Cameroon Concord News understands that the AGM is the forum where Sobans with any grievances or suggestions can attend and put their issues so that continuous structural improvements can be achieved within SOBA:UK. The president was quoted as saying that members who have genuine grievances are encouraged to attend the official AGM in 11 November, and put those to the General Assembly for deliberation. SOBA:UK we understand is financially very strong providing a good base to support its membership, which is at the heart of the Association.

The popular Nigerian pop star Davido has been summoned by the Nigerian police in Lagos after the suspicious death of three of his acolytes. The Afrobeat  star with his real name David Adeleke was summoned by the Nigerian police in Lagos to be heard about the fuzzy circumstances around the death of three of his relatives in the space of a week.

The latest death is that of Tagbo Umeike, 35, whose body was abandoned at the General Hospital in Lagos on the 3rd October in the early morning after a very alcoholic evening. According to local police, he had consumed 40 shots of Tequila, with friends, including singer Davido.

The girlfriend of the deceased young man, Caroline Danjuma, a Nollywood actress has accussed the singer of having fled after having abandoned her friend. For now, the singer denied any connection with the deaths.

The tragedy started when the bodies of two other Davido comrades were found on the 7^th of October in a BMW parked in a private residence in the chic Banana Island area in ​​Lagos.

By Chi Prudence Asong, CCN

The captain of the Indomitable Lions of Makossa, Petit Pays has called off the remaining date of his North American tour in Canada after saying his tour organizer was extremely lacking in entertainment finesse. Omega Rabbi Rabba pulled out of the date in Montreal and has also cancelled a planned press conference appearance in the historic Canadian city.

Cameroon Concord News gathered Turbo, the mega star cancelled the tail-end of his tour due to the fact that the sponsor failed to provide air tickets and accommodation for him and the group, Sans Visa. His manager and spokesman, Eyong Eyong Ebot said all Canadian gigs have been cancelled “due to poor arrangements”. Eyong Eyong Ebot confessed Petit Pays had promised a great spectacle despite the passing away of his younger brother, Didier Pupee but the attitude of the organiser has been shameful, disgusting and disgraceful.

Insiders said this Saturday event in Montreal was annulled due to a complete breakdown of financial communication between Petit Pays’ US based manager and the promoter in Montreal. The organiser reportedly did a money transfer to Mr. Eyong Eyong Ebot via Money gram but later cancelled the transaction and has ever since been brandishing the receipt as prove that he paid the artist. The multi-award-winning Makossa star said he hopes to come back to Montreal some other time. Watch Petit Pays reaction in video below

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai
Cameron Concord News

Cameroun has created a new corporation to manage authors’ rights. The organization has been named the Cameroon National Copyright Corporation (SONACAM). State radio and television reported that an executive bureau was also elected headed by the renowned Sam Fan Thomas.

The elections that held on Saturday the 9th of September 2017 also witnessed a major electoral victory for popular names such as Adeline Mbengkoum, Moussa Haissam, Ottou Marcelin, Calvino, Adeline Mbengkoum, Majoie Ayi, Sergeo Polo and of course the beautiful Jacky Biho. Some musicians of the new generation such as the likes of Salatiel, Duc-Z, One Love, Lab’l were also included in the executive.

Legendary artists Manu Dibango, Eko Roosevelt and Georges Seba were elected as honorary presidents. According to the statutes of SONACAM, the executive has a three year mandate renewable once. The Minister of Arts and Culture, Narcisse Moulle Kombi who chaired the first general assembly of SONACAM installed the elected bureau and urged them to work for the interest of artists. A total of 2,400 of the 3655 artists registered in the national musicians’ database signed up for the Cameroon National Copyright Corporation (SONACAM).

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files from CRTV

In September 1-3, 2017 the Orokos in the United States will converged in one of  America`s historic and UNESCO protective heritage city of Boston in their annual cultural assemblage,  in a public display of the rich Sawa cultures, unique in its identity.The event which is the most celebrated, brings together all the Orokos in the United States of America to communion as a family by show-casing its cultural grandeur, traditional regalia and delicate traditional dishes.

