Artistes celebrate the freedom of musical expression at Garoua

The Cameroon Arterial Network, its partners and artistes from the Northern Region of Cameroon joined the rest of the international community to support musicians who were prosecuted or imprisoned for criticizing the authorities and claimed their right to musical expression.

At the l’Alliance Française at Garoua where a concert was organized last Friday, March 6, artistes were given the platform to voice out their grievances with support from the public.

Among those who stage performed were Alfa Barry with his garaya, Salaam and his mixed sahelian rap, Small Gougou, Xylem and Alfa Barry. For almost two hours, they offered viewers a concert full of surprises.

The artistes took the opportunity of the Music Freedom Day to reaffirm the role of art and its impact on our societies.

Alfa Barry, touching on the role of musicians said, “Artistes are the mirror of society. Their works provide a reflection on social change and critical for the development and public debate”.

"When you believe that the rights to freedom of expression for musicians and composers are violated in some countries the Music Freedom Day gives us an opportunity to focus on the subject more thoroughly”, said Frenzy, leader of the rap group Salaam.

From October 7 to 2015, the focus will be on a new Arterial Network Cameroon. This will be during the 5th Conference on Creative Economy in Africa (ACEC) that the network will organize in Yaoundé and will be attended by over 200 delegates from thirty African countries, Europe and America.

The Conference on the Creative Economy in Africa is an annual project organized by Arterial Network, a pan-African network and Continental artists, cultural activists, NGOs, businesses and other actors in the cultural sector.