TIPTOPSTARS

CYNTHIA -> NGUM -> ISABEL

Yearning  for a place which mirrors Cameroonians who strive for excellence through  creativity and innovation or ever wanted to have honoured your Role Model, then  Dulce Camers' Popular list of  top 50 Cameroonians is a Place to go by. Tiptopstars has been talking to the amazing Ladies behind the scenes of  the web log . This week in a second part of the Interview  TIP TOP STARS gets to know more from Ngum Ngafor whose inspiration  and challenges  keeps her Going when genuinely doing something Original.

I’ve always had a broad range of interests including music, politics, fashion, history. Writing - a major love of mine - seemed the best way to express all these things so I pursued a degree in Journalism & Politics at Salford University, Manchester (UK). Shortly after graduating, I stumbled upon Cynthia Anduhtabe via face book and learnt she was launching this really fresh blog with an entertainment twist. Naturally, I wanted to be a part of it. Two years on, we’re still here and growing stronger!

[TTS] You are doing awesome work- what is Dulce Camer? Why the name Dulce Camer?

[NN] Dulce Camer (DC) is a place where all things fantastically Cameroonian come alive. But we don’t hesitate to tell people when things aren’t quite right too. The name was Cynthia’s idea. She’s the linguist, you see. So she comes up with these fancy words in other languages just to show us up (ha ha). 

[TTS] As a blogger and executive officer of a PR & Marketing company etc how do you find time to do all that? What is your typical daily routine?

[NN] I’d say we make the time. My typical routine involves my day job which is meant to be 9-5 but usually runs over [laughs]. After that it’s time for my passions. Our work also consumes my weekends.

[TTS] What sparked your interest into profiling Cameroon’s talents and the entertainment Industry?

[NN] For me, the light bulb moment came in a Tapas restaurant (of all places!) in Manchester. My sister, Anrette and I were frustrated that Cameroonian creatives seemed to be doing so well individually but struggled to pool their talents. Then we realised we could make things happen by creating a forum for all of them to meet. That’s how the face book group, Creative Cameroonians, came to be. It’s via this platform that Cynthia and I hooked up. Her idea about spotlighting Cameroonian talent resonated with me so I approached her about a partnership.

[TTS] What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated?

[TTS] To what do you attribute your success and how did you get where you are now with Dulce Camer?

[TTS] How do you access your readers and how have they contributed to the success of Dulce Camer?

[NN] Face book has been excellent for promoting our work. We also connect with people through e-groups and good old fashioned word-of-mouth.  Our readers have really helped make things happen for us. They give us lots of good tips about interesting people and events. Their contribution to our “Top 50” list of inspirational Cameroonians was tremendous!

[TTS] What is that special that thing you want to accomplish with Dulce Camer? Where do you see Dulce Camer and yourself in the next couple of years?

[NN] Eventually, we would like to become magazine. Dulce Camer seeks to refine the Cameroonian showbiz culture and take it to new heights. We also want to spotlight people from all walks of life who do inspirational things. It’s got to be about a lot more than glitz and glamour.

[TTS] Tell us about Top 50 - selection  criteria  - Goals - Readers’ Response - What impact do you think it’s got on Cameroon and Cameroonians who are featured on this list?

[TTS] What are some of your favorite news story/article/ Profile/ Talent discovery last year 2010 and  so far?

[TTS] What has been the Craziest, Sexiest, Coolest, Trendiest, Fabulous Thing you have found Cameroonians doing out there ?

[NN] I’ve always had a thing for science so it was nice to see our men and women making a stereotypically arcane world look sexy by coming up with impressive work (think lasers and Maths to research malaria transmission) and inventions.

[TTS] What inspires you about his/her/ thier  talents?

[NN] Their confidence, hard work and clear vision. I love how these people are so not nerdy!

[TTS] What does it take to sustain Dulce Camer with such rich and quality content?

[TTS] Which blogs/sites/portals do YOU read?  Do you have any close friends in the blogosphere? Which are your favourite sites?

[TTS] What have you done so far to define yourself amongst the other sprouting talent scouting and celebrity profiling platforms?

[TTS] As a talent profiling site, If you had to think of a slogan that could leave a positive impact for everyone what would your slogan be?

[TTS] We see a lot of fashion on your site; you seem to be a fashion freak!  What's your personal style and what /who are some of your favorite  Cameroon brands/ designers?

[NN] Ha ha! I’d say fashion is in my blood. I’m a bit of a style chameleon but my golden rule is to be free. If it’s not comfortable, I’m not having it!  My favourite Cameroonian brands include: KiRette Couture, Kreyann, Martial Tapolo and John. I also love Syl Anim’s new footwear range. A recent discovery is US-based Bengjof Couture. Brothas, they’re the definitive suit makers!

[TTS] What do you think about the Cameroonian talents you have profiled on Dulce Camer and as well as the fashion, art, culture and the entertainment Industry in general?

[NN] Our talents are at various points in their careers. The up-and-coming ones have tremendous potential and great vision. With a lot of hard work and smart business sense, they will get to where they want to be. The Cameroonian entertainment industry is pretty much in its infancy. It will take a lot of collaborative effort – especially between business people and creatives – to get it to international standards. We should be aiming for nothing less.

[TTS] Any influence or anyone you look up to when it comes celebrities or talents [Role model]

[TTS] Do you have other interests or talents you would like to share with us? How do you like to enjoy your relaxation time away from Dulce Camer?

[NN] I unwind with music. My taste is pretty eclectic but I seem hooked on Malavoi and Etienne Mbappe these days. I also love to read. I just finished, Q, - Quincy Jones’ biography. It’s incredibly inspiring and entertaining. I would recommend it to everyone. Whether you work in entertainment or not, Quincy Jones can be the epitome of excellence and finesse for you. And what do you know! His roots lie in Camer.

[TTS] You are active on social networks like facebook, twitter, hi5 and co. how do you think they have contributed in exposing Cameroon talents . Do you have any tips, tricks on social media to share with our readers?

[NN] They’ve played a significant role in spotlighting talent. For once, there are platforms which Cameroonians from anywhere in the world can access and talk freely about the things that interest them. The viral effect of face book and youtube are brilliant for publicising information. In terms of tips or tricks, I’d say be consistent and give people exciting information. It’s always worth talking about.

Celebrity treatment (I wish !). It’s enough that people respect and appreciate what we do. Dulce Camer also affords me access to amazing people from all walks of life.

Submissions for Dulce Camer Top 50 List for 2011 is Ongoing at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Top 50 List for 2010 is available here