Ace veteran journalist, Charlie Ndi Chia has revealed the backstory of the bright and dark sides of his four-decade journalism career in his recently published memoir: “In in My Blood”.
The 130-page book tells a captivating life story of a man who rose from a carpenter to become a renowned journalist and acclaimed editor. It is the story of a life spent leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of truth and freedom in Cameroon.
The author recounts his nightmares from the print to broadcast and back to the print, and then as media executive – an enduring spirit of journalism, tirelessly fighting to expose corruption, hold power accountable, and give a voice to the voiceless – a career marked by arrests, detentions, and exile.
Charlie’s memoir is a gripping account of one man’s unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity in the face of adversity. It is a story of courage, determination, and the unshakable belief in the power of the media to shape a better future for Cameroon.
“More than just a personal memoir, this book is a call to action for the next generation of journalists, a reminder that the fight for press freedom is a never-ending battle, but one worth fighting,” the author says.
Journalism evolution through “blood-stained” eyes
Experienced Program Administrator with a demonstrated history of working in the information services industry, Lambert Mbom describes “In in My Blood” as the riveting account of the storied and checkered history of journalism and its evolution in Cameroon through the “blood-stained” eyes of veteran journalist, Charlie Ndi Chia.
The USA-based Cameroonian says in a review that the memoir captures the trajectory of what could be summed as the dark 80s, the renascent 90s and the promising but decadent 2000s of the fourth estate. “Yet, the endearing and enduring message is that of grit, resilience and hope”, he writes.
From an era when government administrators served as censors approving or disapproving articles to be published, punctuated with not infrequent meetings with secret Police agents enforcing the unspoken rule: “shut up or be shot out”, to a period of liberalization, which Mbom says has been held captive by money, “call it gumbo”, journalism he states, is not spared the cancers that have infected the fabric of the Cameroonian society.
The theme of the memoir, according to the reviewer is that any journalist worth the salt in Cameroon is one who risks their freedom reporting and writing on the truth and who “invariably ends up broke.”
The 130-page book, Mbom says, is quite a monumental feat without the fluff and flair, written in typical journalistic fashion, within the intimate setting of a grandchild interviewing his grandfather.
“It carries the true value of a memoir – drawing from the past to inform the present and plan for the future. It is a gift from Charlie and a piece of memorabilia worth having,”Mbom writes.
Few boast Charlie’s journalistic pedigree
Charlie Ndi Chia, 69, is a renowned Cameroonian journalist and author. His career spanned decades, from carpentry to prominent media roles, facing persecution for his courageous reporting. He served on the National Communication Council (NCC) for 17 years until 2024, and later transitioned into business.
According to Mbom, few people can boast of the journalistic pedigree of Charlie who he says, has had the distinguished privilege of running through the entire gamut of journalism.
The Nigerian trained journalist of great repute debuted as a writer where he broke through in print journalism rising to be an editor then transitioning to the civil service by way of TV, leaving his footprint with hard-hitting pieces on “Minute by Minute” investigative series. This came with consequences as he was banished to some sort of journalistic “Siberia”, to run a children’s program “Kiddies Corner”, and eventually transferred to Radio Bertoua (today’s CRTV East in Bertoua).
Mbom narrates that after the brief stint at government run Cameroon Radio and Television, Charlie returned to the private sector bringing his talent back to print journalism first with Cameroon Post and then The Post. He will later dare the business of journalism itself by creating and publishing his own newspaper, The Rambler.
“The nimble but caustic ‘barrel’ of his pen which shone through incisive columns, the first of which became the title of this memoir, his daredevil spirit that brought him fame but left him in prison dungeons,” Mbom recounts about Charlie’s journalism journey.
Mbom adds that Charlie’s avid curiosity, that like the inquisitive monkey earned him “bullets of imprisonment”, born from the innate commitment to the truth and his metallic voice over radio and TV “combine to define the legacy of a man who has earned his stripes and deserve a seat in Cameroon’s hall of fame in journalism”.
First published in NewsWatch newspaper No 207 of Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
