Washington, DC — Francoise Foning is a phenomenon. A startlingly successful businesswoman in her native Cameroon, she is also a mayor in her city, Douala, and a member of parliament. In Washington to attend the U.S.-Africa Business Summit, She gave allAfrica.com a glimpse of her career and philosophy.
How did you get into business in the first place?
I was working in a government office at first, then I opened a restaurant where I went after my office work and I was working every day until 1 a.m.. Then in the morning I would have to be back at the office. This lasted at least two years. Then I bought a car which I set up [with a driver] as a taxi. I bought one more and then one more until I had 30 cabs because the Toyota company had confidence in me and offered me credit [to buy the vehicles]. Then I created a company called Socamec which did import-export; I brought peanut oil, frozen chicken, cuts of beef and rice into Cameroon .
After that I moved into quarrying sand and construction materials. And then I bought a furniture factory then being run by Italians with 280 personnel. Now I am opening exports to the European Union and Canada and the rest of the world.
How did you did you get the capital you needed at the start, to buy that first car for example?
I didn't borrow from the bank. You know these African organizations where people put money together? We call it tontine [a credit circle in which members pool their contributions every week or month and take it turns to receive a lump sum]... that allowed me to get started.
I came to have 15 companies with a total, at one stage, of 1,900 employees.
Is your story unusual in Cameroon?
I wish there were more women that fight the way I do. Im fighting for it, Im trying to empower them, some are trying but we still need to empower them. I am unusual, but such an achievement is not an easy task. I do a lot of things that are normally reserved for men.
Now I am the mayor of Douala. I am the vice-president of the African Business Roundtable, the president of the Association of Business Women in Cameroon, and President of the network of woman entrepreneurs in Africa which has 28,0000 members! I am also vice-president of the African business forum.
So a woman like that causes astonishment, there's curiosity on all sides; I know I am disturbing many people but I like it, I like the way I am.
What made you take this path and why don't other women do it too?
They have to fight! You have to accept insults. You will be blocked and you have to fight to break down whatever is blocking you. Women have to be sure of themselves and must never stop fighting. If there is a young woman who believes in herself, I will always be ready to help her. You have to believe in yourself. Im different from other people because I like brave women, those who are even braver than me. We must push women hard.
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Are you still a member of a tontine circle?
Yes I still belong to those tontine circles, I must, because when the banker is jealous of you, he will try to block you. I don't want to depend on anybody.
So who are your fellow partners in the circle?
There are businessmen and women, society women... I'm in several types of tontine. We must always have a vision, believe in our power and not be afraid of jealousy.
