GEF's Outlook: Singing Barack Obama in Cameroon

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January 20, 2009

Singing Barack Obama in Cameroon

By George Esunge Fominyen

After a brief lull, the Barack Obamania is back into full gear in Africa and among many of African descent. Today (20 January 2009) is his 'Inauguration Day' as President of the United States of America. Given the way some are excited in Africa, one might misconstrue him for the President of another USA: United States of Africa?!

I tuned in to Cameroon Television (CRTV) this morning and the breakfast show was wholly dedicated to Obama's coming into office. The set was decorated with American flags and Obama campaign gadgets. But what struck me was this musical piece on Barack Obama, stipped in Bakweri folklore. A rythm hatched by the up and coming Tata Kingue...

In the song, Tata Kinge is asking (in Bakweri/Mokpé) that everyone should stand and dance now to Barack Obama's success - whether from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Cameroon or the US. He continues that... "What we wanted is here... that is what we wanted... that is what we said we wanted, etc"

He says whether you are white or black, man, woman or child, dance for Barack Obama and join him (Obama) to make the world, the world of the people.

Watching the dancers in the video moving their shoulders to these beats that are drawn from the cult Maalé dance, I couldn't help doing the n'gom'a wetuli (dance of the shoulder) myself...

Yet the glee on the faces of these, dancers, all the presenters and the rest of the lot being happy about Barack Obama this day in Cameroon and with such expectation - got me thinking.

Here are a people who have knwon only two Presidents (Ahmadou Ahidjo and Paul Biya) since Cameroon became one nation in 1961. How are they going to feel the day Paul Biya who has been there for 26 years leaves?

Would they be singing..."that's what we wanted...it is here at last....oh this is what we had been wishing for...?"

Is this excitement about "change" in a far, far away land sending a message to anyone in the politics in Cameroon about how people feel? Is this praise singing for Barack Obama simply a ruse to shout out to leaders in such countries that "the people want change?"

Is it telling those who want to be the alternative to what is in power about the kind of people Cameroonians and Africans want?

Anyway, I had my own external thrills during the Bolton versus Manchester United last Saturday and last night's Liverpool versus Everton draw. Others are surely having theirs with the Barack Obama inaugural...Good for them.

That said: Tata Kinge's music got me feeling like home again...The rythm and the music (not neccessarily the Obama factor). Thanks Mola Tata Kinge!