By Mabi Azefor Fominyen (Originally published on Mabi's World)
I barely dried my tears following Michael Jackson's death only to learn about Becky Ndive's passing on!
Devastated!
So I thought: what a cruel world we live in ! Is it so cruel that some "STARS "can no longer bear but pass on to a world beyond? Otherwise, how can Auntie Becky ( like she was fondly called) die when she was always so full of life?
She would weep for others and sympathise with many!
She would visit you if you were sick!
She would cheer you up if you were feeling low!
She would joke even when no one expected her to.
She would tell you to 'keep up the good work and be there for listeners and viewers'
She would make you feel proud of yourself in a 'house' where others hardly did same!
She was such a warm person in an environment where such charateristics were lacking. When I was appointed deputy service head in-charge of coordinating CRTV's provincial radio progammes and sent to work at CRTV's National Station (2005), Auntie Becky opened her arms and heart to welcome me. I presented Luncheon date, a CRTV national radio magazine programme which Auntie Becky Ndive used to coordinate to great acclaim.
She joined me in the studio on many ocassions to present 'LIVING WITH AIDS' - a regular health feature she produced and presented every Wednesday on "Luncheon Date". Whenever she came into the studio I was most humbled by how much she gave to satisfy the listeners .
She often had very kind words for her younger colleagues and would urge us not to relent. Like she once told me " I di come go retirement so wona need for continue the work".
She was full of concern. She would call me after broadcasts of the CRTV television breakfast show - 'HELLO' - to give me feedback. One day she told me ' You make me not to leave my house early in the morning because I have to stay and watch TV until you are done with the programme".
She had a style and knew so well how to touch her listeners and viewers! I remember on one edition of the Wake Up Show on CRTV National Station, the sportscaster told a story about one of Cameroon's footballers buying a number of motor-bikes for youths of the under-privileged neighbourghood in which he grew up on the condition that they report each with 1000 FCFA daily to his mother. "Ma mami eh who give dat kind money, na dey Becky don rich!,"Auntie Becky exclaimed (almost instinctively). That was her style!
She was fun to talk to! She had the kind of voice you would love to listen to!
I last spoke to Auntie Becky in early May 2009. I had called to say ' thank you auntie for the love, care and support shown me and my family' . But she responded to my telephone call from a hospital bed. Saddened, I told her I wished I were home to pay her a visit but she said (softly) 'go my daughter , I miss watching you on TV and getting you on the radio but I understand you had to move on, take care of yourself and the family '.
I have tears rolling down my cheeks as I look back. How can I hold back the tears?
Not when I think of how you used to call me 'your daughter and daughter in law ' and refer to my hubby as your 'son' ?
Not when I think of how you were a source of inspiration to my daughter when she was called up to be 'The Moderator' of a debate presented by the nursery section of her school! She still remembers meeting and talking to you about that debate.
How can I forget that you loved 'THE DEBATE' on CRTV and continued to handle it even when it was "retirement time"? What a legacy!
How can I forget your passion for women and gender issues? A passion we both shared. You were not just a journalist and a senior colleague. You were much more.
How can I forget the pleasant surprises you often had for me? Like the lovely gift you brought back from the UK. You said it was to keep your son's wife "sparkling" on TV and that is how "Bakweris take care of their wives!".
Go Auntie! Go and finally get some rest!
But we will miss you sorely.
WHAT A LOST THE CAMEROON NATION, WHAT A LOST TO THE ENGLISH SPEAKING ZONE, WHAT A LOST TO US JOURNALISTS, WHAT A LOST, DEATH COMETH NEVER INFORMING AND STRIKES LEAVING US WITH TEARS WHICH WILL RUN TO REMEMBER ALWAYS, AUNTY BECKY AS SHE WAS FONDLY CALLED WAS A CHRISTAIN LEADER, TEACHER, ENCOURAGER AND PROMOTER, I CAME CLOSER TO AUNTY BECKY WHEN SHE WAS APPOINTED STATION MANAGER OF C.R.T.V BUEA AND DURING THAT SAME YEAR SHE INTRODUCED THE PROGRAMME HOLIDAY WORKSHOP, I WAS VERY PROUD TO BE AMONG THE FIRST PRESENTERS OF THIS PROGRAMME, WE WERE AMONG OTHERS ABEL AKARA TICHA, TEMBENG SNOWSEL ANO EBIE AND MYSELF MONANGAI JOHN MONANGAI, I CAN REMEMBER HER OF HER GOOD ADVICES AND HER POLITES WORDS, LIKE "KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK" SHE WILL MAKE YOU FEEL PROUD OF YOURSELF AND SHE OFTEN HAD VERY KIND WORDS, SHE TOLD US DURING THE HOLIDAY WORKSHOP PROGRAMME THAT WE SHOULD TAKE WHAT WE ARE DOING SO SEROIUS BECAUSE MANY OF US WILL ONE DAY COME TO LIVE WITH THIS PROFESION, I WAS THINKING THAT ONE DAY WE THE PIONEERS MEMBERS OF HOLIDAY WORKSHOP OF C.R.T.V.BUEA WILL COME UP WITH AN ANIVERSARY AND A MAGAZINE OF WHICH AUNTY BECK WILL BE GIVING A FULL HOUSE CROWN, BUT MY DREAMS DID NOT REACH TO REALISE BUT GOD CALLED HER SO SOON, I REALLY LACK WORDS TO BROADCAST BUT JUST TO SAY TAKE HEART TO ALL HER CHILDREN AND WE HIS STUDENTS SHALL CONTINUE WHERE SHE LEFT IT ADIOS AUNTY
Posted by: MONANGAI JOHN MONANGAI, RADIO BUDESLIGA GERMANY | Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 12:54 PM
It is unfortunate that in America we have been poisoned with the Myth of the movie "Coming to America". Bakweri women like my former mother-in-law Mrs. Beatrice Nokuri and Mrs. Becky Ndive represent the true goddess nature of African women. I humbled by the strength and desire to serve the Bakweri people with strength and dignity. While Africa suffers from a Brain Drain these women have fought for the Fatherland and its inhabitants. I weep for Mrs. Ndive more than Michael Jackson because she overcame many more impossible odds than he in a land where equal rights for women is still a fantasy. Long live Mrs. Ndive a beautiful women everywhere who understand like Dr. King that justice [for women] delayed is justice denied.
Posted by: Charmaine Nokuri | Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 12:09 AM