$15.00 transports your corpse from the USA to Cameroon

By Innocent Chia
It costs a minimum $12,000 (6 million CFA frs) to transport a corpse from the United States to Cameroon. The majority of Cameroonians who are neither home owners nor car owners list the death of a loved one in America as their largest single expenditure - other than a trip to the emergency room…. But that may be over now. An association has come to the rescue with a scheme where members spend a maximum of $15.00 and the corpse is taken all the way to the village in Cameroon.

Before death
Not many people that I know of know that for about $7.00 a day, they can procure short-term health insurance for Mom and Dad and other family members traveling to the US. I did not know about it myself until a friend shared with me that as a Cameroon-American, he buys a short term policy that covers, for the duration of the visits in the US, the medical expenses of his father-in-law. I was in doubt…and thanks to technology and cell phones, we searched evacuation insurance on google. Four top results were: Insure My Trip; Travel Assist Network; Travel Guard; and Global Rescue. 

These policies equally come in handy for you who are traveling to Cameroon or somewhere else on vacation…You can purchase that same short term health policy to cover your trip, even from the airline carriers and major credit card companies. Traditional health insurance policies don’t cover health costs outside continental US, including medical evacuation back to the US. Researching these sites, and many others, will guarantee a peace of mind for you and your family members as you travel with a little less worry about what happens when you get to your destination and there are no hospitals or experts to treat you in the event of chronic illness.

But when all else fails in the US…
SAGI, the French acronym for Solidarite Agissante (Acting in Solidarity), is such a basic numbers idea, you almost want to kick yourself for not having it in the first place. Its stated mission is to be of help in the repatriation of corpses from the USA to the final resting place in Cameroon. How SAGI have gone about achieving this goal from inception in August 2009 is by guaranteeing that the growing membership spend no more than $15.00 on transporting the corpses of loved ones back to Cameroon.

Members - must be resident or visiting in the USA and ideally belong to a constituted group of other Cameroonians – contribute $15.00 into a common fund. The local constituted group (Ex-Students Association, Ethnic Group, Former Classmates, Womens Group, Mens Group...etc) banks the collected funds and communicates the names of its registered members to the Washington DC headquarters of the Non for profit organization.

Present during an informal conversation in Minnesota between the Presidents of Minnesota Cameroonians, Robert Tamukong Ndifor and George NGWANYIA  of the Bamileke Association of Northern California (www.banc-usa.org), I learnt that SAGI have taken the burden off the shoulders of more than a dozen members in less than two years. When a member dies, the group of the deceased member informs the headquarters of the occurrence. The headquarters then communicates the bad news to the rest of the groups, requesting, by the same token, for contributions to be transferred into the central coffers.

With a count of just a little over 1000 members from about 30 groups, the predominantly French speaking group pools together about $15000 per occurrence. This pays for transportation to the village in Cameroon and some miscellaneous. But the idea is to ideally have members spend as little as $1.00 as many more Cameroonians buy into the mission statement of the Association…or as freight costs drop. We were unable to reach anyone at SAGI to clarify for us the frequency of the contributions. The educated guess is that with each occurence, local chapters replenish their coffers and await the next incident, with a dollar amount determined by the size of the Asoociation.

I learnt of the idea of SAGI at, of all places, a wedding in Minnesota. But, I was visiting Minnesota for the wake of an older brother and in-law who, long before succumbing to a devouring cancer, had taken measures to ensure that his death did not result in unnecessary family financial hardship.

There is no doubt that the group Insurance policies that he signed up for with his family lessened the anxiety of the family in having to cough up over $12000, or having to pass the basket for friends and the community of Cameroonians to pony it up. Yes, in spite the insurance policy the community still adhered to age-old customs and traditions with dollar contributions here and there. But the contributions were not done with the barrel of the gun held to anyone’s head.

However, the insurance policies do not cover the cost of freight to Africa. This is where SAGI is filling the gap for families by allowing them to save some of the insurance money for other purposes – including the education of the surviving kids or welfare of the spouse.

Life Insurance Policies                                                                                                      Cameroonian born Cornelius Anyere (Ph: 202 352 8271), Farmers’ Insurance agent in the Chicago area, would want to see Cameroonians, and Africans in general, asking more questions about different policies and benefits, adding that ideal policies are unique to individuals and respective family situations. Denis Tilong (Ph: 612 282 9394) agrees. A representative with World Financial Group – parent company of Western Reserve Life of Ohio, Pacific Life and Prudential – Denis also makes the point that good insurance policies not only put money in the pockets of the family in times of need and stress, it also keeps money in the pockets of the supporting community that would otherwise have to spend more to get the corpse anywhere in Africa.

