October 13, 2024

Nexdim Empire

Camer Entertainment House

Infiltration of Nigerian music in Cameroon: A massive threat ?

P-Square,J Martins,Timaya,Bracket and many more,day in day out  get considerable air time on our local radios and snack bars in Cameroon.Their popularity in Cameroon has triggered  criticism from some in Cameroon who cannot understand why “foreigners” have become the people’s favourite.Their resentment even pushes them to point fingers at Cameroonian radio D.Js for dedicating so much time to foreign music at the expense of national music.But is it really a problem of foreign music or better music?

Music cannot be confined to another area,it cannot be controlled so that it doesn’t intrude into  another ‘s territory.Urban music ,most especially,speaks to any group of people regardless of  their country.When it is brilliantly done, this remark  is even more true.However,  those vexed by this situation should interpret this as a  call to excellence made to Cameroonian artists.If Nigerian urban music is popular then maybe this is due to an existing void which the music has come in to fill and Cameroonian artists have to churn out good and sufficient music to compete .Rather than call for some form of musical protectionism,our artists should take this as a challenge and come up with songs which can equally make their way into Nigerian airwaves. In this debate,people should keep in mind that urban music has no frontiers whereas local genres can be circumscribed to a particular area.Furthermore,we live in a free  market context where the audience decides what it wants.If  they decide to choose  Nigerian artists then let it be.After all,Vox populi vox dei. 

Feel free to try Cameroonian urban music too