex as co-partners in development endeavors. They should collaborate or rather cooperate in order to find solutions to life’s challenges and problems. The new Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has proven to be a useful tool to generate lots and lots of network across the globe and Cameroonian women should take advantage of it to improve on their socio-economic situation.

I was raised by parents who were BCA-USA.ORG

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BCA-USA MIRROR

DOWN MEMORY LANE - FIRST BCA-USA NEWSLETTER Courtesy of the Tangeh family

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BCA-USA MIRROR

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE (FRC) ANNUAL REPORT Ma Marie Nangah, Fundraising Committee Chair Committee Members:

Ni Collins Doh, Ma Quinta Fogam, Ma Kah Fomukong, Ni Dobgima Gwanbobmuga, Ma Pascaline Leina, Ma Emeldine Ngati, Ma Loveline Simaze, Ni Jean Rene Tchocksi, Ma Stella Tekwe, Ma Betina Titajani, Ma Kuna Vanyonga.

• Ma Patricia Kaba, Vice Chair, • Ma Marie Nangah, Chair • National Executives: President, Ni Clarence Ndangam • Treasurer, Ma Victorine Takam

Committee Objectives

BCA-USA Fundraising Committee is mandated to raise funds for the Association by: • Organizing fundraising events and activities.

• Soliciting grants and sponsorships from foundations and corporations.

• Exploring innovative fundraising strategies to meet the associations goals.

• Focus: Fundraising towards completion of the Bali Multipurpose Center (MPC) project.

2018-2019 Annual Budget: expense budget: $23,900.00; projected income: $130,500.00

Committee Activities

• For the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the FRC aimed to surpass the goal of raising 100,000.00 for the MPC. • During the 2018 Leadership Summit (October 19-21st) in Miami FL, the FRC planned and executed an exciting Fundraising Dinner on a Miami beach Yacht. With the Cuban inspired theme of “Glamvana Nights,” the night was filled with delicious food, Cuban theme attires, live music, dance competitions, and awesome memories. Most

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Ma Marie Nangah, FRC Chair

importantly, the fundraising was exciting with over $85,000.00 raised on site, and subsequently, throughout the night and the following day, a combination of donations and commitments surpassed $100,000.00.

BCA-USA is abundantly grateful to all the MPC donors who continuously support the vision of the community impact of the MPC. • In preparation for the 2019 Minnesota Convention, the FRC plans an exceptional Night of Glamour, “Arabian Nights” on Friday, May 24th at 6:00pm with the red carpet cocktail hour, photo shoots, entertainment and more. Followed by the Charity Ball banquet at 8:00pm which features an Award Celebration of BCA’s MPC Donors and Service Awards.

Summary of accomplishments

1. Launched 2019 VIP Packages (Diamond at $2,000: Paired table, entry for 2 with MPC credit of $1,700; Executive Diamond at $3,000: Individual table, entry for 2 + 1 Complimentary gold entry,

BCA-USA MIRROR MPC credit of $2,700; Platinum at $5,000: entry for 2 + 4 Complimentary gold entry, MPC credit of $4,700) 2. Successful 2018 Leadership Summit Fundraiser with a total of $100,000 (donations & commitment) raised.

3. Launch and marketing of the 2019 Night of Glamour Charity Ball – “Arabian Nights”

Challenges

all BCA-USA Members. We are grateful for your choice to actively belong and contribute to the Association and the Bali community. Our utmost appreciation goes to all MPC Donors; for your amazing generosity and sacrifice to help the less fortunate. Thank You! Special thanks to the Fundraising Committee Members for unity and passion within the committee, and dedication to rising funds for the MPC. With Sincere Appreciation,

1. Accommodating the increase in Friday Night general attendance.

“A fundamental concern for others in our individual 2. Collaborative support and working with and community lives would go a long way in making National Executives Members towards the success the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of” of fundraising for the MPC. Nelson Mandela Appreciation BCA-USA Fundraising Committee appreciates

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CHAPTER PARADE, DALLAS 2018

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BCA-USA MIRROR

NORTHERN CHAPTER REPORT Patrick Nyuga Tita, President, BCA USA Northern Chapter

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istinguished members of BCA USA and friends of Bali, Greetings to you all.

I would like to seize this opportunity to introduce you to our chapter. The Northern Chapter is made up of members from Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota with headquarters in Minnesota. We are very excited to host the 2019 BCA Annual Convention. Preparations have been ongoing under the leadership of Ni Patrick Nyuga and Dr. Chris Fokumlah (Ba Pega) who is the 2019 BCA convention planning co-chair.

