Bikutsi, a dance celebrating sexuality and relationships, has taken centre stage across Cameroon in the past three decades.

The form arose in patriarchal communities where women were forbidden “to raise their voices in public”, Cameroonian ethnomusicologist Jean Maurice Noah wrote in his book on the subject.

Olivia Beyene, Bikutsi singer said: “That’s the soppy, frilly side, that’s what it is. It’s a bit seductive too, it’s part of bikutsi, especially on stage and it’s specific to Cameroon, it’s specific to the Cameroon bikutsi show.”

An artistic director says Bikutsi is hyper erotic, sensual and expresses what is basic. The, ground, the earth, the essence and at the end of the day, and at the end of all that we have done, there is what is essential to man, to human being, a rapprochement between man and woman.

Olivia adds: “It’s kind of popular. In Cameroon the population likes it, the population likes the perverse side, that’s what attracts attention. It’s just to attract attention and to play to the gallery. But if not, behind all this, there is always a message to convey.”

Bikutsi was born in pre-colonial times in the fang, bulu and beti ethnic areas of central and southern Cameroon, where women would gather together after a hard day’s work, without the men, to sing and dance of joys, sorrows and frustrations.

In this era of freedom, some women expressed, the pain of living next to a violent husband, while others shared the secrets of a successful marriage with the younger ones.

Source: France 24

There is an acute shortage of native doctors today in the country’s two English-speaking regions of the country due to the ongoing civil war that is tearing the country apart.

Most native doctors, who used to say they could even prevent thunder from striking, have all vanished ever since the civil war broke out.

Native doctors have been targeted by both government forces and Amba fighters for different reasons.

Government troops accuse them of preparing the amulets, known as Odeshi, which are supposedly protecting the fighters against the military’s superior fire power.

Amba boys, for their part, have been targeting these doctors whose ability to protect anybody against death has not been tested.

Some Amba fighters have even had to take the native doctors with them to their jungle for them to spend time on practices that can protect them against bullets.

But some of the native doctors have been killed by bullets during fierce confrontations between the warring factions. Strangely, they could not protect themselves.

Speaking to a native doctor from Kumba who has become an IDP in Douala in East Cameroon, he said that the fighting had ruined his business.

Asked why he had to leave Kumba due to the fighting, he said bullets did not need a visa to reach anybody, adding that it would be foolhardy for anyone to stand in the way of a roaring bullet.

He added that most of his work tools had been ruined due to the fighting; stressing that living in East Cameroon was like living in Hell as he could not speak French.

He said he was praying for the fighting to end, adding that he had embraced God and would be mixing western religion and his native medicine to produce better results.

He urged his colleagues who had fled to Nigeria to return home so that they could work together to bring about peace in the war-torn country.

He pointed out that poverty was stalking him like a stubborn shadow since he had lost his clients and constituting a new client base in East Cameroon was indeed challenging.

He stressed that there were many mentally-ill people today in the two English-speaking regions of the country because of the war, adding that if the war had stopped, he and his colleagues could have helped to stabilize those who have been mentally and psychologically scarred by the war.

He opined that more native doctors would be required, as many had died due to poverty and lost business opportunities.

He indicated that there was a lot of work for new native doctors, especially those who could stand the pressure and stress of dealing with mentally-ill persons.

By Joachim Arrey

Renowned Cameroonian artist Nguea La Route who had a hip disarticulation operation, meaning they removed her left leg up to and including the hip joint on October 4, 2019, has gotten another amputation on her right leg. The operation took place at the Douala General Hospital on the night of Wednesday, January 15, 2020.

Mama Nguea entered the surgery around 11pm Wednesday and came out shortly after 3 a.m. Local media reported that Nguea La Route had a long session in the intensive care unit.

The artist, whose condition seemed stabilized after the first operation, had left Laquintinie hospital several weeks ago. Things however took a dramatic u turn and she was rushed to the General Hospital where a second amputation took place.

Cameroon Concord News understands a charity concert was organized in Douala on December 2, 2019 in support of the artist. The free concert sponsored by Nicole Mara brought together several legends including Ben Decca, Toto Guillaume, Franco and Hobscur.

The musicians took popular songs from Mama Nguea that celebrated life and raised 400,000 CFA francs which was handed over to her.

By Rita Akana

Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have agreed to give up their royal titles and stop receiving public funds as part of a settlement with the Queen that lets them spend more private time in Canada.

The announcement from Buckingham Palace on Saturday follows more than a week of intense private talks aimed at managing the fallout of the couple’s shock decision to give up front-line royal duties.

“Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family,” Queen Elizabeth II said in a statement.

“I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.”

Her comments referred to battles with the media that prompted Harry and Meghan — known until now as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — to sue several newspapers over intrusions into their private lives.

A separate statement attributed to Buckingham Palace said “the Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family”.

HRH is the acronym for Her Royal Highness.

“As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties,” the statement said.

The settlement added that the two will also repay £2.4 million ($3.1 million) of taxpayer’s money spent on renovating their Frogmore Cottage home near Windsor Castle.

– ‘Progressive new role’ –

The Palace added that it would not comment on who ends up paying for their security detail in Canada — an issue of intense public debate.

It also failed to mention whether the couple would be allowed to benefit financially from future royalties and franchise fees.

Harry and Meghan are seeking to register the “Sussex Royal” brand as a global trademark for their future enterprises.

The couple are dedicated to environmental causes and are looking to develop their charitable foundation as part of a “progressive” new role.

The queen’s announcement is her second on the royal crisis — dubbed Megxit in honour of Britain’s painful battle over Brexit — ahead of Harry and Meghan’s effective resignation on March 8.

“We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the couple said at the time.

“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America.” Meghan then jetted back to Canada and is now their with their son Archie.

Their announcement caught the royal family by surprise and created a media sensation in both Britain and the wider world.

Their treatment by London’s hard-hitting tabloid press and their personal future — as well as questions about longstanding royal traditions — have turned into daily front-page news.

Media reports said Harry would probably join Meghan and Archie on the west coast of Canada this coming week.

Source: AFP

Starting out, Indian singer Prateek Kuhad gave himself one year to make it. He is still no stranger to self-doubt — but now even Barack Obama is a fan of his heartbreak-inspired songs.

The 29-year-old was enjoying a quiet New Year’s Eve at his family home in New Delhi when he received a message saying: “This is big.”

Former US president Obama had included Kuhad’s wistful hit “cold/mess” in his annual list of favourite music, alongside the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Lizzo.

“It’s cool,” Kuhad told AFP, adding that being mentioned in Obama’s viral Twitter and Instagram posts was still “overwhelming”.

“He is one of the few personalities in our generation who has got a fairly clean image, is one of the good presidents that the world has seen,” he said.

“He listens to Big Thief. I love them, but they’re not a really big band. It clearly looks like Obama scouts his music well.”

Kuhad is not sure how Obama first heard his music but links it to his 2019 tour across North America and Europe that helped him break through internationally, but tested his resolve.

“I almost hated performing when I started doing it. I’m getting used to it only now,” he said.

He describes the track picked by the ex-president as a “straight-up heartbreak song”, saying he accepts that writing about romance, longing and the complications of love has helped him find fame.

“People would say this is all I can write about. You question yourself, and I did have such a moment in mid-2019. But then I realised I loved what I do,” he said.

– ‘Ready to quit’ –

Kuhad had a comfortable upbringing in the northern Indian desert city of Jaipur before studying maths and economics at New York University.

When he decided to take up music professionally in 2013, he struggled while other paths beckoned.

“I gave myself a year. I was ready to quit — I knew I could either land a job or study further if my music career didn’t take off,” he said.

Since then he has released four well-received albums, including “cold/mess”, named after the song that caught Obama’s attention.

He thinks being an artist in the digital age boosted his chances of reaching a wider, non-Indian audience with a track that is “pretty much an alternative, pop English song”.

Not being dependent on record-label executives has helped him break into an industry where “there have been only a certain kind of pop stars, and primarily white people”.

Kuhad has already built up a solid following and gets frequent requests for selfies in public, but he knows his global visibility has been given an enormous boost by Obama.

The media frenzy following the end-of-year list means the singer now has to rethink his 2020 plans.

As he decides his next steps, he’ll be listening to British pop veteran Cliff Richard, Pakistan’s Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, or Mozart.

Kuhad — who describes himself as cynical, cautious and risk-averse — said the personal experiences that inspire his songwriting, as well as “skills, hard work and discipline”, have got him where he is today.

“In 2014, I used a platform which allowed me to send emails to myself in the future.

“A day after Obama’s list came out, I got a mail which I had written then that said I should quit if I wasn’t successful by now,” Kuhad said, laughing.

“I think I’m doing okay.”

Source: AFP

Cameroon’s social media space has been buzzing with news of how Nigerian musician Wizkid was flown into the country by the first family for a private party.

The said party was for the first daughter, Brenda Biya, but a video released by some entertainment sites showed that First Lady Chantal Biya was also in attendance. The party which took place in Yaounde was a new year bash according to some reports.

