Songwriter, actor, comedian. With his hit “L’Afrique vous appartient – Africa belongs to You,” Jacques Yamdjie “Jah Yams,” originally from Cameroon but having immigrated to Canada over two decades ago, is a community leader, guitarist, drummer, singer, and composer. With his strong and inviting voice, Jah Yams, as he is called artistically, calls upon all who listen to his words that this place, the world, could be better if we love each other, walk the paths of wisdom of our ancestors. All of his songs like Dolores, Hamelah, and many others reflect what he has in his heart: true love, respect for others, freedom, and solidarity. Jah Yams has managed to blend reggae, soul, rumba, and makossa in such an original way that we wonder and love to hear more of his easy-listening music. All his content is original, inspired by his traditional Bamileke-Bana culture with its proverbs, sayings, and popular culture. Jah Yams speaks French, English, Pidgin, and several Bamileke languages.
The fight is not over, as Jacques Yamdjie always likes to say. Let’s build strong families, supportive, loving, and tolerant communities together. This is Jah Yams’ eternal message to everyone.
In terms of his involvement in the community, Jacques Yamdjie has been very active in the community for over 20 years, helping newcomers from Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia access fundamental needs for their socio-economic and cultural integration. Thanks to his vast and extensive network, Jacques has been able to help through his partners and Canoraa Inc. Aid hundreds of newcomers and refugees in need to access affordable housing, sports and recreational facilities, French-language schools, French-speaking lawyers, and much more. Through his online journal Canora, the Canora journal is published on the Canoraa Inc. website, Jacques has been able to reach thousands of Internet users across North America, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Canoraa Inc. is known among former users as an open-door organization where you can always find a helping hand, no matter the situation you are facing. This is indeed a positive statement and a strong testimony to everything Jacques has done so far in his public life in Canada.