We have been holding weekly conference calls at both chapter and national levels.

We are very happy to let everyone know that the only Ndakum in this area, Ndantod Minnesota is 100% in support of the 2019 convention. Special thanks to the members of Ndantod Minnesota for prioritizing the convention activities during their monthly meetings.

I would like to applaud the entire leadership of both the Northern Chapter and Ndantod Minnesota as well as all members for their relentless efforts as we prepare for the upcoming convention.

The BCA Northern Chapter membership has grown steadily for the past few years. From less than 30 members registered last year, we currently have 48 registered members most of whom are enrolled in the Nkap Ntod program.

In terms of the activities during the upcoming convention, Minnesota is working in collaboration with the national Convention Planning Committe to make sure that everyone including our kids will not regret coming to the Twin Cities. A lot of surprises shall be revealed starting from Wednesday for those who will be able to make it earlier to Minnesota.

Parents are encouraged to visit the Mall of America with their kids any day of their choice. The Mall of America which is just a few blocks from the Minneapolis International Airport is arguably the biggest shopping mall in the United States with

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more than 500 stores and other attractions.

For both kids and parents, there will be a special cruise to Lake Minnetonka on Sunday afternoon after the church Ni Patrick Nyuga Tita service. One of the best parks in the Twin Cities has been secured for Friday sporting activities and Monday farewell BBQ. Among other sporting activities on Friday, a selection of Minnesotan based soccer team will take on a selection from those coming from out of state and beyond. This will carry a big trophy of which we are still looking for sponsors. If the out of state team wins, the money goes to BCA national coffers. The money stays with Northern chapter if the team from Minnesota carries the day.

From less than 30 members registered last year, we currently have 48 registered members most of whom are enrolled in the Nkap Ntod program.

To have a stronger team, organizers are encouraged to include “Ghanaians� who are skillful enough to put up a better show which could impress the spectators. Most players from the Minnesota team will come from Vet Star Minnesota and the Veteran Football Club of Minnesota. This is a tournament which is going to be very inclusive and not just for individuals from Bali. .

Chapter committee membership/engagement

BCA-USA MIRROR • Ni Patrick Nyuga (Chapter President) member) • Ba Pega Fokumlah (Adviser/National BCA • Ba Nkom Oswald Dema (Northern Chapter Convention Chair 2019) adviser/fundraising chair MN) • Ma Florence Bassa (Adviser/National BCA • Ma Lydia Kebila (Ndahntod executive) VP Emeritus) • Ni Aloysius Walla (Ndahntod executive) • Ma Caroline Njuh (Current Ndantod MN • Ma Rita Kum (Ndahntod executive) President) • Ni Lopez Gwanyalla (PRO for BCA and • Ma Mary Babaya (Ndantod MN Vice Ndahntod MN) President) • Ma Perpetua Nchamukong (Na Culture MN) • Ni Nelson Sema (Ba Culture MN) • Ma Lucy Mantan (National BCA Social • Ni Ivo Kehdinga (Vice Ba Culture MN and Committee Member) Northern Chapter financial secretary) • Ma Ida Mbongeh Fongoh (National BCA • Ni Sam Dinga (Northern chapter SG) Social Committee Member).

• Ni Hycent Dinga (Northern chapter VP) • Ma Veronica Bassa (Northern chapter I wish you all a safe journey to and from Minnesota treasurer/National financial committee come May 2019.

FUN FACT: MINNESOTA HAS HOSTED THE BCA-USA CONVENTION FOUR TIMES: 1990, 2004, 2012 & 2019

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EASTERN CHAPTER REPORT

By Gabby Njinimbot

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ll is well in Eastern Chapter.

We didn’t have our annual cultural festival in March as originally planned. The Eastern Chapter Executive is working on logistics to have the cultural festival during a different month with the date to be an announced as soon as it becomes available.

We encourage folks to attend this festival as it’s one of the occasions in the Bali community here in Washington DC area that brings all the sons of daughters as well as friends of Bali from all corners of this land together. There is a lot of surprises that awaits. We are not unveiling them now. We are saving the best for later.

The population of Eastern Chapter consists of a third of the entire BCA membership.

We are working to increase this membership by spreading the good work BCA-USA is doing both with the United States and abroad. We are winning more

Ni Gabby Njinimbot, President, Eastern Chapter

souls and we hope to continue doing this.

