Meet the Cameroonian artist worth CFAF ONE HUNDRED MILLION

In 2011, Senegalese - American superstar came to Cameroon for a concert. His coming made news just as did the fact that he was paid "according to some sources" the sum of CFAF 300 million for the show. Cameroon-based media; print, audio-visual and virtual, echoed the latter fact insistently or too persistently some would say. In May 2012, it was the turn of the formidable Nigerian fraternal duo P-Square. For their performance, "some sources”, still them, were quoted as saying they had received a gargantuan sum. This time around some restraint was shown as their pay check was estimated at just about CFAF 100 million. The pre-concert ambiance was somewhat tainted by the decision of a trade union of some Cameroonians artists to use this concert as the perfect organisation to tilt media attention in their direction in a bid to focus the spotlight on their royalty tussle with the multinational mobile phone company that sponsored the event. It is during this concert that I heard talk of discontent among the Cameroonian artists invited to perform as opening acts. Apparently they felt devalued for being paid peanuts - apparently about 100,000 CFA Francs- to perform as opening acts. All this is still according to “some sources”. 

                                                                               

A war of figures

                              So far I considered all this talk of discontent from Cameroonian artist about their meagre pay check for opening act performances as rubbish from the rumour machine. However recent remarks by a Cameroonian Makosso musician on Equinox TV‘s programme “After Work” suggest this is not the idle grumble of the unrelenting rumour mill. These remarks made me understand that this feeling of discontent is actually harboured by some Cameroonian musicians. In fact it is anchored deep in individual consciences for sure. Recent comments I stumbled on Facebook have made me understand that some Cameroonian music aficionados share the above sentiment and  feel slighted at the mere thought that P-Square could receive a whopping supposedly CFA Francs 100,000,000 as a pay check for a concert they headline, in another country, whereas home-based talent receive CFA Francs 100,000 as opening acts. Mind you, P-Square were in Cameroon again last August 2014 for another concert in Yaounde and as usual speculators let their imagines run wild as to the pay check they might have gotten. I say might because this concert was for a good cause and I think they could have, why not, “Alingoed” and “given that” for free? The comment that tripped this wire was as follows roughly: why did the organisers not give the same huge check to Cameroonian artists. This brings me to my question and with all due respect: which Cameroonian artist is worth CFA Francs one hundred million. To some this is a billion dollar question but to my mind the answer is simple: NONE at this point on the entertainment scene (which some prefer to call entertainment industry. “Wo ko tauk dee matta na deefriend day”).

                                                                       

The billion dollar question

                                 Before you label me a “hater” as it is now fashionable to do, holster your passion, fandom (or fanaticism even if you don’t like) and supposed patriotism. Take out just your reason and level-headedness and politely try answering the following questions: which Cameroonian artist can keep a concert crowd spellbound for two hours with a non-stop hit performance? Which Cameroon artist is popularly known in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish -speaking Africa? There are more questions but let's make do with these two. I know the ready-made answer to the first question will be Petit-Pays but what about the second question? I know, you are scratching your heads for answer or a decent reply but spare your breath. Did I mention that by Cameroonian artist I mean only those permanently resident here in Cameroon? In case I didn't, I have now. So don’t go blurting Richard Bona or Manu Dibango (“The Cameroonian entertainment industry will be built sustainably by those who are on seat not overseas.).

The real issue is business

                    Listening to the arguments expressing dissatisfaction with paying international acts more and local acts less, I discovered that some fans as well as musicians (quite surprisingly) still have a rather peephole perception of how the music business works. There have become so accustomed to the art part that they have a hard time adjusting to the business -the realpolik- side of the thing. They recognise and understand the word music and hang onto it fanatically, maybe because it is shorter or should I see easier to understand. Sadly they seem not to know and acknowledge the existence of the term “music business” which is when the art becomes or must become a product to be sold. It is when artistry must acknowledge the economics and relevance of the former to its ultimate rise to greater heights or fall into the doldrums. This is the less banal component of the music that some Cameroonian musicians and fans alike have a hard time comprehending. Otherwise how can someone expect Akon who is known on every continent and (all due respect) Romeo Dika to play in the same league financially. This is the underlying issue. Many people in Cameroon, musicians included, still don't understand that in our capitalist age profit beats everything even hypnotic beats, voluptuous hips-don’t-lie video vixens, killing-you-softly lyrics, silky voices, killer moves and punch lines so tight you can reliably use them to hang if you’re feeling suicidal (Lol, just trying to work on my rap game). Sponsors do not dole out gargantuan sums to international acts simply because the latter are international acts. It is because of where these acts will take their brands to. It is because of the fall outs in terms of positive perception and then sales that will come from being associated with these international acts. If a local act can enable a brand penetrate a market or consolidate its position or introduce it to an all new audience then sponsors will happily pay them gold and not mere silver.