The Orokos are an ethnic indigenous Sawa tribe in the Southwest region of Cameroon under the administrative unit of Ndian division. It stretches its cultural and linguistic similarities with the Grand Batanga of the resort city of Kribi in littoral and neighbouring Nigeria. With two newly created additional sub divisions, Ndian currently has four sub divisions namely Mundemba, Isangele, Ekondo Titi and Kombo-Edinti. The Orokos are span across two other divisions in the Southwest region namely Meme and Manyu. Some of the major clans include; Batangas, Bimas, Bakundus, Ngolos, Ekombe, Balondo-Banagas, Balue, Mbonge and Bakokos. Ndian is also considered the largest division in the region in terms of its geographical size.

The growing numerical strength of the Oroko population and the emerging new demographics of future American-Oroko kids became a social call and responsibility to bring all the Orokos under a mother association.In effect, the Oroko Cultural Association-OCA-USA was a dream come-true ostensibly out of the euphoria to unify the Orokos in the United States. And in September 1997, OCA was born in Atlanta Georgia. After the inception and the birth of OCA, it has produced five democratic elected impact presidents in this sequential ascendancy; pioneer president Tata Rev. Sam Esala who reigned from 1997-1998, Tata Awanjo Felix 1998-1999, Tata Louis Etongwe 1999-2005, Tata Fred Bebe 2005-2009, Iya Dr. Mercy Mabian 2009-2013 and Prince Ferdinand Mediko 2013-2017.

The 2017 convention which is an election year is special. And whoever is going to occupy the highest office of the association will have the onerous task of providing constructive and responsible leadership to all Orokos in the diaspora and at home, of every social background, gender, education and belief and above all, he/she must answer the call for socio-economic regeneration and take the destiny of Ndian division in his/her hands.

Despite the fact that Ndian division is one of the richest constituencies in Cameroon, it has benefited little or nothing from its God-given resources. Perhaps it is deliberate perhaps it is accidental, but this political and economic backwardness of Ndian division is a classic example of why all the Orokos must reinvent themselves, by creating new visions and mobilising themselves to develop their own resources. A natural resource is a source of blessings. But those found in Ndian division leaves behind a record devastating poverty stricken population with no signs for things to get better even in the near future.

The local economy paralysed due to in accessibility of road linking two major divisions [Ndian & Meme]. Educational infrastructures and healthcare facilities are deplorable. The inconvenient truth is that there is still the existence of breathtaking rise of personal vilification within the Orokos and the absence of receptiveness. And no matter what, this convention in Boston is special in the sense that it will produce a new presidential team to pilot the association for another deserved mandate. More to that, it is in Boston where American revolutionary ideas were conceived. It is in Boston where the revolution started. And therefore it should be in Boston where the Orokos will set the agenda for future accomplishments. Welcome to the city of Boston.

Prince Etukeni Agbaw-Ebai

Secretary General, Boston

The general manager of the Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), Charles Ndongo has launched a one-week exercise to push journalists to perfection. The operation dubbed, “La Radio des Icônes” or the Radio for Icons begins 28th August through 3rd September 2017.

During this time, fifteen former CRTV journalists who won the admiration of the Cameroonian people will present prime time news bulletins and programs on radio. Detailing the project to CRTV National Station newsroom staff, Charles Ndongo encouraged all to follow the footsteps of the icons that are being celebrated till date.

Renowned names in Cameroonian journalism like Abel Mbengue, Peter Essoka and Jean Claude Ottou hailed the Director General’s initiative calling it an opportunity to encourage the younger generation.

One of the media gurus on schedule, Peter Essoka advised the young journalists to be inquisitive, intuitive and humble. CRTV’s audience will therefore get another opportunity to listen to inspiring voices of the 80’s and 90’s.

Below is the program schedule:

Monday 28th August 2017
– One PM News Presenter: Jean Claude Ottou
– Sports Page Presenter: Abel Mbengue
– Three PM News Presenter: Peter Essoka

29th August 2017
– Les Matinées de la CRTV Presenter: Jean Marterne Ndi
– Seven PM News Presenter: Gideon Taka

30th August 2017
– One PM Presenter: Zacharie Ngniman
– Luncheon Date Presenter: Paul Kode

31st August 2017
– Les Matinées de la CRTV Presenter: Sally Messio
– Luncheon Date Presenter: Victor Epie Ngome

1st September 2017
– Five PM News Presenter: Barbara Etoa
– Weekend Sports Presenter: Njomo Kevin

2nd September 2017
– One PM news Presenter: Pascal Mebe Abah
– Saturday Evening Request Presenter: Mweng Meombo

3rd September 2017
– Dimanche Midi Presenter: Antoine Marie Ngono
– CRTV Afternoon Edition: Ngyetiko Musi

Source: CRTV

The King of Makossa Love and Cameroonian music legend, Petit-Pays and his family have been mourning since Monday. Didier Moundi Mpoupe, one of the artist’s younger brothers died on Monday, August 21, 2017 in Paris apparently due to an illness. Cameroon Concord News gathered that the mega star got the news upon his return home from a tour that took him to the USA, Canada and in Essen in the NordRhein Westphalia province in Germany.