Finally, and most importantly, the mother of all conventions is coming to Washington DC in just a little over 15 months - May of 2020. Eastern chapter and its executive is right in the middle of organizing this and preliminary planning has begun. A committee made up of Washington DC’s

finest people have been set up to explore and set the stage for what will go down as the most memorable convention in BCA’s history. Rumors are swirling that it might be the most attended convention ever seen.

I will like to say very little about that convention now as we will be bringing more details in the near future. One thing I will say though is that folks should keep their ears open for hotel Information as it will fill out pretty quickly due to the luxurious nature of what we are planning to secure for our folks Stay tuned and we look forward to meeting all in Minnesota• Executives Vice President: Augustine Njinjoh Secretary General: Dante Sema Treasurer: Rudolph Njankenji Cultural chair: Nabong Susan

Sheraton Tysons Hotel, Tysons, Virginia, Venue of 2020 convention

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BCA-USA MIRROR

BCA MIDWEST

FAMILY AND SERVICE

By Tita Nyuga Galega, Interim President

a lot. It also meant a lot for our kids – one of whom highlighted the event as one good thing they CA Midwest Chapter covers did in 2018! We look forward to the states of Colorado, more opportunities like this in the Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska future. and Utah. Though relatively small Soon after the convention in number, we were delighted to in Dallas, we successfully come in at 3rd place during the coordinated with our sisters 2018 Convention Chapter Parade and brothers in Kansas City to organized by the Membership conduct a successful membership Committee. drive which saw our chapter

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both occasions, we came together as a group to condole with her and her family and to celebrate the lives of her parents.

One of our chapter members got married this past year. Our hearty congratulations to Ni Jude Gangdia Langsi who go married in the fall.

This year, our different groups in Denver and Kansas City continued to hold regular

Members of the Denver Section of Mid West Chapter

Shortly after the 2018 convention, members in Denver partnered with a local charity A Little Help to assist seniors in our community. Together with our kids, Denver members provided much needed help to home bound seniors by providing services such as yard work, movement of furniture and other tasks for these often isolated and lonely population in our community.

For these seniors, the help meant

become the first to have a 100% membership registration during the fall of 2018 membership drive. We were also delighted to welcome a new member to our chapter – Ma Irene Tita who moved to Utah.

In the fall of 2018, one of our members Ma Stella Tankoh lost her mother. Barely 6 months later, she lost her dad as well. This was a hard blow not just for her but for our community as a whole. On

meetings and to serve their communities. In the Denver area, we came together to celebrate Christmas.

In September 2018, our chapter member Ni Jude Fokwang started teaching Mungaka 101 lessons which he has co-taught with Ni Godlove Gwaabe of Oklahoma Chapter. Based on the new Mungaka alphabet, the weekly online classes with participants from around North America has BCA-USA.ORG

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BCA-USA MIRROR been a significant part of helping our children learn • Ma Muyo Galega – Member of Process the Mungaka alphabet and some of the tones in the Improvement Committee language. The voluntary initiative has ran two 14 • Ni Jude Fokwang – Chair of Awards week courses so far with participants from as far Sub Committee and member of Culture as Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Washington DC, Committee St. Louis and Denver. We deeply appreciate the • Ma Lilian N. Fokwang - Chair of initiative championed by Ni Jude and Ni Goddy as Publications Committee and Member of it goes a long way towards promoting our culture.

Education Committee Language is an integral part of any culture.

• Ni Julius Ndangam - BCA IT Admin and Though relatively small in numbers, our chapter Member of Education Committee members continue to be engaged and involved in • Ma Mado Ndangam – Member of Social BCA-USA activities. Three of our chapter members Committee participated at the 2018 Leadership Summit in • Ma Irene Tita – Vice Chair of Publications Miami. We are also pleased to have our members Committee serving in different committees.

• Tita Nyuga Galega - Interim Chapter The state of the BCA-Midwest chapter is strong.

President & Vice Chair of Culture We look forward to a very successful and memorable Committee reunion in Minneapolis this year.

FR. FRANKLINE FOMUKONG, CONVENTION 2019 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

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ather Frankline Fomukong Ngu Dingka’a was born in Bota Limbe.

He attended Catholic primary School Bota and later Bishop Rogan College Buea. From there he proceeded to Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary Bambui, Bamenda which is affiliated to the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.

