Eyango revisits SOCAM crisis, nationality issue

Prince Ndedi Eyango has in an interview granted Mutations, the French language daily, described former colleague Longue Longue as a liar and an ingrate.

He told Mutations that both Petit Pays and Longue Longue lack moral values. He also spoke about his soon to be released album and problems that the music industry in Cameroon is facing. Excerpts.

Q: What is Ndedi Eyango presently engaged in?

A: I am trying to put final touches on my new eight – track album titled, ‘Thank You God’. The first track which came out titled, ‘the heroes’, was a single video. I am putting finishing touches on the other tracks which will soon be available in the market.

Q: Why did you choose ‘Thank you God’ as the title of this new album?

A: Whatever we do and whatever we are is by the grace of God. I want to use this song to thank Him for all his wonders. It is something I have been longing to do all this while but I was waiting for His inspiration and love. It is a song that is coming from He Himself and I am satisfied.

Some people see the track, "The Heroes" as a settling of scores through song…

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; it’s everywhere in Cameroon.

You see people saying 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. So i decided to use this song, to communicate a message.

Q: Is there something new your fans are going to discover in your new album?

A: Every time I come out with an album, people say that I am repeating what I have already sung. I have said many things in my songs even though the style may be the same.

In this album, ‘Thank you God’ it talks about the wonders of God, ‘the heroes and danger’ talk about values while ‘ Patou’ denounces the behavior of people who manage the wealth of our country. There are also love and folklore songs. Indeed, it is an album that is quite varied.

After Mr. Tchoungang announced that you have a court case, people did not see you for sometime…

Like I have always said, I have to keep quiet because I do not want to go back to that joke. Cameroonians do not like me because I fight and I do that for my good songs. I do not like making noise and talking all the time. I follow everything and I know that Cameroonians were not deceived. Through media debates, Cameroonians defended me because they knew that all that was said about me was false and was done to influence public opinion.

The Cameroonian ambassador to the United States said I was an illegal immigrant whereas I was travelling in and out of Cameroon. If I was illegal, how could I have been passing through the airport?

Why should an ambassador not know that one can get a visa at the airport, or in Cameroon, or from the immigration or from any Cameroonian consulate abroad?

Q: They said you were on the run at that time…?

A: I was never summoned to court. For what reason could I have gone there?

The accusation of false declaration leveled against me is not within the competence of the Ministry of Arts and Culture. As concerns the allegation that I was on the run, I was always travelling and going on tours. I could be out of the country for a month or two even when I was managing the Artists Association, SOCAM.

I cannot run away because somebody said I did this or that. I do not have any problem with the Cameroon justice system nor the police for which I should be afraid.

Q: About one year after, do people still consider you as the leader of SOCAM?

A: The office of SOCAM is presently closed. Since artists have not yet elected another president of the administrative council or created another body to manage authors’ rights, there is no other president. For now I am the president and I will so remain.

Q: The crisis in SOCAM is but a part of the visible problem plaguing authors’ rights in Cameroon… In your opinion, what should be done for things to improve?

A: It is necessary to have someone with a vision and people should allow him to work. If for example, I am the problem, then I should be put aside and some other persons put in place.

Why are things not working? The problem is not Ndedi. So long as the ministry in charge does not hand over authors’ rights, things will only keep on getting worse. Can you imagine a motorbike rider having his money managed by the ministry of transport?

And it is this ministry that decides how he manages his money? Or a nurse whose decisions depends entirely on the ministry of health?

I think it is unjust to continue living the way we are living. I think music should be left in the hands of musicians as well as authors’ rights so that musicians decide about the future of their association. A civil society organization with private rights should not be managed by the government.

Q: People say you have American nationality…?

A: I have never wanted to talk about it because there will be no grounds for an objective debate. I can never deny adhesion to the United States of America, a country that has given me so much. But for the moment I do not want to say anything because people will derail the debate.

I am not hiding it, but there is no basis for an objective debate. Many people have other nationalities and it has never been a problem. If you want to know whether I have American citizenship, then I will tell you: Yes, I am an American.

Q: In a recent press statement, Longue Longue came out a little bit strongly against you and Petit Pays…

A: It is a problem that baffles me because the two of them function the same way. I remember how in an interview, Petit Pays virtually insulted Manu Dibango. A situation I categorized as disrespectful and irresponsible.

Today, Longue Longue is doing the same thing to his senior, Petit Pays. I don’t think artists should behave in that way. Our trade is a spiritual one. We are supposed to be role models in the society, especially to our fans who love us.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, the two are the same. Longue Longue has said many bad things about me in the past and even in the interview in which he attacked Petit Pays, but I will not answer him. This time he attacked somebody who is like him and he reacted. The two have to learn their lessons and embrace humility and morality, virtues which Cameroonian artists lack.

Q: You are the one who produced Longue Longue’s first two albums, how did you both fall out?

A: I do not regret having produced them nor do I regret having produced the others. The only thing I will say is that, I will no longer give time to others at the expense of my own career.

Longue Longue is a very ungrateful person. He told many lies. Today he is no longer with me but with other people. Ever one can make a balance sheet of his career. At the moment I only see him from a distance like every other artist, nothing more.

I hear people saying that he sees me as his father, but I do not see him as my son because if you have a son who does not respect you as his father, then he is not worth the trouble.

Q: As an artist, what are your projects?

A: I will continue going on musical tours and concentrate on my little family. More importantly, I am working hard on my new album which will soon be available on the stands.