Last week was phenomenal for us at Print Doctor Africa and in my career as a whole. We launched what we consider another major first in publishing in Africa – A dedicated Francophone Publishing & Printing Service. It was also a major first for me – my first time driving from Nigeria to another country! Boy, it was a trip. It was not funny o, at some point I gave up because what I met at Seme border post was far beyond what I was told but we pulled it off anyway. I’d never felt so triumphant behind the wheels when I was finally cleared to enter Benin Republic
But that’s not the real story.
I spent 3 days and two nights on a fact-finding and team forming exercise. At the end, we were able to inaugurate the team that comprises of a General Manager and a Client Service Manager to oversee the penetration of the country as well as competent French Editors to handle all editing before books are published.
TOWER OF BABEL EXPERIENCE!
My first shock was having to meet people who looked exactly like me and my people but could not understand anything coming out of my mouth. It felt so strange. They looked like Kunle, Kemi and Emeka but no they were not! The events at the Tower of BABEL had done its worst and so all the meetings I had were through translators – first time ever. So, I was mostly helpless without my translators around. Gratefully, a couple of the hotel staff spoke a little English with which we struggled to communicate. I therefore “kept malice” with them whenever my team members were not with me.
However, talking through a translator proved to help me better organise my thoughts as I had to swiftly process words within those 15-30 seconds. I also experienced first-hand that language determines how you think and if you must communicate to people, you must think in their language.
A TESTIMONY
On the second evening, while driving with Foby Blessed, we started to hear a strange sound from the front wheels and it was most unusual. We eventually managed to get to the National Stadium where we were to commission some skaters to share our flyers. I kept having a nudge to jack up the car and check the wheels before calling a mechanic. Alas! 3 nuts were loosened, one was barely tightened and one was off completely. How I made that trip remains a miracle and we both shouted 7 Hallelujahs! You can still join us o that we are still here to the glory of God!
ANOTHER FIRST
This one is a gist! See that selfie below, I took in a shopping mall, yes! I literally placed the items on my head because for the first time in my life, I was told I had to buy bags to move all I had bought. The first time, I obliged but the second day, I declined and told them I would carry them on my head – and I did!!!
NOW… It’s time to get to work, the destination is not one country but the entire Francophone Africa region.
Meanwhile we have a community for French Authors on Print Doctor Africa Communauté Francophone. Please share this link with your friends from all Francophone Africa and let’s create an army of authors whose dreams have come true!!!
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