He was ordained a Catholic priest on April 15, 2004 for the diocese of Buea. Simultaneously, he was appointed a teacher, spiritual Director and Academic Dean at Bishop Rogan College and eventually took over as the Rector (Principal).

His next appointment was as Chancellor of the Diocese of Buea and Secretary to the Bishop and a lecturer at the John Paul II Institute of Theology in Buea.

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Fr. Frankline Fomukong

He has also served as parish priest of Saints Luke’s Church Nyandong, Western Bakossi and superintendent of the primary schools in that district.He served as Principal of Saint Pius X College Ekondo Titi for 6 years.

When the new Diocese of Kumba was created out of the

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territory of what was then Buea Diocese in 2016 and he chose to serve as a priest of the new Diocese of Kumba.

He was then appointed the Catholic Education Secretary for the Diocese and Spiritual Director of the Catholic Women Association with over 2.500 members. He served in these capacities until his Bishop told him that the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama had requested his service. He is currently serving Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Homewood, Birmingham, as an Associate Pastor while also conducting outreach to two Catholic middle schools and a high school in the area. He is a first degree Knight of Columbus member, Council 3404 Homewood, Alabama.

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BCA-USA SOUTHERN TEXAS CHAPTER

By Ni Divine Ajong, President of BCA Southern Texas

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CA Southern Texas is committed in promoting the social, educational and cultural well-being of all Bali and sundry.

We are a dynamic group of 70 registered members. Every member has the privilege to host the third Saturday’s monthly meeting. In each meeting, we discuss, plan and carry out activities such as: Encouragement of members to attend meeting, payment of dues and the provision of financial reports. It has always been our tradition to celebrate the birth days of members. Our children are encouraged to get involved in meeting activities.

Also, parents are encouraged to

continue promoting our culture by teaching the kids Mungaka. We promote education by informing members about scholarship award when one is available.

Socio-culturally, we support our members by attending “Bornhouse” and wake-keeping. It was also our pleasure to contribute to the BCA-USA Humanitarian Fund Relief in Bali. Not leaving out the most important, we reached out to those members going through difficult times.

Every summer, we dedicate one weekend for a beach cook out.

At the end of each year, we host a Christmas party for members and friends. While we are preparing for the up-coming

2019. On 20th April 2019, our chapter conducted community out-reach by volunteering at the Houston Food Bank.

Executive members • President: Divine Ajong • Vice President: Lekunga Enanga • Treasurer: Vera Awah Mweka • Financial Secretary: Mercy Awah Ngang • Publicity secretary: Christopher Spadone • C h i e f W h i p : F r i tz Ndamukong • Minutes Secretary: Nancy Ndamukong

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BCA-USA MIRROR

SOUTHERN CHAPTER REPORT Ba Fobesi Gwanbila

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reetings from the birth Chapter of BCA-USA, the southern chapter. On behalf of my chapter, I would love to extend our distinguished and sincere greetings to all members, friends and well-wishers of this noble organization. Being the birth place of BCA-USA, we lead by example in all the activities and our goal is to help the organization reach its goals and objectives. One of the most recent development was hosting the mother of all conventions in 2017 under the powerful leadership of Ma Esona Fomuso and team. Recently we also supported significantly the Bali Humanitarian Relief Fund to achieve its fundraising initiative.

I am also very proud to say here that my chapter has the highest number of VIPs with record figure over $60,000 in contributions for the past two conventions 2017and 2018 towards our flagship project the MPC, who can beat that?

On September 9th 2018, the chapter showed prowess in a democratic process by electing a new team for a term of two years renewable to continue from where our predecessors stopped. My team and I took over enthusiastically and did quite a bit within a short period of time.

We increased our membership by six new members and by the end of December last year, we hosted an epic end of year party bringing together members, friends and

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from different Ndakums, we agree to disagree sometimes for the common good of the organization. I can stand tall to say whatever our differences has been, we have never mixed apples and oranges , the common goal has always come first. Members of my chapter are doing so well, we have had births, marriages, graduations and to crown it all good health.

On this note, I want to thank my chapter members for Ba Fobesi Gwanbila, President of their continuous support and commitment in making both the Southern Chapter chapter and BCA-USA enviable well-wishers. At the beginning and pacesetters of all Cultural of 2019, we started working on organizations in diaspora. our chapter bylaws pending NB: A special thank you completion. to the national President Ni Clarence Ndangam for his Future Plans tremendous efforts in running the • Immediately after the organization and the wonderful convention we plan to financial support he sent during complete our bylaws our end of year Party. and embark on a serious Community Outreach Southern Chapter Executive Program.

