Wikipedia

Mimi Mefo

Mimi Mefo Newuh (born May 16, 1989; with the maiden name Takambou Baleng, Cameroon)[1] is a Cameroonian journalist and human rights activist who reports on the Anglophone crisis and advocates for press freedom. She went into exile in England following a tweet related to the Anglophone crisis[2] in Cameroon and subsequent incarceration.

Photograph of Mimi Mefo holding the 2019 Freedom of Expression Journalism Award, a framed artistic painting of her carrying a huge calligraphy pen up a hill
Mimi Mefo receiving the Index on Censorship's 2019 Freedom of Expression Journalism Award

Birth and education edit

Mimi Mefo Newuh was born on May 16, 1989, in Baleng near Bafoussam in the Western Region of Cameroon.[3] She studied journalism at the University of Buea, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2011 after completing her A-levels.[1]

Career edit

She began her career at HI Tv, a local television station in Buea, in the South-West Region. Later, she worked as a reporter and anchor for Equinoxe Television.[3] She also served as the deputy editor-in-chief [4]at the same television station, overseeing the Anglophone desk[5]

Arrest edit

In 2018, she was arrested and detained for 10 days on charges of "endangering state security".[6] She was accused of posting a tweet accusing the Cameroonian army of being responsible for the death of an American pastor in the North-West Region of Cameroon in the context of the Anglophone crisis. She was released after an international campaign of support.[7] Following her release from prison, she left Cameroon for England[8] and was recruited by Deutsche Welle in Germany.[9]

Awards edit

  • Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Journalism Award in 2019.[10][11]
  • Best Female TV Presenter 2018/2019 in Cameroon in 2019.[3]
  • Female journalist of the year 2018 in Cameroon in 2018.[12]

Private life edit

Mimi Mefo got married in the UK on October 7, 2022, in a wedding to her current husband, Kingsley Sheteh Newuh. They currently have two children, Glorianna-Kim Fehngoin Newuh and Bisona-Kim Awumbom Newuh.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Mimi Mefo Takambou, Biographie". www.camerounweb.com. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  2. ^ "Journalists jailed in Cameroon on charges of 'fake news'". NZ Herald. 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  3. ^ a b c "Mimi Mefo". Integrity 20 | Griffith University. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  4. ^ "'Not an easy ride' - the long and winding road to digital journalism in Cameroon | Al Jazeera Media Institute". institute.aljazeera.net. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  5. ^ "Cameroon drops fake news charges against Mimi Mefo". BBC News. 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  6. ^ AfricaNews (2018-11-08). "Cameroonian journalist imprisoned for publishing what is considered "fake" news". Africanews. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  7. ^ AfricaNews (2018-11-10). "Cameroon journalist Mimi Mefo released". Africanews. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  8. ^ "Mimi Mefo Takambou". English Pen. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  9. ^ Atia T. AZOHNWI. "Cameroon: Mimi Mefo tackles President Biya over journalist Wazizi's death in military custody. Tell him "you will definitely not be in power forever"". www.cameroon-info.net. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  10. ^ O'Malley, Nick (2019-10-24). "'You could not make this up': journalist barred from Australian free speech conference". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  11. ^ AfricaNews (2019-02-04). "Cameroon journalist Mimi Mefo shortlisted for 2019 Press Freedom award". Africanews. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  12. ^ "Mimi Mefo". Integrity 20 | Griffith University. Retrieved 2023-11-10.


 

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