Polemic: That infamous “N” word in Cameroonian hip-hop songs

In as much as we salute the recent rise and surge in the Cameroonian hip hop movement, one cannot say it’s been Christmas all the way. The positive changes noticed with regards to the videos,beats and moves have created the perfect  smokescreen for something notoriously offensive to creep in : the “N” word. It has become common place  for some artists to infuse their songs with the word. Looking at their swag when they utter that insult one would be forgiven for forgetting the word is offensive. Hip-hop is a culture which should reflect the context of its converts. The Cameroonian social setting makes the use of the word inappropriate. The use of that word by Cameroonian hip-hop artists is a blatant indication of their copycat propensity  and  subtle proof of their lack of originality. The “N” word is an insult to an entire people,a perpetuation of  an oppressed past, a degradation of their achievements and disrespect to those who fought for its relegation to the backyard. Don’t get me wrong. I am no advocate of   of solidarity with African-Americans through the unification of our struggles. No, this is not my point. It would be illogical because Lil Wayne and others still  resort to this word. Why sympathise with people who perpetuate their own woes? I am simply saying that the appearance and continued existence of this insult in our hip-hop is inappropriate. We do not have the social paradigm that justifies the use of the word . If our daily realities are different why should our insults be the same? The use of this word only bears testament to our lack of originality. With our multilingual heritage we have an breathtaking arsenal of words  to choose  from if we must  exercise our rude muscles. Feel free to disagree. It’s a human right,right? Lol