• President: Ba Fobesi • We also plan to continue Gwanbila with membership • V President: Na Tema recruitment and most Lima aka Ma Nams importantly maintain • Secretary: Ma Juliet those that are already Dangoh members.

• Treasurer: Ni Jean Rene • Encourage more people • Financial Sec: Ma Yeti to join Nkap Ntod so as Tuma to relieve family members and friends when they are gone.

• We also plan to launch the Southern chapter fabric Despite our differences and dynamics because we come

BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

BCA-USA MIRROR

PEARL ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF, DALLAS 2019

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BCA-USA MIRROR

BCA-USA OKLAHOMA CHAPTER REPORT

By Ma Quinta Fogam, BCA- resulted in a huge growth with a USA Oklahoma Chapter membership increasing from 74 President to 104 that we currently have. It

H

earty greetings from Oklahoma to all the sons and daughters of Bali Nyonga.

The Oklahoma chapter is made up of members from Norman, Tulsa, Edmond and Oklahoma City at large. In August 2018 Oklahoma chapter had an election of which I (Quinta Fogam) was elected President and Ni Godlove Gwaabe as Vice President. We were tasked to form our executive. We took that task very seriously and came up with a very powerful executive and committee chairs who have very high energy, and a positive spirit to take Oklahoma chapter to another level as well as foster BCA activities within the chapter and at the national level at large.

This new executive was installed in September of 2018, the date we officially took over from Ni Sama Jangha and his executive. We would like to thank Ni Sama and his executive for the wonderful job they did in Oklahoma as we promise to continue building Oklahoma chapter on the solid foundation they laid for us.

One important goal of this new executive was to increase BCA-USA membership which we did through a massive sensitization campaign. This

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is also worth-noting that Nkap Ntod membership has also witnessed a significant increase.

The Oklahoma chapter is blessed with very dedicated members who have so much passion for BCA-USA and are always ready to support any BCA-USA project within the chapter and at the national level.

On December 23rd the social committee of the chapter under the powerful committee chairs Ma Evelyn Fomune and Ma Mercy Nukuna organized its first ever chapter kids’ Christmas party for over 65 children at Ba Titajani’s hall which was a huge success. On December 29th, 2018, the chapter executive organized it’s first-ever end-of-year party which recorded a huge success. The Oklahoma chapter had lots of support from the Dallas chapter, Houston chapter, the National President and his executive and some NEC members. Their presence in Oklahoma made the end-ofyear party a historical event in Oklahoma. The chapter also purchased the chapter uniform and “sang” which we are ready to show off at the convention in Minnesota. We hold our chapter meeting every 3 months. Our first chapter meeting this year was on January 26th, 2019 with a massive

BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

Ma Quinta Fogam

turn out. During this meeting, our social committee coordinated a born house activity for some of our members who had babies.

On February 2nd 2019 we had our community outreach event at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma which was also a huge success with a massive turn out. Our members helped pack food for those in need.

We do hold monthly executive conference calls every 1st Sunday of the month for one hour. The chapter is also blessed to have Ba Titajani who gives us his hall free of charge, to host BCA-USA chapter activities.

We also have chapter advisers who are so passionate, ready to promote BCA-USA activities in all form and shape, and are enthusiastic about moving this chapter to higher heights. In this

BCA-USA MIRROR light, we are thankful to Ba Titamohkumi, Ma Kuna Titamohkumi, Ba Titajani, Ba Tasem, Pa Alfred Nukuna and Ni Sama Jangha.

The Cultural Committee, under the powerful leadership of the cultural committee chairs Ni Sama Rene and Ni Hans Fokum and the Chapter as a whole, are in full gear, practicing day and night and are ready to reclaim our first position at the up-coming convention in Minnesota during cultural dance competition.

The chapter executive is constituted of the following: • President: Ma Quinta Fogam • Vice President: Ni Godlove Gwaabe • Treasurer: Ni Festus Ndibmun • Financial Secretary: Ma Betina Titanjani • Minute Secretary: Ni Bobga Michael • Publicity Secretary: Ma Nancy Fogam • Social committee chairs: Ma Evelyn Fomune and Ma Mercy Nukuna

• Cultural committee chairs:Ni Sama Rene and Ni Hans Fokum • Health committee chair: Ni Languha Ngati.

