Ask a New Yorker: I’m sitting here with Marvella (Uberchic January 2006), who was kind enough to invite me over for dinner to meet a ‘mystery guest’. Thank you for inviting me over this evening Marv. Who is this young lady you’ve asked me to meet, who is sitting to my right?
Marvella: You have everything to do with it, because of Ask a New Yorker. Trebeka happened to find me through the Ask a New Yorker interview. In it you mentioned her grandfather who was the ambassador to Cameroon in Washington DC in the 70’s. I just so happened to have been his social secretary. So this startled her imagination when she saw her grandfather’s name and my name. So she found out where I lived and called me from Chile.
Trebeka: I’m a singer and it was very funny finding Marvella. Sometimes I like to do some research on the net and I was looking under the name of my grandfather Joseph Owono. This is where I found the Uberchic listing. I found Marvella and the interview which attracted my attention. I read the whole article and saw that Marvella was the secretary to my grandpa and thought it would be great to contact her. The interview had a link to Marvella cosmetic company Marvellissma. I found the phone number. So I decided to call her. I think she was very surprised when I told her who I am. It was very exciting.
Ask a New Yorker: Ask a New Yorker connecting people! What are some of your memories of your grandfather?
Trebeka: He was very smart, strategic and innovative. He was not someone easy to influence and had a clear ideas and opinions on a lot of things. He had a lot of dreams and did manage to live his dreams. He was an exceptional man.
Ask a New Yorker. Trebeka is an unusual name. What’s its origin?
Trebeka: Trebeka means ‘brown stone’.
Ask a New Yorker: Trebeka, why are you in New York besides to meet you grandfather’s dear friend?
Trebeka: I’m supposed to be on holidays between two gigs.
Ask a New Yorker: What’s your gig?
Trebeka: Right now I’m not gigging. I have my recording for my first jazz Latino album with some great New York musicians. I was working with Lonnie Plaxico who was the artistic director for Dizzy Gillespie and many others.
Ask a New Yorker: Have you been to New York before?
Trebeka: This is my first time. I love it here. Manhattan is a special type of city. If you go to Brooklyn this is another story. It’s very cosmopolitan. People come from everywhere. Everybody can really be themselves from where ever they come from.
Ask a New Yorker: So where are you from?
Trebeka: I was born in France. My mom is French and my father is from Cameroon.
Ask a New Yorker: Here’s a very important question: Where did you get your shoes?
Trebeka: Nine West in Santiago, Chile.
Ask a New Yorker: Delving deeper, if you had an invitation to The Last Supper and were allowed to bring someone….who would it be and why?
Trebeka: I would like to come with my brother, because we haven’t seen each other for years. And I would request to eat shrimp dumplings with glutinous rice, a glass of red wine, preferably ‘St Emilion’ and fresh mango as a desert .On second forget the shrimp dumpling and glutinous rice, I would have gambas.
Ask a New Yorker: So where are you headed next?
Trebeka: I’m going to Bangkok next week where I’ll be singing with a jazz quartet.
Ask a New Yorker: World traveler. Where else have you been?
Trebeka: I’ve been to Singapore. I stayed for one year in China where I went to school to learn Mandarin. I’ve been working six months in Shanghai and six months in Beijing. I love China. I love Beijing. A party city. I’ve been to Dubai. But when I travel I like to see the real thing, to connect with the history of the city. The people are wonderful in Dubai but again there is no history, no soul. Lots of hotels for rich people. It’s very, very rich.
Ask a New Yorker: Traveling is the best. As a world traveler what’s one piece of gear you could not live without?
Trebeka: A picture of my family…. I love traveling. I think it opens your mind so much. Recently I travelled to Cambodia. I have some relatives there. This is a county I will visit again. It’s very poor. The misery was very aggressive. Many children walking the streets selling books. Five year olds walking fifteen hours. Lot’s of poverty but something else important to know. Even with the poverty the people are just fantastic!
Ask a New Yorker: What’s the most strange, exotic food you’ve ever eaten?
Trebeka: Brochette of insect at the food market of Wangfujing (Wangfujing is an area of Beijing).
Ask a New Yorker: So who are you?
Trebeka: (Laughter) Do you have enough tape and batteries. In one word I am a believer. I believe in my dreams and I never give up on my dreams. I’ve always wanted to be a singer and a writer. I love writing poetry. I love Baudelaire Les Fleurs du mal…. I’d love sit at home and write full time.
Ask a New Yorker: Marv what do you think of this gathering?
Marv: The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Ask a New Yorker: And may I add to those who have the wonderful gift to prepare the most delicious meal. What was in that sauce? Outstanding. Thank you Marv!!
I emailed Trebeka a few days later for a few clarifications and asked her what her view from her window was like in Bangkok.
Trebeka: The view outside my window is the Chao Phraya River. And today I had rehearsal with my musicians.
And the musicians’ names:
Bass: Lonnie Plaxico
Guitar: Marvin Sewell
Piano: George Colligan
Drums: Kenny Grohowski
