Some Amazing Facts About Krys Thobie aka Massa Tok Tok

Krys Thobie, Popularly Known as Massa Tok Tok or better still Eze Ekuleku, is a Douala-based journalist who champions not only as a Pidgin broadcaster, but has cut a niche for himself as far as proximity broadcasting is concerned.
His TV shows, Pidgin News (from Monday to Friday, 8am and 1pm) and Pidgin Debate (1pm on Saturdays and 8am on Sundays) have won the hearts of thousands of viewers, especially the people at the grassroots. This is definitely thanks to the human interest approach and the use of pidgin. “You can only address their problems if you use the language they understand best,” he says. Massa Tok Tok continues: “The human interest approach seeks to distract people of the lower social class from the sometimes boring institutional news, much of which does not have a direct positive impact on their lives.”

Perhaps, his journalism background is what many don’t know. Krys Thobie read Journalism in Nigeria maybe the reason he sometimes feel very comfortable in the Nigerian ascent and the nickname "Eze Ekuleku".
In the 1990s, he worked for CRTV’s Yaounde FM 94 and the national station where he anchored 'Luncheon Date' though as a collaborator. He later worked in the same capacity at CRTV Littoral where he conceived but never ran the first ever radio show in pidgin in Cameroon. “I was motivated by the huge Nigerian business community in Douala who would normally enjoy their products being advertised in pidgin,” he explains.

Krys later introduced the idea on Radio Equinoxe upon creation in 2002. Since then, his radio pidgin show, Massa TokTok has been a not to miss rendezvous for his fans.

Also a holder of a BA in Bilingual Letters from University of Yaounde1, Krys Thobie has a Higher Diploma in Computer Sciences. That is why he would report in the French and English newscasts on his station and edit his images all by himself.

But did you know that Massa Tok Tok is a footballer? “I played for the Under 17 national team for two years, during which I participated in the African Championship in Tunisia and Abidjan,” he says.

The Human Interest news hero however warns youths to shun pidgin if it is going to have a toll on the English. Massa Tok Tok further advises youth leaders to live exemplary lives if they must champion the fight against HIV and AIDS.

About Wallang

Calvino Wallang is a Communication student passionate about Comedy, Modern Communication and Youth Development.. Originally from the North West Region of Cameroon.