We have the presidents of the two Ndakums in Oklahoma who are part of chapter executive by default: Nda Danga President, Ni Michael Njambed and Nda Kongni President, Ni Simon Nukuna.

These Ndakums have shown so much support for BCA-USA activities within the chapter and at the national level, with almost all their members being BCA-USA members.

We would like to thank everyone for all the love, encouragement and support shown to myself, the executive and the chapter at large to promote BCAUSA activities. The chapter at this time is gearing up to attend the convention in Minnesota.

Long live BCA-USA , Long live Oklahoma Chapter and may God’s blessings be on us all.

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BCA-USA MIRROR

NORTHERN TEXAS REPORT

5/5/2019

Chapter Area & Membership

BCA-USA Annual Convention 2019 BCA-Great Lakes Tema Pefok

Chapter Updates

• In November of 2018 the chapter donated and participated in the Annual Thanksgiving dinner organized by the Westminster church of Detroit.

• In March this year we lost one of our members - Ni Nubia Fokum of Illinois. May his soul rest in peace.

Chapter Challenges • • •

The chapter covers at least three States therefore it is challenging to reach out to everyone.

Because members are across different states, it becomes challenging to reach out to everyone for a face-to-face meeting.

If NEC has access to all the members in the various states, we we need help locating all those members.

• The Great Lakes Chapter includes Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. There is no designated HQ because the plan is to rotate through all the states • There are approximately 40 registered members in 2018 – 2019

Plan of Action 2019 - 2020 • Chapter is planning an out-reach event in the next few months.

• Chapter is planning a meeting to begin planning for the upcoming National Convention

Chapter Executives President: Vice President: Secretary General: (Doh Geka)

Tema Pefok Carol Fomunung Banyuga Pefok

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BCA-USA MIRROR

Name: Lindzzi M. Ngati School: Syracuse University Degree: MPA and MA, International Relations Chapter: Eastern Chapter

Name: Tema Pefok Zama School: Capella University Degree: PhD, Healthcare Administration Chapter: Great Lakes

Name: Gima Terence School: Kansas Wesleyan University Degree: Criminal Justice Chapter: Southern California Chapter

Name: Linda Mofor-Fofung School: Degree: Associate in Nursing & LPN Chapter: Great Lakes

Name: Agnes Kaspa School: Purdue Global Degree: MSc. Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) Chapter: Great Lakes

Name: Dema Govalla Kaspa School: Northern Illinois University Degree: BSc Computer & Electrical Engineering Chapter: Great Lakes

Name: Harrison Kivalla Koyilla School: University of Toledo, Ohio Degree: BSc Biology Chapter: North Eastern

Name: Clarice Navoma Ndangam School: Middletown High School Heading to: Purdue University Chapter: Eastern Chapter

Name: Nadya Acha School: Lake Ridge High School, Dallas Heading to: Grand Canyon University Chapter: Northern Texas

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

BCA-USA MIRROR

MIDDLE SCHOOL CONTINUATION

Name: Emma Janell Massouka Popoko School: Saint Joseph School, Fullerton Degree: MA, Counseling Chapter: Eastern

Name: Kenna Ngehndab Nyuga-Galega School: Murphy Creek School, Aurora, Colorado, (Mid-West) Valedictorian

Name: Aloh Sema School: Ernest Everett Middle School, Michelville MD Chapter: Eastern

BCA PRESIDENT RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP

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night of red carpet, paparazzi, awards, dinner, music and entertainment on Saturday July 28 2018 at the Hilton Hotel Dublin Airport, Dublin, Ireland celebrated stars, heroes, role models, leaders and champions from around the world who have contributed in making society more inclusive, more tolerant and a more loving place to live in. In recognizing Ni Clarence Ndangam for his leadership, organizers noted that " From serving as Start-up Leader, Power & Control Leader to Project Manager; from leading technical support groups and non-profit organizations like the BCAUSA Bali Cultural Association to leading global operations with a diverse workforce at Procter & Gamble, Clarence Ndangam has demonstrated outstanding leadership in 3 continents and speaks 3 international languages."

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BCA-USA MIRROR

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER REPORT

By Ma Kalang Fondong The past year has been a wonderful year for us in Southern California. Our meetings were changed from monthly to quarterly and it worked a little bit.

We have attendance by the few regular members.