Information filtered at the time of filing this report that Petit Pays was back in France from where he will transport the remains of his little brother to Cameroon. Our attempts at getting to his US based manager, Eyong Eyong Ebot were futile.

The deceased had been a footballer. He joined Caiman of Douala in 2010 when Petit Pays was CEO of the Akwa Township club in Douala. He managed to score a goal from his first match in the first division championship as a substitute. The rest of his stay proved a little tumultuous. The coaches preferred to relegate him to the sidelines-a situation that placed Petit-Pays at daggers-drawn positions with the technical staff.

Didier Mpoupe was made famous by his renowned elder brother whose popular hits from the early 90s chanted his name in his songs. Music lovers will certainly remember Petit Pays always saying « Mpoupe Didier, la star d’Hollywood ».

By Rita Akana with files from Cameroon Info.Net

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will not attend one of America’s most prestigious art awards, the annual Kennedy Center Honors, the White House has announced.

“The President and First Lady have decided not to participate in this year’s activities to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction,” a statement from the White House read.

The announcement came a day after members of Trump’s Committee on Arts and Humanities unanimously resigned to protest his refusal to condemn last week’s racist rallies in Virginia. Several honorees said they would boycott a White House reception for the awards.

Trump was widely criticized for blaming “both sides” for the deadly violence that erupted at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.

Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein and President Deborah F. Rutter released a statement welcoming Trump’s decision to skip the ceremony.

“In choosing not to participate in this year’s Honors activities, the Administration has graciously signaled its respect for the Kennedy Center and ensures the Honors gala remains a deservingly special moment for the Honorees. We are grateful for this gesture.”

The Kennedy Center also said that the traditional pre-ceremony reception at the White House was cancelled this year.

Trump’s exceptionally turbulent week was capped by his Friday firing of chief strategist Steve Bannon, the latest in a series of high-profile West Wing exits in recent months. Bannon is closely associated with the white nationalism of the “alt-right” movement.

The president also stayed away from the annual White House correspondents’ dinner in April, with then-press secretary Sean Spicer citing Trump’s strained relations with the news media.

Source: Presstv

Patience Lobe Ondoua, wife of the late Makossa star Guy Lobe is no more. The late singer’s wife died on Tuesday August 15, 2017 at the General Hospital in Douala.

Reacting to news of her sudden disappearance, Makossa legend, Sam Mbende said he was very touched by the death of Patience Lobe Ondoua, a well-known woman in the world of show bizz and wife of the late Guy Lobe. We understand, Sam Mbende is very close to the Guy Lobe family.

Patience Ondoua was reportedly ill in November 2016 and was admitted at the General Hospital in Douala. She is originally from the Lekie Division in the Central Region. Her husband, the famous Guy Lobe, died on March 16, 2015 at the Yaoundé General Hospital following an illness.

By Rita Akana with files from CIN

Afro-pop and sensational artist, Mr Leo is back again, this time around with a hit song, “Partout”, dedicated to his fans for their support and continuous presence in his career.

The release comes barely four months after the artist and song writer made public a video music “C’est Faux”, a powerful vocal that denounces gossip and jealousy. The young Cameroonian superstar and brand ambassador settled for a rather slow but authoritative music clip.

State radio and television, CRTV reported that in just four days, the video has registered an impressive impact on the social media. Its YouTube has recorded over 121.679 views. The melody has been appreciated by many of his fans who say the song is a perfect blend of rap and afro beats.

Most of the shots were taken in Buea and featured Salatiel, Blaise B, Askia and Makon. Mr. Leo, one of the new generation artists, from Anglophone Cameroon is presently one of the most popular and successful artist on the African continent.

He signed to a local music production, Alpha Better Records and has some popular hits like “E go betta”, “Jamais Jamais”, “On va gérer” and “Kemayo”.

Source: CRTV