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

Mimi Mefo Takambou (born May 16, 1989; 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.

Birth and education

Mimi Mefo Takambou 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

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

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

  • 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]

References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "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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