GEF's Outlook

Celebrating Africa in Song as Africa Cup Starts in Gabon & Eq.Guinea

The official song of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea with Patience Dabany (Gabon) feat Magic System (Ivory Coast), X-Maleya (Cameroon) and much more... It celebrates the Africa and invites Africans to the two host nations to enjoy football. All the best to the teams that will be competing and their fans who should be dancing to this rythmic tune! Follow match analysis and other interesting bits on Gef's Football Club

Should Explicit Content in Cameroon Bikutsi be Condemned?

Cameroon's popular musical genre Bikutsi does not need foul language and explicit content to thrive, a former Cameroon TV (CRTV) presenter, Nadine Patricia Mengue, has said. 

Bikutsi has been criticised over the years for the perceived sexual content of its lyrics and the dance styles performed on stage and in videos. 

"In Europe when you say you are a Cameroonian (artiste) and you play Bikutsi people have the impression that you are doing pornography," the France-based broadcaster said. (see video below)

"We can talk about happiness and fun but we don't need to get into trash," she added while co-presenting Tam-Tam Weekend, the CRTV show that is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

But should this be an issue at all? Shouldn't it be left to people to choose what they want or don't want to listen to? And aren't such lyrics part of Bikutsi from its inception?

 

Bikutsi started as a means for women in various Beti and Fang people of central and southern Cameroon to speak out about the trials and tribulations of everyday life, love and relationships with their men including sexual taboos. 

This was accompanied by singing, clapping and stamping of their feet on the earth. It later became a part of traditional song and dance events with the men playing the balafon and drums while the women sang. 

"The improvised and usually erotic female choruses are at the heart of the Beti’s bikut-si tradition," Hortense and Charles Fuller wrote in their History of Bikutsi Music.

Music from the Motherland

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Of Charlotte Dipanda, Majoie Asse and the Canal D'Or

Charlotte Dipanda. Does that ring a bell? The 24-year-old singer with a soulful touch has captured the hearts of Cameroonians since the release of her first album "Mispa" in 2009. They paid her for bringing some bliss into their lives by voting her as the Best Female Artiste of that year,through the Cameroon music and culture awards, Canal D'or.

She carved her niche in the hearts of many with poignant vocals that accompanied the late Jeannot Hens' guitar in songs like Ndando, Longue and Cathy. For connaisseurs who remember her early days as a vocalist in Douala cabarets before she was fished out by Congolese songster - Lokua Kanza, her current success is well deserved.

She was performing on the night of her victory (part of a tour of Cameroon) thus failing to attend the ceremony.

The Male Artiste of the Year - Longue Longue - was at the event. He walked to the stage in a priest's cassock, which he dropped to unveil a stylish suit as he received his prize. According to votes via SMS and the web, he came ahead of Tsimi Tsoro whose lead track  "Merci" was voted best  song of the year.

Lapiro Honoured at Cameroon Music Awards

Organisers of the Cameroon music and cultural awards, CANAL D'Or, have honoured jailed singer Lambo Sandjo Pierre Roger aka Lapiro de Mbanga with a a Life time Achievement Award.

The special tribute presented to his wife Louisette Lambo Sandjo on Friday is in recognition of the artiste's work, especially his engaging lyrics on the social, political and economic situation of his countrymen, often delivered in the "mboko" variant of the country's lingua franca, Pidgin-English.

"I dedicate this award to my husband and to all who are with him in cell number 18," the emotional Louisette told the audience made up of politicians, senior civil servants, top class businessmen, musicians, comedians and journalists.

Lapiro de Mbanga was arrested in April 2008 after the violent riots that rocked Cameroon in protest of high prices of basic commodities and popular discontent over a change in the country's constitution to drop the restriction of Presidential terms.

"I WON'T CRY"

He was convicted in September 2008 to three years imprisonment for looting, unlawful gathering and blocking the public highway at Mbanga, 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Douala, the economic capital and one of several towns swept by riots that claimed more than 40 lives according to the official toll.

Book Launch: Paul Biya -The People's Call

By George Esunge Fominyen

If you are interested in a genre of political literature called "motions of support" then there is a new book on the shelves in Cameroon for your reading pleasure: Paul Biya: The People's Call. It is a 336 page compilation of motions of support to Cameroon’s President Paul Biya packaged by the Cameroon Publishing Corporation (SOPECAM). 

The first of four parts of the book republishes motions of support requesting Paul Biya to stand for election in 2011 for another 7-year- term. Part 2 compiles motions of support from different parts of Cameroon "thanking" the President for appointing their sons or daughters in government or other high duties. The third part includes the messages sent to Paul Biya after reports about his "supposed ill-gotten wealth and lavish spending on holiday in Europe". The final part focuses on motions of support for the anti-graft operation dubbed sparrow hawk (Epervier).

“The book is a testimony of communication between a people and their leader,” Philemon Yang the country’s Prime Minister said at the book launch on Monday. “It is a healthy two-way flow of messages," he added.

According to Philemon Yang, the President acknowledged the motions of support in his letter to the nation that marked his 27th anniversary in power. Paul Biya said he had heard the appeals and motions of support the people have been sending to him.

"I thank you for them, very sincerely. They are the most eloquent signs of encouragement addressed to me in the discharge of my responsibilities at the helm of State," the Cameroon Head of State wrote in his 3 November 2009 letter.

The Prime Minister described the book as "a landmark in the political history of our Fatherland." He said "for many years, future generations would read it and try to understand many issues that perhaps today we take for granted.”

It's understood that everyone has a right to their thoughts and convictions. Prime Minister Yang is thus entitled to speak of two-way communication between President Biya and the people he rules.

One simply wonders why the Head of State has not responded to a young rapper called Valsero who many months ago wrote "a letter to the President" about the plight of the country's masses (particularly the youth).

African Courtship in Song for V-Day

George Esunge Fominyen

It is 14th February. Saint Valentine's Day. Some people claim it's lovers' day. In most western countries the day is full of people expressing their passion for their loved ones. Lots of red roses are bought and handed over to sweethearts. Africans too are very much involved these days.The way it's done in Yaounde or Bamenda is often along the western lines. Ha! 

Here's a gift to all who are celebrating on this day. Ngbwak Afup: It is a love song exhibiting courtship a l'Africaine; sung in bulu to the rythm of the mindzang (balafon) or traditional xylophone by the Rocher Jazz Band de Mezesse. Subtitles available in English. Happy V-Day...Mayange wo ngkak Afup...!

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...