|E38| ChamCham talks: Leaving Cameroon, Learning Japanese & Becoming a DJ

ChamCham talks about his life growing up in Cameroon, having a huge family that embodied the different cultural values of the country, and how the need to learn French didn't stop his desire to go to the best university there. Taking inspiration from a well-educated and well-travelled family, we explore how he ended up moving to Tokyo, what is was like as a foreigner in Japan, and how he's managed to create a great life for himself there, including breaking in to the music scene there as a growing DJ on the Tokyo scene - think afrobeats, rap, grime and much more!

We discuss:

Having a HUGE family and prestigious grandad

Polygamy in the previous generations in Cameroon

Learning one of the 250 dialects spoken in Cameroon

Francophone vs. Anglophone Cameroon - history, tensions & recent instability

Learning French and being the first guy in the family to move to Asia

Remembering those first days in Tokyo, and learning Japanese.. in 8 months(!)

How strict parents helped him persevere and create a great life in Japan

Unexpected shock for Japanese going to Cameroon vs. a Cameroonian going to Japan

Playing American Football at University

ChamCham shares an embarrassing story he's NEVER shared with any of his other friends before!!

Quotes

"When I got out of high school, my thing was I want to go to the best university in the country"

"If I didn't persevere, I might have not stayed as long as I have in this country"

"We [Africans] are not time conscious, but in Japan, that is the one thing that can ruin a relationship"

"Stop Failing, Stay Hungry & Stay Foolish"

Find ChamCham on Instagram @afro_chamcham

Follow the podcast @thejourneyonwardspodcast

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