Interview with Duplex;One of the #GSoC 2015 Winners and 3rd Generation Techies
“My name is Duplex…like the house, but my friends call me Tony”.
If I have ever been grateful for being able to speak two languages, I was doubly so when I discovered that one the 11 current #GSoC (Google Summer of Code) winners for 2015 was French speaking.
Duplex is a final year Computer Engineering Student at the Faculty of Engineering in the University of Buea.
“What do you do?”
I love this question. It is my default techie conversation starter. Keep in mind the following:
- Duplex had difficulties talking English.
- Duplex will graduate this December.
- He has a history of prizes from National and International competitions in an ENGLISH governed environment.
I had in my presence Exhibit A of the fruit of resolve, determination and obstinate hard work.
“I have been working for GSoC since last year. For one full year.”
Otto corroborates. He wanted to win. He had to win.
“Do you play video games?” I had to know! Could this be an FPS sparring partner??
“No. I don’t.” he said, “I did not grow up in an environment that gave me access to video games at a younger age”.
You can guess my natural retort.
“So, how did you get into computers??” I hope he saw how shocked I was.
Duplex got into the computer through the window. Sort of.
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L-R: Duplex, Nyah Check at ACTIVspaces November 2014[/caption]
After his Technical Baccalaureate studies, he later pursued and earned a civil engineering diploma. His passion at the time (and his natural aptitude) was that of drawing. From what he later told me, even though he no longer manipulates the engineering software that much, he still provides consultancy for his friends and others at all levels of the graphic conceptualization phase.
The then civil engineer landed a job shortly before 2010. The pay was comfortable but the security of his position was unclear. During this period, Duplex got to play with the computer and found in it a trustworthy creation partner.
“ La programmation c’était ma bête noire.” He would later confess about his first year in UB. “Mais maintenant… j’adore”
He then heard through a friend that the University of Buea had just opened the School of Technology. Upon coming to Buea, he realized he had just two choices: Computer engineering and Electrical engineering.
“ Je me suis dit…bon…comme j’ai au moins une idée sur les ordinateurs, pourquoi pas l’informatique?
He applied. Halfheartedly. And when in September 2010 a friend called to inform him his name was on ‘the list’, he had to make a choice- keep working as a civil engineer or further his education in uncharted lands?
“ Le boulot n’étais pas si sûr…je me suis demandé et si je laisse passer une chance d’apprendre comme celle si? je pourrais regreter plutard .»
Duplex came to Buea, to study in an English speaking institution, live in an English speaking environment for a degree programme in a field he had barely mingled with.
If there is ever a time to play “Eye of The Tiger”, now is the time.
And survive he would.
He barely made it during the first semester though. He validate just four of the courses and could not differentiate code from Chinese. He fell, rose, fell and rose again. At the end of that first year, he decided to reapply. That was the last time he fell.
“J’adore programmer maintenant. En plus que j’avais un nouveau prof qui m’a beaucoup motivé”.
From what I gathered, Cameroon is in the first place with most winners of the GSoC for 2015. Duplex told me the brilliant (and intimidatingly short) Daisy Nkewteyim is among the winners this year. Which means she won…AGAIN!” Kudos!
Covert the stipend…
Isaac Kamga (Google Developer Group Manager for the SW) and Nyah Check ( former Google Student Ambassador and current Google Star Ambassador) are doing an exceptional job in pushing the programmers of the Buea tech scene.
Here is how I classify the generations of entrepreneurs in Buea :(Note: This is a SELF BUILT Classification)
The Founders: Made it on their own- out of the country and came back to invest and promote tech e.g. Rebecca Enonchong
The 1st Generation: Made in on their own (or made great strides forward), within the country, usually without external funding and without incubating. Some with. But worked on rough and uncharted territory with little or no mentorship. Learned the hard way e.g Mambe Churchill, Nara Laurence, Fritz Ekwoge, Fua Tse, Otto Isong etc.
The 2nd Generation: May or may not have a working product or service. Benefited from some sort of funding or joined the 1st generation to work on a product, or built the community in one way or the other. This is where I would place myself together with Isaac Kamga, Nyah Check, Clifford Ako, Otto Paul etc.
When the first wave of the 3rd Generation hits the streets…man would we be in for amazing stuff! I think Duplex falls here. Together with the smart, beautiful ladies of the GDG Buea scene (especially Daisy Nkweteyim!). I have already seen a great number of products underway. Kamerrecipe is one by the Ngong Sisters- Ivorita and Ivoline.
Daisy at the #WomenInTech Event organised by GDG Buea and ACTIVspaces on March 7 to commemorate the International Day of the Woman
Duplex cannot hold his excitement much longer:
“I don’t think neither Kamga nor Check realize the amazing work they are doing!”
L-R Back: Nyah Check, Isaac Kamga and Krys Nuvagda L-R Front: Mpara Faith and Daisy Nkewteyim
Let me say this just once: 3.6 Million FCFA.
That is the amount Duplex and the other GSoC winners would EACH earn from their summer of hard work.
“When you work alone in your room…sometimes with no money to pay to move to even get to checkpoint…sometimes you get discouraged. Sometimes you need to be motivated somehow”.
Here is a quote from Otto Isong, founder at Pursarpay and proponent of the ‘Free money transfer movement”;
“You can’t become a giant by standing on the shoulders of a giant”.
According to Isong ( I am proud to call him my very coveted mentor), anyone who works with Google essentially creates FOR Google. He holds that:
“African entrepreneurs need to build from the ground up and not rely on external funds/aid”.
Duplex disagrees.
“The financial motivation pushes you to work harder and to code better. Without it, some of us would have just gotten discouraged.”
The quiet young man now waltzes his passion for coding freely. Is it the liquor or the sparks of intellectual conversation?
Who cares?
“So, what’s next? Do you have a product in mind?” I sip my coke and wait.
Of course, he has a product in mind. Of course he won’t tell me what it is. But, dear reader, we both know I will find out anyway.
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Duplex with one of his Prizes[/caption]
Duplex hopes to build his own company one day. He believes he would need funds in order ‘to ensure sustainability’.
Like me, he believes Buea is the future of technology in Cameroon.
Without knowing, Duplex has re-inspired me. He MUST be on my podcast!
Buea is at the foot of Mount Fako. It bears the University of Buea at its bossom-a rich gathering of the best minds from all corners of the National territory. The heat kills me. The mosquitoes sometimes get the better of me. I can’t code (yet). I can’t design (yet). I don’t live in Silicon Valley (yet?) I don’t have a camera. I don’t have a Dictaphone. Hell, it is 2.48 am and I don’t even have internet access to post this right now.
The future is at the foot of this mountain.
I can’t code.
But I am sure going to write the hell out of this Silicon Mountain.
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L-R: Ngah Kenneth , Otto Akama and Duplex[/caption]
P.S: His name is Tony Kamdjou. Duplex is just a nickname. Oops. Just found out a few minutes ago when editing. Too lazy Didn’t want to edit. Plus..it sounds more dramatic.
:P
