When This Silence Shall Speak

About the Book

Most of the poems in When This Silence Shall Speak were written between 1998 and 2005, corresponding to the author’s last years in university and the period of his professional accountancy studies. The country was undergoing severe economic crises, exacerbated by pervasive corruption, patronage and nepotism, waste, social decay, elections rigging, and disrespect for state authority. Unemployment was at its peak, with young people seeking to move abroad by whatever means possible. It is against this backdrop that the author sought through poetry not only to draw the attention of his fellow countrymen to the negative consequences of such ills in society—especially on the poorer and vulnerable classes, with whom he identifies—but to also carefully relate and transmit the spirit of his time to a generation that may be blessed to live in a better time. The poems in this volume are carefully selected to vividly portray the moods, events, experiences, frustrations, and aspirations of his people. Though written over a decade ago, they remain as relevant today as they were in the yesteryears.

About the Author

Born on the 24th of January 1978 in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon. Akemfua Festus obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1988 from the Catholic Primary School Buea Town. From there he moved to Bilingual Grammar School Molyko -in Buea, where he obtained his GCE Ordinary Level Certificate in 1993 and the GCE Advanced Level Certificate in 1995. In 1999 he obtained a Bachelors of Science degree (hons) in Chemistry from the University of Buea, in Cameroon. In 2009 he became a full member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA Glasgow UK). He has worked as an auditor and senior risk consultant with a Big 4 accounting firm in Cameroon, before joining the banking industry in December 2011. Married with four (04) kids, he enjoys reading literary works, writing, watching movies, and going out with friends.