✒️ A Message from the President: A Vision for Peuh Munka Ntom America

t is with great emotion and a profound sense of duty that we share with you today the first official message from our new President, Mrs. Denise Ngoko.

Elected by acclamation on July 18th, she outlines here the core pillars of her mandate—one dedicated to unity and action. From honoring our roots and showing gratitude toward our traditional authorities—notably His Majesty Takoukam Jean Raymond—to her ambitious projects for the Bameka community, this speech marks the dawn of a new era for our association in the United States.

Please find below her full message addressed to the community.

BAMÉKA COMMUNITY OF AMERICA PEUH MUNKA NTOM AMERICA MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF PEUH MUNKA NTOM AMERICA

“Inspired by our heritage, called by our future.”

To Almighty God, the source of all authority, I offer my gratitude and pray for His anointing upon this mandate.

To our King, the Nantchema’ of the Baméka, His Majesty Jean Raymond Takoukam, I pay tribute and pledge my allegiance for his guidance, wisdom, and counsel. I sincerely thank him for his congratulations, which both honor and motivate me.

My joy is immense and beyond words; my heart is still moved by my election by acclamation during the renewal of our association’s Executive Board on July 18th.

My gratitude goes to the General Assembly of Peuh Munka Ntom America, which chose my humble self to lead our precious association over the next two years. Indeed, Peuh Munka Ntom America is precious to my eyes and heart, just as "Baméka, our Canaan!" was to my late father, Mr. Ngoko Tatsinemeu Moïse (known as Mbe Ndeffeu Tambo), for whom I continue to hold unfailing respect and admiration.

To the Honorable Martin Siegha, Head of the Baméka Community of the USA, I express my thanks for the general supervision provided during the 7th Convention organized by our Association in Atlanta. Thank you for the awards recognizing the work accomplished by the Executive Board and its members, and for appointing the valiant members of our association to your staff. We are honored and look forward to a seamless collaboration between Peuh Munka Ntom America and the broader Community.

To all our Maamboo leaders, whom the theme of this convention sought to celebrate, we say THANK YOU. Your various contributions—carefully recorded on video and brilliantly led by our Meffo-nkouong—truly showcased the vision of its initiator, the outgoing President, Mrs. Honorine Mayo Nde: to honor active Maamboo and inspire those within our group and beyond who have yet to step forward. A special thank you to our charming Maamboo of Peuh Munka Ntom America for the humor-filled skit you prepared for us.

To the Baméka musical artist, Fopinmek Feuhtante, Peuh Munka Ntom America offers its congratulations and thanks for the official song composed and performed in tribute to all Maamboo. Thank you for your constant and, to date, entirely voluntary support. The village sees it, the ancestors see it, and Peuh Munka Ntom America sees it.

We thank our brothers and sisters in Cameroon and the diaspora, as well as our communicators, for their support, constructive criticism, and constant encouragement regarding our publications and conventions. Thank you to those who guide our brothers to join us in the association, and for your constructive ideas and advice, both "inbox and outbox." You are our strength.

To the Outgoing Executive Board: sincerely, thank you. This term has been marked by the commitment, dedication, and perseverance of a solid team. I want to salute every member of this board, of which I was fortunate to be a part. Together, we shared challenges, celebrated successes, and sowed seeds that will continue to bear fruit.

To the outgoing President, Maa Hono, “Nddi-a,” thank you for your leadership, your sense of service, and the vision you championed. Thank you for your coaching. You leave behind a solid foundation and a legacy upon which we will continue to build. You know it all.

To the Incoming Executive Board: congratulations to us all! Allow me to echo the words spoken by Retired Colonel Emmanuel Tchinda in the early hours of our election: “You have been chosen for your skills, your commitment, and your passion for community development.” Peuh Munka Ntom America places its hope in us. Baméka is counting on us. Let us remember that our King, in his congratulations, powerfully reminded us how proud Baméka is of its sons and daughters in the diaspora and how much hope he places in us.

Our mandate will focus on three priorities: To Gather, To Build, and To Transmit.

1. Gather: We will reach out to all Baméka sons and daughters living in the United States—both known and unknown—to mobilize and unite them around a common ideal.

2. Build: We will launch the renovation of the Djut Medical Center in Baméka, following our next convention and the grand fundraising gala scheduled for the weekend of July 18, 2026, in Laurel, Maryland.

3. Transmit: We will continue to pass down our cultural and traditional values, particularly to our children. A heartfelt "bravo" to our members who attend our conventions accompanied by their children.

Today, it is with humility, gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility that I take the lead. Thank you for your trust. Together, let us move forward.

Maryland, July 23, 2025.

President Denise Ngoko