My Journey with Charles
Sometime in August 1977, I met Charles at the Guzang Market as I was preparing to go to College. We immediately became friends as we learned that we were both going to Cameroon Protestant College, Bali (CPC).
Come September 1977, we were on CPC campus, as we began a life time relationship. The five years we spent in Bali College were the most enjoyable years in our lives. We went to Bali for studies to improve our education. This is where we gradually matured. We also had the opportunity to have fun, exploring the Matterhorn and beyond, on adventure into the wild, searching for guavas and pears. Enjoying nature, listening to the birds as they sang from the trees. It was very exciting, doing this on Saturdays after inspection.
Academically, we had no problems. My man was brilliant and always excelled. Though Financially we did not have much, the school provided all the three meals for the day. We always came to school with enough garri, to enjoy between meals. We were never worried that we did not have the goodies that other privileged children had. We were contented with what we had and proud to be part of Bali College. In 1982, we successfully left Bali, making it at the GCE Ordinary Level. Charles went to CCAST Bambili and I went to GHS Mbengwi. But our friendship remained unshaken, because of the solid foundation we had in Bali College. In 1984, we made it at the advanced Level, after which we moved to Yaounde University.
I had admission into the Law Faculty while Charles went in for Natural sciences. He later wrote and passed the competitive Exam into ENSA, Dschang, but declined and decided to go to China on a scholarship, in 1985. While in China, he studied alongside Chinese students, in the Chinese Language and still made it with honors. He graduated from the University of Shanghai Tongji in 1990, with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Architecture. Charles then worked with Seacliff Ltd for three years in China, and a British Firm in Hong Kong, until 1994 when he returned to Cameroon. During all his years abroad, we constantly kept in touch, sharing our experiences and expectations in life.
When he arrived home from China, I was in Douala. His elder sister ma Betty Tingwei, other family members and I were all glad to have him back. But this happiness was short-lived as a tragedy stroke. His younger brother, Emmanuel Munji died suddenly in an accident. On that fateful day, we were waiting for him to come and give us his bike, so that we could go out. A neighbour came in and told us that Emmanuel just had an accident at the entrance into his house. We rushed him to Hospital and immediately contacted some Guzang elites who joined us at the Lanquantinie Hospital. Unfortunately, within hours, he passed away. It was a devastating moment. We both had no jobs at the time. The Guzang meeting took charge and Emmanuel was taken to the village and buried.
We later moved to Bamenda. Charles went to live with his sister Ma Jane in Bambili while I got a job with Harp Distribution Services. Since Charles had come back from China with his architectural equipment, drawing tables. etc, we agreed that he should start off an Architectural Consultancy in my small apartment in Cow street, Nkwen Bamenda. It took a very short time for Charles to establish himself. His excellent architectural skills, plus the Chinese touch were quickly recognized. Within a very short time, he opened his first office at Bandja Junction, mile II Nkwen. The rest of the story can be told from the various structures that he designed, dotted all over Cameroon. As a friend there are services, he rendered to me such as taking pains to design a beautiful structure for me in Limbe.
As we became more mature, we experienced more and more challenges: settling down, taking care of our families, meeting up with social life and our professional lives. There were great moments, but there were also very tough and challenging moments. Charles lost a second brother, Richard Munji, the mother of two of his kids, and one of his kids, Acho. These were devastating moments he had to endure.
It is true that We disagreed and agreed on a wide range of issues. We also sometimes had different opinions on certain issues: how we should go about raising our families, how to socialize, how to spend money, what investment to make for ourselves and our families. Unfortunately, in some of these issues, he would be very adamant and would want to handle things his own way. This sometimes strained our relationship. Such moments were very frustrating. A lot of opportunities were missed, but I believe God knows why. As Charles` friends, we were always there for him. Last year, we even had a discussion about him visiting us in the US. I was really looking forward to having a great conversation with him. Little did I know that God had his own plan for him.
We had very great moments together indeed. Charles will forever be missed for his sense of humour, his generosity, his talents, and his intellect. In fact, he was a great mind.
Adieu: Fofung! (As I fondly called him).