Tutu Muna clashes with Ndedi Eyango again

A recent turn-out of events in the squabbles involving the management of author’s rights in Cameroon indicate that the bad blood between ace musician, Ndedi Eyango and Ama Tutu Muna, Arts and Culture Minister, is far from over. Last week as though they are husband and wife, both used separate occasions to run down each other.

Ndedi Eyango who spoke to the press after an audience he had with Prime Minister Philemon Yang recently said a committee would be put in place by the government to look into the problems plaguing the author’s rights association with a view to enthroning a credible executive.

But he immediately decried the attitude of the Minister of Arts and Culture whom he says has already pre-empted the outcome of the work of the normalisation committee by throwing her weight behind a candidate of her choice.

He, however, called on his fans and other artists not only to be patient with government, but to have confidence that the effort being made to normalize the author’s rights situation would bear fruit.

Eyango also expressed gratitude to the Head of State and the government for what he said are relentless efforts to promote the welfare of artists in the country.

The Arts and Culture minister on her part used a public event in Mbengwi, her hometown to rubbish Eyango’s utterance as regards author’s rights management.

In the event where musicians gathered to receive guitars from the interim trade union of Cameroonian musicians known by its French acronym SYCAMU, Muna described Eyango and his team as noise makers and called on them to join the ranks of those she described as responsible musicians.

“Go and tell Ndedy Eyango, Sam Mbede and company that the house is not yet full, the doors are still wide open. Let them come so that we work together for the interest of all musicians. I love to work with all of you so that we progress together. If musicians think they deserve respect, they should respect each other and stop washing their dirty linens in public. As such, musicians have to work on their image and be tolerant of each other.’’

But Eyango in an earlier interview he granted the press, refuted these allegations, stressing that he had never used his music to settle scores or wash dirty linens in public. Rather, he said, he aims at educating and correcting people, especially the young.

“In our country, it is important for the young to be guided. We have a tendency to undermine our heroes. It is a message I am sending to all those who do not understand that it is necessary to give honour to those who are shaping our country.

Obviously, I was inspired by what I went through with Ama Tutu Muna, the Minister of Arts and Culture.

But this tendency to humiliate our heroes is not limited to the cultural sector alone; it is everywhere in Cameroon. You see people talking all types of rubbish about Samuel Eto’o in spite of what he is doing for the country. Even Roger Milla’s name has sometimes been dragged in the mud. Through this song, THE HEROES, I will pass on a message.’ Said Eyango.

Eyango said he will however, continue to fearlessly denounce the negative behaviour of those who manage the wealth of this nation even if he stands the risk of being stigmatized.

He argued that managing an association like SYCAMU requires much more than singing songs and playing musical instruments. He is therefore, optimistic that with his wealth of managerial and professional experience, he will still be the president of any author’s rights organization that emerges from the work of the reorganization committee.