K-Tino's Testimony Goes Rife

Demand for the CDs of the newly born-again Bikutsi singer's story is reportedly high in Yaounde.

Celebrity Cameroonian Bikutsi female artiste, K-Tino, whose lyrics have been described by upholders of moral rectitude as "satanic verses", has turned to God for solace, blaming her former association with mystical doers for her past glory and troubles. Comments are emanating from households where it is reported that people get up as early as 5:30 am to watch her testify about evil in the musical world.

Sporadic sales of recordings of the testimony on CDs have been seen around the Central Post Office in Yaounde since the end of 2013. At FCFA 500 or less, available stocks by the supplier have all been bought like hot cake. Several vendors not yet in possession of the CDs say the demand is high and they are waiting for big suppliers to begin distributing them.

"We are expecting our suppliers to bring even DVDs as clients say they cannot get up early at 5:30 am to watch the testimony on Canal 2 TV," said Mbock J, a pirated CD/DVD vendor near the Central Post Office in Yaounde. At the "Va et Raconte" ministries situated in the Mvan neighbourhood, officials say there is a plan to market the videos when K-Tino completes her testimonies. "This will be done if she so permits," said a source.

Broadcast as a series over the Canal 2 TV channel, the video, which also puts the now popular evangelist, Dr Tsala Essomba, of the "Va et Raconte" ministry in Yaounde, as a major actor in the testimony, has also hit the social media. On December 30, 2013, reactions went rife when Part 3 of the confession was posted on YouTube and as of yesterday, January 13, 2014, the video had been viewed over 3,300 times. While one of the viewers, Désiré Enama, was unhappy that Dr Tsala Essomba kept interrupting the artiste, others questioned why she denigrates the Catholic Church.

Still on December 30, 2013, a message posted on the Facebook page allegedly belonging to "K-Tino Ascenseur" said her confession does not have to arouse such negative reactions because everything received on earth is thanks to God. "I have no contract with Tsala Essomba and I am free to share my experience and life with the people," the message read.

In reaction, a certain François Jean Cli Ateba, pleaded that she should continue to sing while Christiane Ntimbane Bomo said K-Tino should give her life entirely to Jesus. "K-Tino, how much did you receive to testify? Is this part of artistic concerts? How much was the pay package?" Bre Guibert, another viewer, kept quizzing.