Valentine Fonewe Mbakwa was born in Cameroon on the 24th of October 1985. He is a final year student in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of the University of Buea. As early as nursery school he developed a burning passion for drawing, which grew over the years. A self-taught artist, he attended his first arts exhibition organized by the Alliance Franco-Camerounaise with Max Sako Lyonga.
In 2005, Valentine was selected together with another few artists to become part of a painting workshop organized by Max Sako Lyonga in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. This was followed by an exhibition organized by the Southwest Delegation of Culture in 2006. In 200, he became part of the Mombatoum project which included two exhibitions and a tour through Cameroon. Currently he is doing mixed media abstract paintings as well as illustrations and graphic design.

"I felt honoured to have accomplished such a noble task the Limbe Conservation Workshop. Since then I feel more concerned about conservation issues as I got to know and appreciate the gorillas even better. My heightened involvement and concern grew even more when I learnt shortly after the workshop that four smuggled gorillas were to be returned to Cameroon; I was quite happy for the gorillas. I hope that efforts like ours and many other brilliant conservation activities will be encouraged more in the future."

Title: 'Touch of Relief'
Mixed media on canvas.
Dimensions: 60 by 70 cm

50% of the revenues of this original gorilla painting, signed by the artist, will go to the conservation of the Cross River Gorillas in South West Cameroon.

Shipping and handling costs (US and Europe): US$75

Video of the art workshop