For a little less than a decade now, there has been a movement led by two notable Cameroonians to promote Group Insurance policies within the community - Mr. Sam Ndely who co-founded the Cultural Group Benefits in the Great Lakes area of Minnesota and Mr. Denis Muforsi in Dallas, Texas. As much as it is a business, both gentlemen are applauded in my book for the herculean task each of them have accomplished in tailoring these packages, within their respective organizations, to fit the needs of immigrant communities that need to reconsider how much is spent in death over life, as well as the need to bequeath more than your debt to surviving family.

Comments

[WALTER EGBE ( LINDO CHAMACO)]

Every where Cameroonain goes, they go with tribalism. In the whole US , are they only North West guys?
Look at all the names , they are all Bamenda names.

Can you please advise ?

Thanks for your co-operation.

Walter Egbe

[Nfor Mat]

When do we say enough is enough of this Northest and Southwest mistrust of each other.For those who dream of an Independent"Southern Cameroon"I say think again.
Just to let you know Mr.Egbe,The author "Mr.Chia" is married to a beautiful Southwest sister.

[John Dinga]

Isn't it sad to go through this entire write-up - the painstaking research effort of a fellow citizen - and see only tribalism? With such rich documentation of ideas, one would have thought that an inquiring mind would go about trying to make calls and verify its authenticity and how it can bring much needed assistance to those who are often saddled with the task of helping to find health care for visiting relatives or indeed help with transporting a corpse home to Cameroon.

Some day, hopefully, Cameroonians will leave behind this negative unhelpful assessment of otherwise good things perceived to come from the wrong parts of their country, all because the name of the originators or authors sound Greek to them.

[Ernie]

Is Mr. Sam Ndely referenced in this story from the North West?

Great job Innocent, bringing this issue to the fore. We need to be prepared for the unexpected and stop believing that when death strikes others will come to our aide.

Just to add that Cameroonain in Massachussetts have championed this issue of a life insurance policy for their respective cultural groups for about a decade. I can provide you evidence and sources that will colloborate the main thrust of your story.

Keep the flame burining.

Ninjo.

[martin T. W.]

Walter Egbe. You don't deserve a Mr from me. get over such rubbish. As a Bayangi man whose roots take rise from Widikum in the north West province it is important that you think we are one people simply separated by artificial boundaries for the purpose of administration only. People like you have taken it one step further to nourish the idea of divide and rule . You are a sadist. Your over jealous attitude will only lead you riding behind. What a show of intellectual shallowness from a homo sapient like you. don't disgrace the very prestigious Bayangi people I have come to know and admire.
martin

[Romanus Ojong]

This is for those of you who are chastising Mr. Egbe, the graffi/SW divide was not created by him. The graffi exploitation and domination is not a farce, it is an inconvenient truth. The fact that you get married to a SW sister does not change that. It only reinforces they strategy.
Long before Mr. Egbe was born, the graffi people had always considered the South westerners only when they had an interest in mind. For those of you who know your history, do you remember the alliance between Foncha and Egbe Tabi! Look where Manyu is today because of that.

[Ojong]

This is really a thousand kilometres backward march practised by people of crazy ideologies. Mr Egbe et al, it is a shame to be reading such cold and scratchy comments from you guys.I thought people like you who have access to reading will defy such malignant thoughts and move forward. Work hard and you will be able to move beyond this level. Peace!!

[Etah]

Innocent, there is no such thing as a Cameroonian-American.

The idea you expose is laudable and like every thing else should be viewed from a strictly businesslike-what's-my-interest-in-it perspective.
I have repeatedly asked my community to have some kind of insurance, otherwise when they die, they will be buried in the US. I reply to emails requesting funds to bury someone in Cameroon because it was their last wish with this line: go and collect the money that the individual saved to carry out this last wish.

I perceive promotion of two contrasting entities: one a not for profit and another two insurance agents who work for a profit. Can some1 throw some light?

Thanks.

[John Dinga]

Won't it be nice if our expert on history gave some references or documentation for the benefit of those who are ignorant of such important historical facts (truths?) so eloquently enunciated? Certainly dealings (alliance) between Foncha and Egbe Tabi which facilitated graffi exploitation and domination and impacted Many so palpably should be material for historical records, shouldn't they?

[www.camteic.webs.com]

www.camteic.webs.com

MEET CAMEROONIANS WORKING,STUDYING AND LIVING IN CHINA.LEARN MORE ABOUT CHINA LIFE

[Benjamin Nfor]

Dear all,
Let us call a spade a spade. I am from the Nkambe in the North West Region and strongly belief that much wrong has been done to the people of the South West by the North West. History is a good teacher and let us learn from our History. It is time to make amends and make our future better. I do not care if the author of this article is married from the south west; i care about the article infront of me. Of all the names mentioned, one is from the South West, without a phone number. Tell me that this is by coincidence!! The truth will set you free indeed.
Remain Bleesed!
Benjamin

[shey Gideon]

I just can't get the point, that Mr Chia is writing up a very exciting and realistic article, educated people still have this parochial way of intepretation. Where A or B comes from is of no relevance, and i did not even take note of the names and still not care to look at them.I use to think this southwest, northwest devide was buried when Oben Peter left the corridors of powers!! Benjamin, which wrong has the people of northwest done to their brothers of the southwest. I have a very very big DOUBT you come from Nkambe!

