Pascal Monkam
Pascal Monkam | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1930 |
| Died | (aged 90) |
| Nationality | Cameroonian |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Awards | Grand Cordon of the Order of Valour |
Pascal Monkam (1930 – 27 February 2021) was a Cameroonian businessman.[1] He notably owned the hotel chain La Falaise and was the father of 16 children.[2]
Biography
Monkam was born in the village of Bakassa in the department of Haut-Nkam to Nganou and Leukam Monkam, both peasants. He lost his father at a very young age and lived with his brother, Michel, in Douala.
Monkam founded the Société des Établissements Monkam in the early 1960s. His father-in-law gave him a loan of 300,000 Central African francs so that he could buy his first hotel, "Coin du Plaisir".[3] In 1972, he founded the hotel chain La Falaise, starting it out in the upscale Douala neighborhood of Bonanjo, where former French colonists still lived. He would also open Douala hotels in Akwa and Bonapriso, as well as in Bafang and Yaoundé. He opened other locations in South Africa, including twin towers bearing his name and three hotels in Pretoria.[4]
Aside from his business life, Monkam was polygamous, with five wives: Jeanne, Jacqueline, Jeannette, Dorothée and Chantal. He fathered sixteen children, including Paris and London Bar member Alain-Christian Monkam.[5]
In 2019, President of Cameroon Paul Biya awarded Monkam a Grand Cordon of the Order of Valour.
In 2021, Monkam was taken to South Africa as part of a medical evacuation and placed on a ventilator.[6] On 18 February, rumors of his death were circulated across Cameroon by numerous media outlets.[7] However, hours later, these rumors were debunked by his son, Alain-Christian and by Cameroon Radio Television.[8]
Pascal Monkam died on 27 February 2021 in South Africa at the age of 90.[9]
References
- ^ "Cameroun - Carnet noir: Le magnat de l'hôtellerie, Pascal Monkam, est décédé". Cameroon-Info.net (in French). 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Cameroun - Investissements: Le magnat de l'immobilier, Pascal Monkam, étend son empire avec un nouvel hôtel de 4 étoiles à Douala". Cameroon-Info.net (in French). 26 April 2019.
- ^ "Monkam Pascal, multimilliardaire camerounais et roi de l'hôtellerie : le PDG des hôtels La falaise un monument vivant". CAMEROON CEO (in French). 10 April 2017.
- ^ "Cameroun : un nouvel hôtel « La Falaise » à Douala, Bonapriso". Afrik.com (in French). 25 April 2019.
- ^ "Me Alain-Christian Monkam : « Je suis optimiste sur la pérennité de l'œuvre de Kadji »". Quotidien Mutations (in French). 20 October 2018. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "Carnet noir: Mort du milliardaire Pascal Monkam le propriétaire du groupe hôtelier La Falaise". Camer.be (in French). 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Nécrologie: le PDG des hôtels La Falaise est-il vraiment décédé ?". CamerounWeb (in French). 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Cameroun - Démenti: La famille de Pascal Monkam, le magnat de l'hôtellerie, dément son décès". Cameroon-Info.net (in French). 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Décès du milliardaire camerounais Pascal Monkam en Afrique du Sud". Investir au Cameroun (in French). 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.