Wizkid, real name Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun is seen singing one of his famed tracks “Joro” in the company of a number of ladies with Christmas tree and gifts also captured.

Naijapals Gistmania✔@Naijapals

Wizkid performing for Cameroonian dictator, Paul Biya and his daughters at a private room

The chatter on Twitter especially is about how taxpayer’s money was used to pay the musician to attend a private party. No proof has been adduced to that effect and government has not commented on the development as yet.

Wizkid had announced that he was going to be in Cameroon on eve of the New Year 2020 for a show in Yaounde, but he did not mention performing for the first family.

Apparently the main reason for the visit, the private opening of a restaurant took place before he was invited to entertain the First Family.

For some commenters, the musician needed be paid for his services irrespective of the source of funding. Others were of the view that it was wrong for taxes to be used in such a manner.

Source: Africa News

An albino woman taunted because of her skin has defied negative comments from people who believed she was ‘cursed’ by becoming a model.

Christelle Mengue, 29, was born in Cameroon, Africa but raised in Paris, France as her family decided it was best for her safety to live with family there because people believed she was ‘cursed’ by a witch.

But the big move didn’t make it any easier for Christelle because she felt rejected by both the black and white communities.

She spent her teenage years dying her hair and wearing dark make up to mask her white skin after being mocked by bullies.

But she’s now signed with Models of Diversity – who campaign for greater diversity of modelling talent on the catwalk – and acts as an advocate for others with albinism and embraces her skin.      

Christelle, who lives in Sutton, Surrey said: “When I was younger, I knew I was different, but I had no idea why – even when I grew up in a white community in France, I didn’t feel accepted.

“I have six brothers, but I am the only one with albinism – perhaps one of my ancestors has it.

“In Cameroon, my family accepted me but the other people in my country thought I was cursed.

“Medics said I was disabled because of my condition because of the lack of melanin.

“My parents decided it would be best for me to live with my family in France, so I moved for a better life when I was five-years-old.

“Throughout my time at school, I was constantly taunted because of my skin, the kids would say I call me ugly, weird or a ghost.

“It got harder when I grew into my teens as the other girls started getting boyfriends and I was always the odd one out.

“I started dying my hair darker and wearing weaves along with putting dark foundation on so I would be accepted as a mixed-race girl.

“I suffered with low self esteem and had no confidence, but I eventually got sick of hiding – my hair was damaged from the dye and the makeup wasn’t my shade.”

At 19-years-old, Christelle was scouted by a French modelling agency and her whole outlook on albinism started to change over time.

She adds: “I grew up without a role model and I never seen anyone like me on TV or in a magazine.

“I had no idea what albinism even was so I took matters into my own hands and began researching and realised I am not the only one.

“People had very low knowledge of that condition .

“I was just starting doing research about my identity. I  wasn’t till I was 23-years-old that I was fully able to define myself as an albino and explain that condition to others.

“It doesn’t affect my brain and I am just like anyone else.

“For my first shoot, I looked back at the photos and realised I didn’t look that bad on photos and began to embrace my skin.

Now ten years on, Christelle features in Models of Diversity’s 2020 calendar.

She said: “I used to say I was a light skin mixed race girl but now I couldn’t be prouder of who I am.

“I want more people like me to step out of their comfort zones and become role models for others with albinism.

“I am sharing my story to promote diversity – I hope other people see the calendar and realise anything is possible.”

Source: Mirror.co.uk

A petition to cancel Sydney’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks and use the money to fight bush fires ringing the city has topped 260,000 signatures, but officials say the show will go on.

Sydney is spending Aus$6.5 million ($4.5 million) on this year’s fireworks display — funds that the Change.org petition argues would be better spent on supporting volunteer firefighters and farmers suffering through a brutal drought.

The massive fireworks display on Sydney Harbour “may traumatize some people,” the petition says, “as there is enough smoke in the air.”

Toxic smoke haze from bush fires raging across Australia has blanketed Sydney and other major cities for weeks.

Entire towns have been left in ruins by devastating blazes in worst-hit New South Wales (NSW) state, where eight people have died and an area the size of Belgium burnt to cinders.

“2019 has been a catastrophic year in Australia for Floods and Fires,” the petition states. “All states should say NO to FIREWORKS.”

A City of Sydney spokesman said while they “appreciate the concerns” of the people opposed to holding the fireworks during a bush fire crisis, cancelling the celebration would have “little practical benefit for affected communities.”