[John Dinga]

Let us look at this problem in another light - market orientation. The entire world, including places of religion and worship, has since adopted a market orientation (supply and demand) for the purpose of growth. Let those who do not want to grow raise up their hands and be counted!

Whenever we go to the market, it is our need for basic things that take us there, not the producers of those things and when we buy it is the quality of the products that make us to part with our hard-earned money. It is as simple as that. The herd mentality was bad enough; this other one which consists of buying a product only because we can identify with its manufacturer is surely worse. It reminds me of a certain astute Reverend Ndasa Mote who once preached that whenever he used his little finger to point to something, nine times out of ten people focused on his finger rather than the thing he was pointing to. That is a problem to avoid. We ought to begin to put behind us those primitive instincts which tend to tie us down like prisoners in a world where progressives are galloping ahead.

People are going to look for what Innocient Chia is advertisng here in this forum, not because they are in love with Innocent, but because they love the product of his brains, a product which they did not find elsewhere, including their sacred backyards.

[ntam charles]

Who ever imagined a world without retarded people should think again.I have met people far worse than Walter Egbe, but I knew they could never be otherwise,so I moved on. Who cares?

[lindo]

The brethren 'ntam charles' sound like some one that was picked up some years back in old town Bamenda for child molestation & a Pedophile .
Few sad and low life 'grassfield' guys have just done what we have been talking about, trying to proved their identity not as Cameroonian but as 'I am from Nkambe' .
Catholic Pedophile are been rounded up "Martin T.W " will be next.
Innocent is married to a Cameroonian lady not a girl from south west or north west get it right Mr.

[shey Gideon]

Lindo, i do not get your point. But Mr Ntam Charles made aclinical description of who Walter Egbe is. me just need to move on as he says and allow the all the lunatics to keep wondering and chasing the messenger rather than the message.

[Makwane]

Oh my God. Are these reports emanating from people who have made their way up to join the worlds most prestigeous and strongest economy? A country that is said to be progressive? Is it the current economic down turn we read here in Africa on the US economy characterised by slow growth and no jobs that have let to some fellow country men having nothing to do than raising sickening tribalistic nuances at this age? I will not have been suprised of this debate raised by some back at home, but to do it by people suppossedly educated? God bless Cameroonians in the US

[Romanus Ojong]

Why are people from the North west always hostile when one identify them as such. The same people chastizing Egbe are those condeming Romanus. To Them, Romanus does not fit the North West paradigm as such he must come frm the South West. This is the same way they treat a South westerner who does not tow their line. Gone are those days when we used to follow you all and Fri Ndi in burning down properties in the South West in the name of democracy.
We know who you guys are and what you want. Don't be afraid to say you are a graffi, not even matting a Southwesterner will make you one.

Romanus Ojong

[shey Gideon]

Ramanus Ojong, this is not the line i will like to take, but be informed that every graffi man is a very very proud one and will NEVER EVER take a different identity least from the one you identify yourself with!There is nothing you have that we want, buy the idea or leave it sycophant!
your heart mine seems to be very hazardous than landmine!

[Cheap Air Jordans]

Ramanus Ojong, this is not the line i will like to take, but be informed that every graffi man is a very very proud one and will NEVER EVER take a different identity least from the one you identify yourself with!There is nothing you have that we want, buy the idea or leave it sycophant!
your heart mine seems to be very hazardous than landmine!

[pierro]

is there a website for this solidarity group?how can a group that is interested in this brillant idea contact the headquarters?please advice

[Mbang]

Pierro,
Mr Chia provided the link in his piece. But you can visit it at http://sagi-usa.org. It makes the two of us that will be acting on this information.

[Echi]

Please, Mr chia did a good job worth appreciating. Only buffons now-a-days should talk of tribal links. There are no more boundaries. Take a look at all of us commonly called "Bushfallers". Our hosting countries have opened theie doors for foreign citizens like me and you to have a place under the sun because in Cameroon we were no better and their citizens do no more talk of tribal boundaries.Why can't keep aside these fruitless idea of Southern Cameroon? Because it has little or no fruits to produce

[Buhnange Terrence]

This is terrible. I wonder why people are so myopic. All we need is information and this Honorable brother has given us information.
Whatever we do with that information is entirely our business. A lot of us are left behind because we discaurage others, all we do is run arround and drink, womanise, and spread our human seeds bringing children into the world that we cannot care for. Others have resort to 419ners but when a brother brings information that sounds good instead of trying to research th validity of such information, all we do is criticise.

[winnie]

Well my group is signing to this, so i turn to the internet for more info and am happy Chia gave me...what is work with this south west pple ?lol get it together