Alex Biloa sells roast plum and plantain at Avenue Kennedy in Yaounde.

This business has left no one indifferent. This is the case with Alex Biloa who has overcome his physical disability by selling roasted plum and plantain. His shrivelled leg is not a setback to his education. Rather, it is a motivation as he leaves Mini-ferme every morning to Avenue Kennedy together with his older sister.

With enough zeal to kick off the day, it is at 8 am that business begins, while his sister roasts plum and plantain, he sells them. He says this activity will enable him register for the GCE examination when the academic year starts. The determined young man adds with a radiant smile “I can make FCFA 20,000 daily when business is good and only FCFA 15,000 when luck does not show up. But I cannot complain because I still make good profit.”

Whatever the day turns out to be, one thing is certain; he must retire home with his sister at 7pm to better prepare for the next day. His condition requires a lot of dependence, but he has opted to fend for himself due to the fact that so many surgical operations carried out on his leg in the past have left his parents poor. Moreover, he has younger siblings who need to be taken care of.

The younger generation has set a new trend for petty trading on the streets of the City of Seven Hills, most especially during holidays period. This activity is gaining more grounds as compared to yesteryears. One would wonder why it is so and even tempted to say it is a consequence of life being difficult. But as the saying goes “when we long for life without difficulties, may we be reminded oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.”