Our first meeting of 2019 was hosted by Ma Kalang in January and it was a good kick off for the year. We hope to keep it up. We didn’t have anything very new this year. As a matter of fact we still feel the vacuum created by Ba Tita Todmia as we feel incomplete without an elder. Our member Ma Licy Caspa who has been unwell for some time is still on and off but getting better every day. At least she goes to work for a few days when the body allows her to.

Our chapter welcomed a new baby girl from Ma Solange Galega. The baby was named after Ma Mary Fongwa. We are also blessed with two pregnancies. Ma Nicole Bobga and I are expecting a grand baby from my daughter Kehmia. We are really blessed. We are looking forward for a born house for our newborns in August.

On the 24th of February, Ni Martin Caspa

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

Ma Kalang Fondong - President, Southern California Chapter

received an award from AFFRIMU. Our hearty congratulations to Ni Martin for all his accomplishments.

Also on a sad note, Ma Kalang lost the paternal uncle Ni Gabriel Fondong and also Ma Mary her grandfather. It’s so unfortunate that it can never be happiness all through•

BCA-USA MIRROR

GREAT LAKES REPORT

5/5/2019

Chapter Area & Membership

BCA-USA Annual Convention 2019 BCA-Great Lakes Tema Pefok

Chapter Updates

• In November of 2018 the chapter donated and participated in the Annual Thanksgiving dinner organized by the Westminster church of Detroit.

• In March this year we lost one of our members - Ni Nubia Fokum of Illinois. May his soul rest in peace.

Chapter Challenges • • •

The chapter covers at least three States therefore it is challenging to reach out to everyone.

Because members are across different states, it becomes challenging to reach out to everyone for a face-to-face meeting.

If NEC has access to all the members in the various states, we we need help locating all those members.

• The Great Lakes Chapter includes Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. There is no designated HQ because the plan is to rotate through all the states • There are approximately 40 registered members in 2018 – 2019

Plan of Action 2019 - 2020 • Chapter is planning an out-reach event in the next few months.

• Chapter is planning a meeting to begin planning for the upcoming National Convention

Chapter Executives President: Vice President: Secretary General: (Doh Geka)

Tema Pefok Carol Fomunung Banyuga Pefok

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BCA-USA MIRROR

ADVERTORIAL

M

y name is Priscilla Lenyonga, I am a member of the Northern Texas BCA-USA Chapter. I own a Business Franchise with Juice Plus Company and our mission is to inspire a healthy living around the world. Juice Plus products are made from the juice powder concentrate and oils from more than 40 different fruits, vegetables and grains, 100 % natural and healthy. We have products that promote general health & wellbeing with some specific benefits like weight loss, clear skin condition like acne, eczema etc., lower blood sugar, improved immune system, improved energy, better sleep, reduced stress, fight inflammation, help reduce high blood pressure etc.

We have a program called Healthy Starts for Families designed to inspire a healthy living at home. This initiative empowers families to make a simple but meaningful lifestyle changes, propelling them forward on the journey to better health. By purchasing Juice Plus Capsules or chewables and enrolling in the program, anyone qualifies to receive Juice Plus for their child at no charge for up to four years (contact me for requirements) and are eligible to enter for a drawing to win an all sponsored family of four trip to Disney location of choice.

Our company has been around for over 40 years now and we currently operate in more than 26 countries around the world (in Europe, USA, UAE, Canada, Australia, Austria etc), offering a wide customer base. We offer franchise opportunities to individuals who want to build their businesses online and earn extra income. Whether you are a fulltime worker, part time worker, student or stay at home mom/dad, this unique opportunity is for you. All you need is a phone, WiFi & a dream. If you or anyone you know is interested in our products or business opportunity, kindly get back to me using my contact information on the flyer. Check out my website www.priscille13.juiceplus.com for more information about our products and life changing business opportunity. Also check out http://www.thefreedomrevolution.com for some of our business partners’ success stories.

Thank you!

Juice Plus+ Sales Coordinator Priscilla_sousen@yahoo.com

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

BCA-USA MIRROR

BCA CAROLINAS REPORT

By Ni Nyugha Caspa, family - Annika Mafor Fombuh President of BCA Carolinas who was born in December

T

he Carolinas Chapter is one of the smallest in BCA-USA. Nevertheless, we continue to grow our community and membership.

Our chapter activities in the last year have focused on events to bring members together to build solidarity and give back to the community. Last summer we organized events and outings to bring members together.