                                      The patriotism card is recurrently used to prop the sentiment expressed by the facebooker above. But expecting a company to give a massive sum to a local act merely out of some naive definition of patriotism is senseless (I previously used “stupid” before opting for senseless.) Companies aren't people and so do not make emotion-based decisions. They make calculated moves. Business is chess and every move is calculated to checkmate opposition. Companies are primarily profit-seeking entities ever indebted to only this goal. They of course have a corporate responsibility to the communities where they operate but is it responsible to give 100,000,000 CFA Francs to someone who will take your brand only as far as Mbankomo*? Companies pay their taxes and so cannot be guilted into making irrational and emotional decisions.

                            Furthermore asking companies to start pouring bags of money on musicians not because they are deserve such a high consideration but because they operate in the musician’s country is encouraging laziness and a culture of dependency. It is fostering a false sense of entitlement which can be quite misleading. Nobody is arguing that corporate financial involvement is not required for the advancement of entertainment. No, this is not the opinion in this piece. The message here is that the logic to corporate involvement has not been understood and must be, squarely by fans and especially musicians before progress can be made.

                          Many reasons can be advanced for the lack of this understanding but to my mind, three are most relevant. Firstly, Cameroonian musicians, rookies and vets alike, have refused to wake and smell the coffee: they don’t want to understand and master the business of music which complies with the laws of economics (If you want great chocolate, give great cocoa). Secondly they need to recognise and deal with the fact that their competition is global and before they can enjoy a huge payday they must produce hit after hit not just for their immediate entourage but for the world at large. Jovi needs to know he is competing for endorsements with Jay-Z. In some respects you could argue this is not fair but this is just the way it is with globalisation. Thirdly they must remember what it means to exercise a liberal profession. As liberal professionals just like lawyers, unity in the absence of standardised government-back regulations is core to their survival. They need to bond and set the tone regarding how they consider themselves and want to be considered. It is only post this bonding that they could wrest better financial consideration from sponsors for their performances.

                        These I think are conditions sine qua non for them to start hitting high bank notes because there is no charity in the music business. They need to start having more hits than tweets because the former can bring in hundreds of millions while the latter can bring in nothing more than followers. “Et ce n’est pas ce que l’artiste chop.” 

Introducing LOL: THE BOYBAND from Cameroon

After X Maleya's success signaled the rise and rise of boybands in Cameroon, here come LOL. The  four man crew is made up of Cyrus, Slims Beats, Young Bird and Leslo. With their eyes firmly set on showcasing their talent on the world stage, the band dropped a few singles to much acclaim. Some of their tracks include 'Njoka' and 'Girl no bad'. The Best Music - signed band recently performed at major events like FIAFA 2013 and the Miss Seme 2013. Their hit 'Njoka' can be enjoyed right here.

What is a Cameroonian artist worth?

I recently found myself ‘feuding’ with a brother who happens to be an artist. He posted this comment 'I guess someone has whispered to Ivorian artists that Cameroon is their No. 1 music consumers out of Ivory Coast. This evening Serge Bernaude was on CRTV 7.30 News announcing his show on the 31ST of this month in Yaounde. What a pity for Cameroonian artists!' I initially replied with this comment ' ....come on bro, It is ur fault Cameroonian artists. Ur all too heady and narrow-minded.' He accused me of using negative words and drew this second comment from me ' Come on bro,I get the impression u feel slighted by my words.I am sorry but that was never my intention. It is an honest and fair comment I stand by. Let me explain. I find Cameroonian artists generally narrow minded because you guys seem to refuse to realise that with globalisation there are no more frontiers and u must compete with music from far and near. When you feel you are losing out to foreign artists you try to strum our patriotic strings forgetting that just as our boxer matches must compete with blue=headed matches from Pakistan you too must compete with Fally and DJ Arafat made music. So instead of complaining you guys should get in2 ur studios and start making competitive music. Once again apologies if I came off as slightful, that wasn't my intent. Pyz.' This virtual conversation prompted this post.

