MAINTENANCE. From tennis to the role of village chief in Cameroon, Yannick Noah with an open heart

It was in Paris, in a hotel not far from the Champs-Élysées, that an appointment was made with Yannick Noah. The singer, a former tennis player, was true to himself: smiling, relaxed, joking. Captain of the French Davis Cup team, and also of the Fed Cup, Noah is now the chief of the village of his childhood, in Cameroon.

In Etoudi, a district of Yaoundé where he grew up, the Franco-Cameroonian reconnects with his roots. While a documentary film retracing his career is about to be released on Amazon Prime Videoon May 20, the last French winner of Roland-Garros took the time to confide in his new life.

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Yannick, what was the trigger to embark on this documentary project?

During the pandemic, when we put everything on hold, we all had a reaction. Me, it was: “Damn, I have 60 ballets! Alone, at home, it shocked me. Not negatively but as an alarm clock. And then I started putting things away in the house. I found old movies Super 8. I hadn’t seen them for 30 years, I thought they were lost.

Films of your childhood, of your life in Cameroon that we discover…

(he cuts) It’s incredible! When I found this, I called a friend to ask him for an old fashioned movie projector. We project the first images, I didn’t know what it was. And then there… I shout, I film and I send to my children, my sisters and I say to them: “Look what I have! It’s a crazy thing. “We watched everything. Then I thought it was time to tell a story.

“I would also like to create a link with Cameroon”

You returned to live in Cameroon, where you grew up. What motivated you?

I left 50 years. There was a part of me that told me, at my level, that sportingly, artistically and as captain, I gave everything on my mother’s side (who is French). I had a strong, deep, intense bond with people in France. A real relationship, an incredible thing to experience. What luck ! And the other part of me says to me: “I would also like to create a link with Cameroon. “It is the side of dad (who is Cameroonian) who has been a little neglected.

Seeing you come back to the village, was that your father’s dream?

Yes. Dad, he always wanted to preserve this property that belonged to the family. Over time, I recovered plots. It was dad’s wish that this place not be sold or forgotten. I do it especially for my children, my nephews, my sisters, my grandchildren… They will have this place. It is non-negotiable, unsaleable. I try to bring it to life. It’s a beautiful place, it’s called Noah village (laughs).

Yannick Noah’s daily life in Cameroon, what does it look like?

I do work. I love the decor and I’m in the process of organizing my new rehearsal studio. I do concerts, rehearsals, I discuss with the cook to work on the menu, I decorate bungalows because I made a kind of hotel… I’m doing a gym. There is the school which belonged to mom which we improve, too. We just finished a canteen. I want to make a small dispensary for the elders of the village. They need care. That is my life. It’s exciting. Especially since all my parents’ and grandparents’ friends tell me: “Your parents must be so proud of what you do. And that touches me.

« The family, in Cameroon, is the essential »

Do you have the role of village chief?

Oh the cow… I am Yannick what. The crossroads next to the house is the Yannick crossroads. I am the son of the country, it’s like here (in France). Everyone knows me. Over time here, I feel like people can get bored of Noah. Whereas over there, no, it’s: “He came back! « . There is this vibration. The image of the son who returns to take care of the place, of the family, is very strong because the family, in Cameroon, is essential. You take care of the family: it’s the most beautiful thing you can do on Earth.

What is your relationship to tennis today?

“Celebrate the wall”, always (his tennis association which fights against the exclusion of young people). I have just signed to be part of a psychological support unit for players, parents and coaches with the Federation, for three years. That’s great.

READ ALSO. « My buddy got kicked out of the family », Yannick Noah bitter after the departure of Guy Forget from Roland-Garros

Was it important to you to do this accompaniment?

As captain (of the French Davis Cup or Fed Cup team), that was my role. Take care of the mugs. Affect. Try to help them perform. A guy you help win, he’s happy (laughs). The lessons you can learn on a court when you’re a pro, if you learn them well, these are things that will help you in your life afterwards, because a career is short.

“The idea is to share a human experience with this documentary”

You also take care of a young tennis player from your village, Uma (8 years old). We knew you player, captain but not coach. It’s new ?

At my age, I can’t play anymore, I can’t move forward, I’m tired (laughs). So at some point, it’s the transmission that takes precedence. There are people who have helped me so much with words, advice. She plays tennis in my village, of course I will accompany her. If I can help this little one achieve her dream… Will it happen? We’ll see. For now, it’s just one of the best in the world (smiles).

By watching this biopic, how do you view your career?

It’s not for me to judge. There are people I hadn’t seen for a very long time who said things that touched me. It’s cool because I participated with the production of this documentary. I wanted to tell the story, hoping that it would be a little touching and that when they got out of it, kids could say to themselves that it’s possible: « He wasn’t that good, but he worked . He got married. He wasn’t supposed to sing, but he sang, he made 12 albums, etc. The idea is to share this human experience. Let it be stimulating. It’s not: “Look at me! My story is amazing! »