I am from Cameroon.  Fascinated by Canada, I decided to emigrate here at the age of 18. I enrolled at the University of Ottawa where I received my Bachelor in Journalism.

As a newcomer to Canada, the transition to life in Ottawa went pretty well for me (except for the fact that winters can be tough). Ottawa is a multicultural city where the different communities exist in peace and harmony.  Ottawa is also full of good African restaurants.  Recently, I went to the restaurant Double 7 on Rue Saint Laurent.  I really liked the food and the ambiance there.  The African community of Ottawa is vibrant.  I made friends within that community very quickly.  It helps that many of us share the same passion for soccer!  

My father always emphasized the importance of getting an education.  Even though I aspired to be a professional soccer player, the thought of abandoning my studies never crossed my mind.  My father would never have forgiven me if I had.  If I had not taken my studies seriously, I would have kicked myself because my dream of becoming a professional soccer player was never realized.  I worked hard to obtain my university degree and that is a decision that I have never regretted.  In fact, the lessons that I learned in school help me a lot in my music career.

When I came to Ottawa, I met a number of friends on the University of Ottawa campus and we created the rap group 8e Art.  As an immigrant musician, I initially faced some challenges.  Initially, I had the status of an international student.  I didn’t have access to the same opportunities that Canadian citizens and permanent residents had and that was extremely frustrating for me.  For example, all my grant proposals were rejected because I only had international student status.

I speak French and English fluently but I do not speak the language of my ancestors.  That is unfortunate and I plan to rectify this problem as soon as possible.  Over the next couple of years, I hope to learn one or two African languages. 

I am a big fan of Cameroonian cuisine, so I often ask my mother to send me recipes. I also listen to a lot of African music and I get a lot of inspiration from that.  There is a lot of creativity on the continent of Africa.  African artists are extremely talented, and they encourage me to keep doing better.  In the beginning, rap was just a hobby for me but over time, I became hooked on the music.  Today, rap is my addiction and the thought of becoming the best rapper in the world has become a real obsession for me.  

To connect with Hopiho and listen to his song, head to https://youtu.be/4tc0fBmFaj0