Pierre Yves Njeng
Pierre Yves Njeng studied modern French Letters and specialized in French Literature at the University of Yaoundé I. Upon leaving the university, he did menial jobs until 1993 when he had the opportunity of participating in a writing workshop organized by Marie Wabbes, a Belgian writer and illustrator, who introduced participants to writing particularly children’s books. His first manuscript, “Vacances au Village,” was presented at an international book fair in Bologna, Italy in 1994 and it attracted foreign publishers. It was however issued only in 1996 by Akoma Mba publishing house in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and in December of that same year, Njeng took it to be shown at the international book fair in Montreuil, France. In 1999, Boyd Mills edited and translated it into English. This edition won the African Young Children’s Honor Book in 2000. Njeng’s interest in children’s books was motivated by the lack of this kind of publications in his country. Together with colleagues, they started AILE (an association of illustrators and writers of children’s books) in Cameroon. As their activities became intense, they began the Akoma Mba publishing house, which he headed between 1994–1999 before relocating to France.
Source:
De toutes nouvelles maisons d'édition en Afrique : "Une aventure exaltante" Takam Tikou 6 (1997): 22–26.
Bio prepared by Eleanor A. Dasi, University of Yaoundé I, wandasi5@yahoo.com
Records in database:
