Dr. Mercy Mabian was born and raised in Cameroon, West Africa. A native of Oroko, she is from Dikome Balua village. She graduated from Fort Valley State College in Georgia with a BA in English, and from Albany State University with a MA in Education. She received her PHD in 1996 at Bowling Green State University in Bowling, Ohio in Ethnic Literature. Her favorite book is Zora Neale Hurston’s I love Myself when I am laughing…and Then Again When I am looking Mean and Impressive. Writing this book entitled Learn while Playing: A Crossword Puzzle of Oroko Culture is Dr. Mabian’s way of exposing Oroko culture. She hopes that with the publication of several works about Oroko culture, the beauty, collectiveness, richness, and uniqueness of the culture will be revealed to the public.
Her Mother, Mrs. Frida Mabian is the co-author of this book. Like her daughter, Mrs. Mabian was born and raised in Cameroon, West Africa. She is a retired Registered Nurse and Midwife of thirty years. She is the translator of all the words from the English language to the Dialects. Some of the ten Oroko dialects were used in this book. However, since, the authors are from Dikome Balue, several words were translated to Lolue dialect of the Dikome Balue people. As co-writer of this book, she is determined and committed to the mission of exposing Oroko Culture to the public. As a retired nurse and midwife, Mrs. Mabian lives with her daughter in Smyrna, Georgia.
