Chindji Kouleu, professor in journalism passes on

Ferdinand Chindji Kouleu liked to remind all that he was certainly born before 1940 and that he grew up in rural areas up to 15 years where he had learned bricklaying, Hairstylist, Culinary skills etc. The man had many strings to his bow. But he was officially born in 1941 in Nangam in the Central Highlands of the West. He was a teacher of Yoga, rural sociology, the press among others.

He was a graduate of the centre for training and development of journalists (CFPJ) in Paris from 1963 to 1966 where he obtained a patent for the techniques of journalism studies. This was his profession in Cameroon from 1967 to 1969 at the Ministry of Information and Culture.

From 1973 to 1974, he was Professor of philosophy, sociology, psychology and English at the Lycée de Maroua in the North before coordinating lessons and internships outside the International Graduate School of journalism of Yaoundé (Esuy). Former head of Department of print media from 1991 to 1994 in the ESSTIC, he also held the post of Deputy Director of the said institution, studies from 1999 to 2005.

At Esstic where he trained most of the reporters, everyone is unanimous on the qualities of this teacher of grade. After his retirement since 2007, the sociologist-philosopher remained engraved in the memories of students.

He had one way in which he held the secret to make the understanding of his course easy. He taught with plenty of humour and was always on time despite his age. "He was a champion of grimaces and a man who loved justice", remembered a journalist of the 30th promotion. "He was a great man who had no complex in his work.

Always equal to himself, he had a point of view balanced on material goods. "Very hospitable, he never left guests with empty stomach", revealed Hugo Minko, the head of the education of the ESSTIC.

This direct contributor is still remembered in anecdotes. "Once he had forgotten where he had parked his car and he had to walk to his home. He said that it was a reflex of a former rebel who did not want to be spotted what he had kept", he noted.

For Jean François Nguegan, Secretary General of Esstic and his former student in the 1980s, he was a man whose knowledge as a philosopher, anthropologist and historian is paracheve with that of the doctor of science of information and communication.

"It is a privilege to have been taught by this practitioner of journalism and the academic, a privilege that future generations will not have, except through his many writings", he concluded.