When Haman Mana was a student at the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon, he thought he would become a history teacher. But after learning about the rigorous entrance exam prospective journalism school students were required to pass, he decided to take on the challenge.
“I told myself, ‘Let me go and do the test,'” Mana said, as a way to test his knowledge.
“There were three or four of us who studied history and geography, and we wanted to see who among us was the smartest,” Mana said.
As a young student, Mana said he was never interested in pursuing a career in journalism. But when he was the only one of his friends to pass the test, something in him changed.
“I said, ‘Maybe I have the skills for this,'” Mana said.
The following year, he enrolled in the University of Yaoundé’s Advanced School of Mass Communication program, commonly referred to by students and faculty as ASMAC.
Early career
After graduating in 1988, Mana got a job as a reporter for the Cameroon-Tribune, a daily newspaper owned by the Cameroonian government.
But he would resign after seven years due to ideological differences.
“People wanted democracy,” he said. “And my newspaper didn’t want democracy.”
Disappointed by the way things had turned out, Mana returned to his alma mater to pursue a master’s degree in environmental communication.
“It was just a way to not be useless,” he said with a laugh. “I just went there to do something.”
During Mana’s time in graduate school, he knew he wanted to return to journalism. So he and a few friends decided to start their own newspaper, one that would allow them to report on subjects freely and accurately.
Shortly after earning his master’s degree, Mana co-founded Mutations, which became Cameroon’s only privately owned daily newspaper after converting from a weekly. In addition to helping launch Mutations, Mana served as publisher and editor.
He said Mutations covered many subjects considered taboo for most outlets, quickly making it one of the most popular daily newspapers in Cameroon.
“I think that’s because we combined professionalism and freedom of speech,” Mana said. “And we were young. We used to take many risks.”
The newspaper, Mana said, was the first to be a voice and platform for many marginalized communities.
“In our country, LGBT issues are very, very controversial issues … because homosexuality is forbidden by law,” Mana said. “And if you are [outed], you’ll be sentenced to prison for two to five years. So we have to tackle those forbidden issues.”
After covering other prohibited subjects, like the Cameroonian military and government, Mana said he was arrested multiple times. He was later fired from Mutations after butting heads with the other co-founder before launching Le Jour, another daily newspaper, in 2007.
Journey to the U.S.
Mana first visited Chicago in 1997 during a three-week program for young African leaders and professionals. Since then, he’s returned more than 10 times for vacations and other career opportunities.
But a different set of circumstances has brought him back this time.
On Jan. 22, 2023, journalist Martinez Zogo, director of radio station Amplitude FM, was found dead on a plot of land in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A week before Zogo’s disappearance, the 50-year-old radio host had accused media mogul Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga on air of corruption and embezzlement of public funds.
“A couple of days before he was abducted, he came to my office, and said, ‘Hey, these people have targeted me. They will kill me,'” Mana said.
During their conversation, Zogo had also said that he worried Mana’s life might be in danger, too, as he had done some reporting on Belinga in the past. But Mana thought his friend was exaggerating.
Four days after Zogo’s corpse was found, Mana fled his home country.
He arrived in the U.S. in early February and eventually joined Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications as a visiting faculty member for the 2023-2024 school year.
As a journalist in residence, Mana said he hopes to share his experience with Northwestern students while he works on his book about government corruption in Cameroon. He will also continue to run Le Jour from Evanston.