In January the Carolinas Chapter prepared over 100 sandwiches to feed the homeless.

This was a huge success and involved both adults and kids.

We celebrated the bae mun of our new addition to the Carolina

We continue to grow in numbers as we currently have 32 members The executives are • President: Nyugha Caspa • VP: Mbongho Nkwah • Secretary: Babila Lima • Treasurer: Mbongho Caspa We look forward to a memorable weekend in the Twin Cities.

Baby Annika Fombuh

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BCA-USA MIRROR

BCA-USA AT THE BCA-EUROPE CONVENTION, BERLIN 2018

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

BCA-USA MIRROR

BCA USA 2018 AWARD HONOREES

EXECLLENCE IN LEADERSHIP

Ma Mary Nangah Ma Candace Ngwa Ma Irene Tita Ni Augustine Njinjoh

MEMBER OF THE YEAR Ni Kenneth Gwanmesia

OUTSTANDING YOUTH Priscilla Lenyonga

LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT Ma Winifred Nukuna

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Ma Florence Bassa Ma Andin Folabit Ma Esona Fomuso Ba Fobesi Gwanbila Ni Jude Fokwang Ma Lilian Fokwang Ni Gabriel Njinimbot

PEARL SERVICE AWARD

Ma Marie Fongwa Ma Theresa Gwanfogbe Ma Susan Nahbong & Ni Charly Doh Ma Pam Fomunung Ma Kuna & Ba Titamohkumi Ma Vicky Takam

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR Ma Leina Pascaline

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BCA-USA MIRROR

MUNGAKA CORNER: Dù’ti mà taŋti nì chû Ba’nì

By Ni Jude Fokwang

For further info on how to enrol for our Free Mungaka 14-Week course, email Mungaka101@gmail.com. We encourage both basic learners and native speakers to enrol in our beginner course - Mungaka101.

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

BCA-USA MIRROR

Fed Fed Texas welcomes you to the 2019 BCA-USA Convention. In the spirit of BCA-USA’s longstanding mission to serve Bali, and in acknowledgment of the ongoing crisis in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, which include Bali, we too are committed to making it our mission to bring aid and relief eorts to those internally displaced families and individuals back home. We wish to thank all our donors and supporters for enabling us to carry out our mission year in, year out.

You can donate via our account - Wells Fargo: 9960876468 or email our Treasurer at: clepet@yahoo.com. Thank you.

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BCA-USA MIRROR

CELEBRATING BALI CULTURAL HERITAGE: DALLAS, TX 2018

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

BCA-USA MIRROR

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BCA-USA MIRROR

IN MEMORIAM NI NUBIA FOKUM 1998 - 2019

N

i Nubia Fokum, 20, of Champaign, formerly of Springfield, IL passed away on Sunday April 7, 2019. Nubia was born on May 30, 1998 in Urbana, Illinois the son of Bernard and Frida Domatob Fokum.

Ni Nubia was a 2016 graduate of Rochester High School. Nubia was a member of BCA-USA Youth, Junior Frontier International, and the SIU Physician Pipeline. He was passionate about music and was a talented producer who created beats on his YouTube channel. His warm and reserved character attracted everyone, especially children.

We will miss this young, tall, athletic, handsome, intellectual who was very creative. Ni Nubia was a registered member of BCA-USA Youth residing in the Great Lakes Chapter.

He is survived by his parents, Ben and Frida Fokum of Springfield; three siblings; Bernice, Digana and Sona; grandfather, Ba Tita Fokum; one nephew, Bid'bila; the Fokum and Domatob families, and the Central Illinois African community.

On behalf of BCA-USA we extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the Fokum and Domatob family at this time of sorrow.

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BALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION - USA

Nubia Fokum (1998-2019)

GREETINGS FROM FED FED DC

Nkumu Fed Fed and BCA-USA have a special relationship with each of us individually and collectively. Fed Fed DC and BCA have a special opportunity through which we set ourselves to give to our community. We have touched lives amongst us and outside our circle. The community service has empowered us and more so in building a more cohesive Bali Nyonga and beyond.

Fed Fed DC Executives Patience Fofung President

Dilys Fossung Treasurer

Florence Tutuwan Social Committee

Irene Cabinda Assistant Financial Secretary

Comfort Sema Vice President

Veronica Popoko Minutes Secretary

Odilia Njinjoh Financial Secretary

Susana Nahbong Doh Chief whip

Ella Gang Publicity secretary