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]

Pascal Monkam
Born1930
Died (aged 90)
NationalityCameroonian
OccupationBusinessman
AwardsGrand Cordon of the Order of Valour

Biography

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Monkam was born in the village of Bakassa [fr] 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 [fr], where former French colonists still lived. He would also open Douala hotels in Akwa [fr] and Bonapriso [fr], 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

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  1. ^ "Cameroun - Carnet noir: Le magnat de l'hôtellerie, Pascal Monkam, est décédé". Cameroon-Info.net (in French). 27 February 2021.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Cameroun : un nouvel hôtel " La Falaise " à Douala, Bonapriso". Afrik.com (in French). 25 April 2019.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Carnet noir: Mort du milliardaire Pascal Monkam le propriétaire du groupe hôtelier La Falaise". Camer.be (in French). 18 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Nécrologie: le PDG des hôtels La Falaise est-il vraiment décédé ?". CamerounWeb (in French). 18 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Cameroun - Démenti: La famille de Pascal Monkam, le magnat de l'hôtellerie, dément son décès". Cameroon-Info.net (in French). 18 February 2021.
  9. ^ "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.