Pa Sama (born Sama Asanga Francis) was born on the 20 th of February 1958 to D. A. Sama and Agnes Anjie, both of blessed memory, at Bambili. He was the 9 th of 12 children and was fondly called “Musa” by his father. He had 3 elder sisters and 5 elder brothers whom he followed directly. The Sama boys grew up very close to each other and formed a very strong team throughout their lives. Francis was the youngest of the boys and remained the baby of the house for about 3 to 4 years. He was thus treated as a baby for a long time and was sometimes referred to as “boy”. He was best friends with his immediate elder
brother, David (of blessed memory), and the two did everything together. Together with all their siblings, they enjoyed their childhood in a family full of love, laughter, and jokes.

At the age of 5, taking advantage of their father being a senior teacher, he began to follow his elder brother, David to school and that was how he started primary school at Government School Santa. He was eventually promoted one class ahead of his classmates. From N. A. School Santa (as it then was), he went to N. A. School Ndop, N. A. School Nyenjei, G. S. Bamenda Station and then finally briefly in P. S. Azire. All of these were schools his father taught at. Francis was a very smart and intelligent pupil and he excelled in Math and instead of spending the required seven years in primary school, he only spent six. He also loved art and learnt to draw and calligraph so well from his father and his brother David.
Between 1969 and 1974 he was a student of Sacred Heart College Mankon and then moved on to CCAST Bambili where he completed his High School education from 1974 – 1976. Between 1976 and 1980 he was a student at the University of Yaoundé where he obtained his bachelor’s degree. In 2004 he obtained a Diploma in Press Freedom and Human Rights from Oriel College, Oxford University, England.

In 1983, Pa Sama met and married his wife of 37 years, Ma Gladys Andin Ndango with whom he was blessed to raise 6 children (Noella Sama, Dr. Frank Sama, Sharon Sama, Tina Sama, Francis Sama and Blessing Sama). Pa Sama was a father to everyone he came across. He always took care of the less privileged and extended the warmth of family and love to all who were within his reach, even sometimes going beyond expectations. After the passing of his father late Daniel Achiri Sama, Pa was named the traditional chop-chair and head of the Sama Family. He never discriminated among any of his children and every child who lived under his roof, he considered a son or daughter whether they were a relative or not. As chop-chair of the Sama Family, he leaves behind a myriad of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to mourn him.

He was the proprietor of Sama Chambers, his Law Firm for over 30 years and would often joke with younger colleagues and magistrates that he started practicing as a lawyer long before they were born.

As a Lawyer, he was very dedicated to his work and passionately fought for justice and the rule of law in Cameroon. He trained over 2000 lawyers, through direct training in his law chambers and as the Bar President’s Representative and later Bar President. He also trained a host of magistrates who were attached to his Law Chambers through internship.

One of the biggest dreams he had and fought for as a lawyer was the creation of a Law School in Cameroon, one he unfortunately died without achieving. He however leaves behind a remarkably impressive legacy as the Bar President which includes and is not limited to the acquisition of landed property in the heart of Yaoundé for the construction of a modern headquarters for the Cameroon Bar Association. He also hosted the Pan African Lawyers Union in Yaoundé which saw the attendance of high profile personnel like the former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki and he also signed a partnership with the European Union which paved the way for the training of Cameroonian Lawyers by the Bar Council in collaboration with foreign Bar Associations.