“We began preparations and planning for the NYE celebrations 15 months ago. This means most of the budget, largely used for crowd safety and cleaning measures, has already been spent,” the spokesman said in a statement.

“Cancelling the event would seriously hurt Sydney businesses. It would also ruin plans for tens of thousands of people from across the country and overseas who have booked flights, hotels and restaurants for New Year’s Eve,” the statement added.

Sydney’s council added that it has donated Aus$620,000 to support the bush fire and drought response and would also promote a Red Cross disaster relief fund during the televised fireworks broadcast.

A heatwave is due to sweep across parts of NSW in the coming days, with deteriorating bushfire conditions expected to hit Tuesday.

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said he did not expect any impact on the fireworks, but he was prepared to cancel them last-minute if he deemed it to be too risky.

“The pyrotechnics organisations and local authorities are used to working with us around exemptions in the summer period, whether it is Christmas, New Year or some other event,” he said. “They know the arrangements, the procedures, and we will work through to make sure that risk is appropriately addressed and, where necessary, we won’t allow them to go ahead.”

The display, watched by an estimated one billion people globally, is worth Aus$130 million annually to the NSW economy.

(Source: AFP)

French Cameroun political elites have reportedly started the process of granting the so-called Special Status to the people of Southern Cameroons as Miss North West, Audrey Nabila Monkam was allowed to win the prestigious Miss Cameroun 2020 crown on Saturday.

The Miss Cameroun contest has been a French Cameroun private preserve ever since it was instituted decades ago and remained one area where Southern Cameroonians complaint of marginalization.  The language and modus operandi of the beauty contest has always been French and never reflected the bilingual nature of the country.

Audrey Nabila Monkam’s victory was announced shortly after midnight on Saturday evening during the final of the Miss Cameroon 2020 national competition, contested by 20 young women.

The 24-year-old, 1.80m tall who took over the beauty crown from Caroline Nseke is a business law student who impressed the jury and the audience with her physical and intellectual attributes in the various outfits displayed during the auditioning. Holder of a degree in banking and finance, she is seen by her admirers as a genuine intellectual.

Monkam hails from the Northern Zone of Southern Cameroons ravaged by the war declared by the Biya Francophone regime against the people of Ambazonia.

It is worth mentioning that in recent years, controversies have surrounded every Miss Cameroon contest. Some media houses have even accused Ingrid Solange Amougou, promoter of the Miss Cameroon Show of encouraging unhealthy rivalry among Cameroonian beauty queens.

The Biya regime had even attempted to take the lead in organizing the contest to end the repeated scandals that tarnished the show’s image, before backing off under some form of international pressure.

By Oke Akombi Ayukepi Akap

Miss South Africa was crowned Miss Universe on Sunday in Atlanta after a lavish ceremony filled with glitter and heartfelt speeches about female empowerment.

Zozibini Tunzi, 26, finished first ahead of the Puerto Rican and Mexican finalists in a flashy televised event, hosted by American comic turned TV personality Steve Harvey.

Television personalities Vanessa Lachey and Olivia Culpo served as backstage commentators, and a panel of seven women determined the winner.

Tunzi earned cheers during her closing speech, a new segment of the competition, in which she talked about wanting to empower young women to feel confident.

“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered to be beautiful,” she said.

“I think that it is time that that stops today,” she said to thunderous applause.

Tunzi beat more than 90 contestants from around the globe in the 68th instalment of Miss Universe, which was held in Atlanta’s Tyler Perry Studios.

The two favorites ahead of the competition, Miss Thailand Paweensuda Saetan-Drouin and Miss Philippines Gazini Ganados, did not make it to the final 10.

The Philippines’ Catriona Gray, who presented Tunzi with the crown, took home the Miss Universe crown in 2018.

Although she did not make the finals, Miss Myanmar Swe Zin Htet made waves last week when she came out as the competition’s first openly gay contestant.

“I have that platform that, if I say that I’m a lesbian, it will have a big impact on the LGBTQ community back in Burma,” Htet told People magazine, using her country’s historic name.

Homosexuality is illegal in the southeast Asian country and is punishable by up to life in prison.

In 2018, the competition also featured Miss Spain Angela Ponce, who blazed a trail as Miss Universe’s first transgender contestant.

But the pageant has had a controversial past. Multiple contestants have alleged that US President Donald Trump would regularly enter the competitors’ changing room while he owned the organization from 1996-2015.

Additionally, Miss Universe continues to host the swimsuit competition, which has drawn criticism for objectifying the contestants, although that part of the pageant was not televised.

Source: AFP