Cameroon remembers Guy Lobe, Lapiro de Mbanga

Cameroonians especially music lovers are mourning the death of music icon Guy Lobe who died at the Yaoundé General Hospital on March 16 after a brief illness.

The artiste will be remembered for his hit makossa pieces that portrayed life in Cameroon. His artistic works that date back to the early 80s have featured 11 albums produced during his musical career before he passed on.

He was part of L’Equipe National de Makossa that was formed in 1980 with artists like Grace Decca, Ndedi Eyango, Dina Bell and Ben Decca.

Rumours had widely circulated about the death of Guy Lobe when he suffered an accident in France in 2010 but he passed on in his early 60s.

The death of Guy Lobe was announced same day musicians, friends and family relations of Lambo Sandjo Pierre Roger better known by fans as Lapiro de Mbanga converged in Douala during the first anniversary of his passing on March 16, 2014 in Buffalo, United State of America.

Lapiro de Mbanga is remembered for being the most virulent critic of the Biya regime. He released a song “Constitution Constipee” in 2008 which denounced the proposed amendment of Cameroon’s constitutional clause which limited presidents to two seven-year terms.

Same year, he was charged with complicity in looting, destruction of property, obstructing streets, degrading public property and spearheading illegal gatherings. He was sentenced to three years in jail by the High Court in Mbanga on September 24, 2008.

He served his prison term at the Douala New Bell prison and was released on April 8, 2011. He sought asylum in the United States where he and his family settled until his death on March 16, 2014. Prayers were made in his honour as he was being remembered yesterday.