                              There is a background to the current grudge Cameroonian artists have with music from without Cameroon and the Cameroonian music consuming public. Street legend has it that while foreign stars like Sean Paul , Akon and most  recently P-Square, I think, were paid around a 1,000,000 CFAF to come perform in Cameroon, Cameroonian artists enlisted to serve as opening acts got a 100,000 CFAF. Remember I said street legend and not official sources holds these figures to be true. Whatever the case, press reports suggest that a wave of discontent gripped the Cameroonian music scene when P-Square came to Cameroon. This suggestion and the feudy exchange I had on social media left me with one question, generally – speaking what are Cameroonian artists worth? By Cameroonian artists I mean those operating on the local music scene. This means the so-called diapora – based artists are excluded as well as Petit – Pays because he is an EXCEPTION. So what is an average Cameroonian artist worth? I would have loved to use the name of an actual artist but that might come off as disrespectful and that’s not my intention. So I’ll just proceed generally. What do I mean by what is a Cameroonian artist worth? If it is announced that the average Cameroonian artist is headlining a show, how many people will show up? How many will show and be ready to pay a 1000 CFAF for the entry ticket so that concert promoter can pay the artist let's say 5,000,000 CFAF for the show and still make a profit when all is said and done? Remember in the word showbiz, business is the end of everything. How many Cameroonian artists can headline a show and take a crowd hostage with a 2 hour slew of hits punctuated with brilliant choreography and stuff? This is what I mean by what is the average Cameroonian artist worth? Personally I think he/she isn’t worth much, not much at all.

                               So whose fault is it that Cameroonian artists aren’t worth much? Is it the government’s? No, not fundamentally. We are in a free-market economy where the forces of demand and supply, and not government, determine the value or WORTH of things. We also live in the 21^st century where you don’t need the latest - gadgeted studio to craft a hit. Is it the fault of the private sector sponsors then? Once again no, not fundamentally. As unfortunate as it may be, we live in profit - minded world where most companies will dole out one hundred million of any currency only when they’re sure to get a return on investment. So is it the fault of the Cameroonian music-consuming public that their unenthusiastic consumption of local music has floored the worth of their home-bred talent? No, not fundamentally. In a globalised world, people have a right to gravitate towards what pleases them and if you want to drag their attention youwards you better please them. So is it the fault of the artists? I hate to say this but YES, it is their fault mainly. The average Cameroonian artist still lives with the illusion that the Cameroonian music - consuming public owes them the patriotic favour of supporting them.NO, HELL NO. They also forget that music in the 21^st century is a product and entertainment is an industry. So just as our boxer matches must compete with blue-tip matches from Pakistan so too must their products compete with those from other countries. Duc – Z’s ‘African mamy’ isn’t at the top of the charts because it is Cameroonian. It is because it is simply good.

                             Less I forget, doesn’t it strike you as odd that in our entertainment parlance, those doing music are still referred to as artists and musicians instead of stars, performers and entertainers? This is perception and this not the fault of government, private sector sponsors or the public. Our artists don’t brand themselves as 100,000,000 CFAF acts. While other artists perform ours still only sing. While other artists entertain, ours still only dance. In the face of an entertainer, musicians aren’t worth much. Feel free to think otherwise.

A dong die! Charlotte Dipanda dong enter nyuoungoh

The other day some ma friend be wan take some music dem for ma machine. As me and yee begin look inside ma music folder, a ask yee wheda e wan Charlotte Dipanda. Na yee way the ngah say well since way all man like Charlotte Dipanda make  a jos gee yee. As a dee send yee dee folder, e make some statement way a no fit member fine. But thing way e tok be mean say the girl trong becos say e day Lions Club - way na njangi for nyoungoh according to yee. For simple pidgin, Charlotte Dipanda only trong becos say e day nyoungoh. Na the first time that way a hear say some Cameroonian star day nyoungoh.

                                                 A no know whether na neck or na idleness but anytime way some person blow peepo dem ko start say na nyoungoh. Dee ting be start na with Rihanna, Jay Z and yee ngah say dem day Illumati. E fit be na true, e fit be na lie but na wheti be njanga yee own inside achu soup? Wo know say mop no get bandary but the bad thing with dee kongossa na say e dee make some pikin dem feel say if you wan blow you mos enter bad njangi. Dee kongossa too dee make some peepo dem feel say u fit sleep for wouna house sotay gas then jos woukop torn star like play. Da wan na fat lie. Make wo jos gree day all dee star dem day nyoungoh. Est-ce que na nyoungoh dee make dem sing fine? Est-ce que na nyoungoh dee gee dem power for stand sing and saka sotay? Make peepo dem shidong quiet. Prince Afu-Akom be dong tok yee ting say when person dong make'am wishpeepo ko start say na mami water. 

IdlePark's Urban Playlist of the Week

Somebody once wrote ' if music be the food of love, play on..'. So we are prescribing  you this playlist for a love filled weekend. Remember it is not a competition so nobody is first or last on this playlist. Just enjoy the good music.