Browsing the internet and particularly some social media private pages allows us from time to time to rediscover our Africa, our country through images and photographs made by individuals. Penjo Baba is a professional photographer and a cinematographer who offers us through his many projects, photographs of Cameroon and gives us, as a popular cameroonian singer saying goes, to voyager sans décoller*. His facebook page especially takes us into the in-depht country, telling to us, with his photographs and words, the lives of our fellow countrymen. Like Frank Mensah Gampson for example, Penjo Baba is one of those Cameroonians who recall to us, cameroonian, especially those living abroad, how much our country is beautiful, rich, extraordinary. And is inhabited, everywhere, by ordinary people, but they too beautiful, rich and extraordinary, these three words taken in the African sense. Penjo Baba is part of this new generation of african and talented photographs and cinematographers contributing to give us a new hope for the future of our continent. He was born Peter Njodzeka in Kumbo in the Nso Clan in the North West Region of Cameroon, anf if he resides in Bamenda with his family, his work leads him to travel in Cameroon and in Africa to captures original and magnificient images of our continent and people. Penjo Baba granted an interview to us in which he talks about his occupations as a modern african professional photographer and cinematographer, but also about himself and of his work as a volunteer where he gives back to other people what life has given him. : Who is Penjo Baba? Penjo baba : My real names are Peter Njodzeka, born in Kumbo in the Nso Clan in the North West Region of Cameroon. Am a twin with a beautiful lady Rita who has been so much close to my heart from childhood till this moment same as the rest of my family. I grew up with my parents until 1997 when I went to Yaounde for greener pastures. I started this at a very young age and will always thank my mother who has been behind me to encourage me throughout my life with all the motherly advises and care. She is still playing a lot of that in my life. I reside in Bamenda with my family, but always on the road doing some work. : For african countries, and cameroon particularly, with the ease of accessibility of images, pictures that Internet offers us, what do you think is the importance of having african photopgraphs well equipped to tell ourselves, in some way, our real stories and realities? Penjo Baba : As an African, having traveled around Africa and with the technology we have available, I would say telling our stories exactly as it is, some of us will not be happy about it and many will be happy to see their stories told just as they are. But since the lens do the just work, with some laws restricting many the accessibility to so much that will give us the true picture of who we are. We have the real and natural stories and culture that you will never find anywhere, but with some of the high respect and restrictions to portray these rich cultures, it makes it difficult to tell our stories as they are and at the same time its also a way to preserve our culture. As for Cameroon all we need to do is have our country in line with the developing countries and this will give us a good reason to enjoy photography more in terms of good locations, touristic sites and our communities be it cities or villages. : What are you working on right now as a cinematographer and photographer? Penjo Baba : As a cinematographer, I am working on a documentary titled Innovating Africa where young Cameroonian entrepreneurs and innovators are coming up with new challenging projects like solar energy plant to supply electricity to the local communities. Where a young NGO is using the new manual technology to construct and install water filters out of sand, gravel and cement. I wish to say it will be out by September. Shooting is still going on so we are still on set. Also work on these upcoming reality shows TV programs SingItSingIt Cameroon by The PowerHouse and Number One Girl by Loliphop Music. As for photography, I shoot photography as am on the road or on a trip. I am looking at an exhibition where all my photographs will be exposed. : Can you please share with us some pieces of your discoveries in the Sabongari village in relation with the impact technology can have on human lives? Penjo Baba : Seriously this has been one of those best moments in my life to have experienced such. First is the people of Sabongari are very receptive and easy to stay with. But my best moment and discoveries there is once I move be it on the streets and in the farms, my camera is always on because everything there is perfect for he lens. The solar energy there has changed thousands of lives in business, health and security. : : If you had to explain to the leaders of both regular and digital media in Cameroon the importance of photographs, video images in promoting the image of our country, what would you telle them ? Penjo Baba : I would simply tell them to invest more on the new technology equipment but not until they are able to organize workshop and trainings on photography every three months so we can have everyone understand the need and the power of phoography in each country. : How communication and information technologies help you nowadays to be more Professional, how much is it important in your profession? Penjo Baba : With this in our days I am able to even work from everywhere I go once I have network, I have Internet. When in the forest or village anywhere with the network, I am able to use my laptop, edit my photos, write my report and send immediately. I communicate throughout as I go. I am always able to followup on the new technologies update and whats needed to stay at the top be it online lessons or some equipment I deem necessary to have. : : Can you tell us a little bit about the NGO you are working for, and why did you decide to give back to the community this way? Penjo Baba : The name of the NGO is Life and Water Development Group Cameroon. I personally founded this NGO in 2005 when I came across an Organization that is helping local communities give clean water. I had no single idea about who they were or how they were doing it. So after sending them an email they told me only NGOsNGOs can benefit from their programs and so I had to hurry and register one. And from that moment everything started working. and this was their first first ever contact in Cameroon. I was made the countrys Liaison for Engineers Without Borders USA for so many years before another person took over and we continued working in other communities while the very first project in my village was going on. And immediately I came across another US NGO Thirst Relief International who does the same work. The Founder was a photographer himself and our projects were to beaccompanied with photos from the projects, I had to start taking the pictures with very little digital cameras I was borrowing from one friend to another. There was a time I used disposable cameras. But as time was going they kept appreciating and encouraging my way of taking photography. One of their donors decided to donate a digital camera to me which i could call my own. And that was when Penjo Entertainmet was created because I started seeing things in a different dimension. And I started shooting videos with this same camera with very funny quality. I kept saving some money and as time was going I kept buying upgradedable cameras to the level we are today. And through these I was creating some contacts of photographers and cinematographers online whom I was learning from them so much until this present moment that they are still there for me and can feel the sacrifice and energy put into it to be where we are today. Am talking specially about Onye Ubanatu in Lagos and Jim Hicks from Thirst Relief in the USA. I will never forget these two who have started with me and have seen me grow. Also to so many and all of my friends, family and fans who have encouraged me in one way or the other to see this success today. Rita Banfogha, Abang Chris, Tanwie Elvis, Yibain Emile, Achile Brice, Julia Gham, Nyingsha Francis, Elvis Sevidzem, Batholomew, Jeff Brown and EWB Hope College Michigran, Takong Delvis, Samson Tarh, Tangi Angwi, Sahndra Fondufe, Yaa Lydia Fondufe, Yaa Gladys Viban, Sommi, Aji Ojo, Naa Ashley, Ernest Kanjo, Berthine Ebu, Taylor Nazal, Alhagie Manka, Nsang Dilong, Colonel Dickson, Agbor Gilbert Ebot, Dakore, Jobn Dumelo, Van Vicker, Lucie Memba Bos and the list is so long. Each and every one has played a very mighty role in my life and this profession and i am thanking everyone from the bottom of my heart. Its been a long journey and everyday i feel am just begining. I feel new and please lets not let our dream down. : As an african and a Cameroonian professionnal photographer and cinematographer, what do you feel your role is in relation to our country and our continent , with the omnipresence of pictures, images, photographs in the social media ? Penjo Baba : My role is to change as many lives as possible through my photography and film making for everyone to be able to look at my work and learn at least one or two things from it that will change something in their lives. Humility is Power. Thank you so much.
Posted on: Mon, 19 May 2014 18:02:38 +0000
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