'Reflections,' Readers' New Companion

Peter Essoka presented his newly released trilogy to the Douala public during a book launch.

What has been keeping people glued to the airwaves of the national radio station at exactly 6:20 am for the past 20 years has now been made available in a more accessible format.

This is the presentation of a compilation of the 10-minute live slot, "Reflections," authored by Peter Essoka in a trilogy. This was during a book launch in Douala on Thursday, September 12, 2013. The ceremony that drew both Anglophone and Francophone literary lovers in the economic capital was a moment to celebrate the works of the veteran journalist, affectionately called "Uncle P", or better still "Mr. President!

Without mincing words, the event's chairperson, His Eminence Cardinal Christian Tumi, described the trilogy as a "mirror" reflecting man and his society. In a classification of world groups being plants, animals and humans, he presented the human society as posing the greatest problem to creation, especially in challenging even the will of God. However, he prescribed love as solution to promote dialogue and co-existence featured in the books as prerequisites for development.

The three reviewers of the books were Swaibu Shareh for "Lamentation of a Beloved Country," Babila Fochang for "Journey to My Emmaus" and Tricia Oben for "Stand Up, Be Strong, Don't Quit!" They were unanimous that despite the prevailing state of moral decadence, inertia and strife, there was still hope on the horizon. The three volumes therefore urge each and everyone to evaluate and identify themselves so as to ascertain their roles and responsibilities in making their lives, communities, countries and the world as a whole a better place than they met it.

Inspired by the Holy Bible and daily happenings, Uncle P's trilogy, according to most guests, is a "must read" and "must have" companion. Addressing political, economic, socio-cultural and religious aspects of human existence, Peter Essoka was encouraged by friends to pen down his "reflections" having been inspired over the years. The soft-spoken writer equally used the moment to acknowledge the endless support in the realisation of the works.