By Yangange Martin Wose*.
A good number of
Cameroonian Artists have died in
recent times looking back about
15 – 20 years. Though
the two score
years may seem
a long time,
in respect of the life
span of this endangered genus,
when added to their
lifespan as at the
time of them
passing on , it augurs
that they did
not live a full
life. Going by the Biblical
definition for a full
life,
for which I
do not have
an alternative, they
probably would have
lived to the
age of 70
and mor
Other parameters suggest
that good living
and modern medicine
are sustainable factors that
could give longer
and productive lives
to our artists.
Could these artists
be an endangered
specie ?In this iconic
domain of theirs
as compared to
other professionals like
lawyers, doctors, politicians to mention
a few who stand
out in their
respective endeavours, I
am afraid artists
seem to be
dying too fast in
these times. To
mention a few
who died recently, there was
John Minang, Jacob
Nguini, Guy Lobe,
Lapiro de Mbanga,
Mbella Njoh, Nelle
Eyoum, Tom Yoms,
Bebey Manga and
Sammy Mafany.
The beloved audiences
have lost Etub
Anyang, Francis Ndom,
Bebey Black, Beti
Beti, Eboa Lottin,
francis Bebey, Ali
Baba, Koto Bass, Nico Mbarga
and a host
of others. On
the whole some
of these artists
who are fairly
successful with their
art, still live
poorly. The find
it difficult to
own decent houses
or keep a
family.
The business of
music which they are
conditioned to combine
with the creative
spirit is a peculiar art
that is yet narrowed
by time and
lack of the
enterprise also. This simply
means insufficient promotion
which is another
nightmarish chapter and saga crowned
by piracy.
There is no
copyrights corporation for
now. When it was
there, It was
plagued by litigation
and administrative bottlenecks. When royalties
are paid, the
stipend is ridiculous
such that the
artist is not
properly remuneration even when it
comes it is available indeterminate intervals
for amounts which
are too small.
It is best
to say the
future for surviving
artists is amagedon.
When artists die
at the peak
of their careers
it is an
embarrassment to the
cultural family not
only in the
homeland but in
the world at
large.
Most of our
artists who have
passed on met
this fate because of illness
that could have
been averted whereas
icons of their
pedestal in better
situations were sustained.
In the contemporary
situation of Africa
some of them
are still living.
Around the world
are some legends
like Jimmy Cliff,
Ebenezer Obey, Victor Uwaifor, Bongos
Ikwe[NIG] , Boncana Maiga [Mali],
The Oriental Brothers[NIG], Lionel
Riechie[USA], Aisha Kone[IC], Shala
Muana[RDC], Tala Andre Marie[CAM], Zao[SEN],
and a host
of others. While the
life of a
person is in
the hands of
the Almighty Creator, a
healthy life could
be attributed to
proper life style , access to
medical care and
it might be
an overstatement to see
medical care as
the medieval alchemist
who spent enormous
effort to find
an elixir of
life through alchemy. This said , in
the Cameroonian situation
the rapid demise
of local artists
is alarming and
it is very
apparent because hardship is more of
a plague that
is killing the artists. Lapiro de Mbanga died recently after his release
from jail in exile [53], Guy Lobe ,
Jacob Nguini[50+] in the
US and recently John
Minang [54] in Bamenda. The death
of many is
not known because
of other reasons related
to their lifestyle
and hardship. The
problem of artists
needs urgent attention
and deep incisive
overhaul which could
give the minimum
royalties for a
livelihood. Icons like
Anne Marie Nzie
who have had
the grace to
live more than
70 need to
receive from their
bountiful investment over
the years. There is
provision for spouses
of deceased artists
to access this
investment. While such
dependants languish in poverty
the several protagonists
of the copyrights
organizations have turned
it into a sustainable
mafia to the
detriment of our
artists who have
worked so hard for
the heritage of our
country.
The lofty idea
of Copyrights Corporations
came alive during the
era of Segat Kou , Minister of
Information and Culture . It
was SOCADRA , thereafter it
changed to CMC, to SOCAM, to SOCINADA
and to SOCACIM which has
remained a dead
letter.
The twin brother
FECAFOOT is suffering
the same epidemic, a quagmire of
so many good
ideas that are the
deadly virus of the
same body.
The churches of
arts and culture , just as
those of football
pray to one god
for salvation. If
salvation is becoming
instead an age long
problem then it
will be a
long time before
our artists get
their deserved dues
and the dire casualties
will be with
us for a
long time.
FOR JOHN
MINANG
You also went
away fast
And your audience
looked East
To the shades
of the rising
sun
Wondering in mesmerized
lamentation
About your beautiful
song
Fine fine woman…simulated
In the fashion of
Nico Mbarga’s
Sweet mother
And it could-should
be that you
Must come back
And make a faint-heated exit
Like Rochereau Aka
Tabu Ley
Who gave the
world 2000 songs
Where do stars
go
There must be
melodrama of golden
Voices at their
permanent abode
Where
rejuvenation takes place
And we stay
content imagining that home
A hibernation where
artists never die.
YANGANGE
M. WOSE* is a freelance journalist and fellow, London School
of Journalism
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