Indira Baboke: the singer defends her medical doctorate thesis

Known for her powerful voice and her spiritual commitment to gospel music, 23-year-old Indira Baboke has added a new title to her already impressive career.

On Monday 16 June 2025, in a packed 350-seat lecture hall at the University of Yaoundé 1, the young woman brilliantly defended her doctoral thesis, earning the jury’s commendation with a special mention.

A thesis on intracranial vascular malformations

Supervised by Professor Vincent de Paul Djientcheu, a leading authority in neurosurgery, and Dr Oumarou Haman Massouro, Indira’s research examined the outcomes and quality of life of patients operated on for intracranial vascular malformations at Yaoundé General Hospital.

The study, conducted on a sample of 39 patients between January 2019 and December 2024, aimed to quantify the impact of these conditions on patients’ lives after surgery, through a rigorous descriptive and analytical approach.

A ceremony fit for a grand occasion

The audience was equally impressive. The hall, usually reserved for university thesis defences, took on the air of an official ceremony, with the notable presence of government members, directors-general, the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o, as well as numerous figures from the arts world.

Family support was also on hand, notably with the presence of her father, Oswald Baboke, current deputy director of the civil cabinet of the presidency of the Republic.

Between television sets, recording studios and medical school lecture halls, the young doctor managed to combine passion and discipline. She proves that it is possible to reconcile faith, art and science without ever losing sight of excellence.

For now, Indira Baboke has not yet announced her professional plans after her thesis defence, but one thing is certain: whether at patients’ bedsides or on stage, she will continue to lift spirits.