Africa Agenda The Melle family in Colorado poses for a photo during the Cameroonian community annual potluck to Celebrate Christmas 2025 and the New Year. December 27, 2025
The Association of Cameroonians in Colorado (ACC) has long marked the end of the year with a communal potluck and feast. This year, the gathering took place on Saturday, December 27, with over 150 attendees from across Colorado, especially Aurora, home to the largest Cameroonian population.
Inside the Jewish Community Center in Glendale, where the event took place, you could see the smiles and sense the friendships and camaraderie as attendees greeted one another with cheers. Outside, and just after an opening prayer was given by member, Apostle Fabrice Ngouze, the lines to the buffet section stretched out from the hallways right into the beautifully decorated celebration center.
In attendance was Dr. Marjorie Lewis, an African American from Denver, who had recently discovered her lineage to Cameroon. Elated, Lewis quickly signed up to join the Cameroonian community through registration and membership in ACC.
Community Unity is Key
Africa Agenda Author and coach, Madiama Mbaye, speaks to Cameroonians during the 2025 ACC holiday party. December 27, 2025
While most of the attendees were US citizens and residents of Cameroonian descent, special guest speaker Madiama Mbaye from Senegal delivered a timely message designed to encourage the community amidst struggles at home and abroad.
“For unity to happen, people need to be humble, knowing that asking for help is not shame. Asking for help only makes you human,” Mbaye said. The author and coach added that the community needs to express their needs and desires to each other, because, as he stated, that is when support can be gained. “When people don’t know your needs, they are not able to support you.”
Africa Agenda Lucas Nkwelle, president of ACC, delivers remarks to Cameroonians at the Jewish Community Center in Denver. December 27, 2025
In a similar vein and in retrospect, Lucas Nkwelle, President of ACC, encouraged the local community to stay together because, as he stated, “Colorado is home for now.”
“As we conclude the year 2025, I want to say that we are celebrating a year of growth, cultural celebration, and community impact,” Nkwelle said. “This association was founded to unite all the Cameroonians who are coming all the way from Cameroon to this state here in Colorado.”
Bereavement Fund Reaches Milestone
The growth Nkwelle mentioned includes one of the association’s most significant initiatives, a bereavement and endowment fund or ACC BEF, now chaired by one of their own, Dr. Lovett Elango, a family practice physician with Kaiser Permanente in Colorado. Created in 2023, the BEF exists as a member-funded insurance and endowment to care for its own during difficult times.
Africa Agenda Dr. Lovett Elango (with a bow tie and a green suit) at the ACC Annual Potluck. December 27, 2025
While the community was the focus of the event, the Cameroonian association handed certificates to those who graduated from high school or college, as well as to those whose efforts had contributed to the success of ACC.
Recognitions were also given to US Air Force Academy graduates, Mwambo Forseh and Misori Forseh, both members of the community.
The more than five-hour event included a time of dancing and celebration that wrapped up a little after midnight in Denver, Colorado
