Interview: Kreef Ent’s spotlight on Cameroon Music Tour (Cmt) USA

Cameroon’s burgeoning urban music industry is gradually gaining potential worldwide. One of the pragmatic and prime movers and shakers of the industry is US-based entertainment marketing, promotion and event organising agency Kreef Entertainment.

NexDim caught up with these two strong and indomitable-spirited ladies behind this positive idea of trending Cameroonian showbiz; Ebangha Njang Yvonne and Eva Ndumbe.

Nexdim: Hello Ebangha and Eva. Accept hearty greetings from Nexdim Empire. It’s my pleasure having you.

Eva: Thanks. Ebangha Njang: Awww thanks a lot; our pleasure too.

Nexdim: It’s been a longtime coming and you’ve established yourself as a front line urban music cultural promoter across the world with USA being your strong hold. Tell us about your Kreef Ent agency.

Eva: Kreef is what we call a one stop shop for entertainment with Cameroon being our only focus of course. We focus on everyone who contributes to the growth of the Cameroonian entertainment industry. So our clients go from models to rappers. Our services are not limited to artiste but include management, talent scouting, and marketing among others.

Ebangha Njang: Pretty much, Eva said everything. KREEF is about making the Cameroon entertainment industry trend worldwide. Thus the Kreef official hashtag #TrendCamer.

Nexdim: Thanks for throwing light on your objectives. Can you both define your roles?

Eva: I mostly handle the business part of Kreef. I draw contracts, do research on new songs and upcoming artistes and handle the emails. Yvonne is more of the face of Kreef (laugh). We both handle marketing and promotion.

Ebangha Njang: (Laughs) yes I’m more of the show. I do the interviews and link up with artistes and their managers to get them interested in our services and all the spotlight activities. Eva is the behind-the-scenes one and I’m the spotlight and controversial one I guess.

Nexdim: Yea. The public perceives Ebangha as the mascot. “We are familiar with Ebangha not Yvonne”. Most captivating are her intriguing posts and videos on social media. A ‘Kim Kardashian-type’ most calls her. Ebangha do you get critics for your social media gimmicks?

Ebangha Njang: it’s @ “Kim Kardashian type”. Is “critics” the word? That’s elevating! I get a lot of criticisms but for the most part I get a lot of support and encouragement online. So far so good.

Nexdim: Great. A few days ago a flyer popped online that caused a stir of controversy. The maiden edition of Kreef Ent’s tour with Stanley, Magasco, Gasha and les Featurist shortlisted for the debut. Please tell us about the concept.

Eva: Kreef is all about exposing Cameroonian music to the world and we have very talented artistes in Cameroon. We are tired of attending concerts by the Nigerian/Ghanaian/Ivorian artistes. It’s about time our artistes get the same respect other African artistes get. We decided to organize a tour so other Africans can get to know them and enjoy their music. Ebangha Njang: Yes.

Nexdim: Thanks Eva. Laudable! How was your journey booking the artistes and securing the venues been?

Ebangha Njang : Honestly, we thought it was going to be hell but all the artistes involved in the project were so understanding and humble. Seriously! Some of the artistes went as far as giving suggestions to help with the tour. Imagine that! As far as venues are concerned they’re all going to be cities here in America; we have a good team so we got that covered.

Nexdim: Okay. Immediately the flyer featured online, a myriad of Jovi fans went on rampage. Most hilarious was a fan called “Ettiene” who took to Facebook angrily. Why is the Mboko god not on this list?

Eva: Lol. We actually reached out to Jovi and his team concerning the tour. Unfortunately he had other obligations. We hope to work with him in the future.

Nexdim: Thanks for the clarification. I hope Jovi fans will be pleased.

Eva: I hope so too.

Nexdim: It’s very impressive to launch such a fabulous tour. It’s going to hold this August. How often will this event come?

Ebangha Njang: Annually. Eva: By God’s grace. Ebangha Njang: Amen. Eva. Amen.

Nexdim: It’s the very first for the urban music industry in Cameroon. Many other artistes will love to jump into the train next time. What are your criteria for selection?

Ebangha Njang: The artistes trending not only in Cameroon, but in the diaspora at that given time. Pretty much that’s it. So artistes just have to work hard and get those hit songs (at least 1) played everywhere. Most Cameroonian artistes have a ton of good songs but there is no hit amongst them. The artistes involved in the project all have one, two or more hit songs played in clubs and parties here in America and Europe too. So you get the point right?

Nexdim:Yea. That’s so right. Are there any difficulties you encounter setting up this platform for our Cameroonian artistes?

Ebangha Njang: Ummmm I’ll not call them difficulties though. They are trials (laughs) but it’s all good and artistes are actually coming out of their shells. Cameroon has a lot, I mean a lot of talented artistes but they are so camera shy and they haven’t yet realized the importance of online promotion.

Nexdim: I was about to nail that point. Online promotions as opposed to offline buzz. What’s your take? Because there are so many trending songs offline that are not making an impression online. Eva the marketing guru, answer that.

Eva: I am not a marketing guru (laughs); I try my best. Well I think the path Cameroonian music is taking right now is digital. Everyone in Cameroon now has access to social media and using that platform as an artiste to create a buzz is very important. The more people talk about it online, the more people want to listen because everyone is talking about it.

Ebangha Njang: Okay. About some songs trending offline and not online, I think one major cause is that most Cameroonian artistes would only upload their songs on Soundcloud.They need to realize there’s power in visuals. Shoot a video and post on YouTube, get to work with your friends (if you can’t afford a PR) and stalk everybody on your timeline. Then watch how many shares and views; thus gaining recognition. I know finance can be a problem too but I know a lot of low budget videos making waves. I’m just saying.

Nexdim: Kreef Ent. is a growing niche and bound to face competition. What makes you different from other event organisers and marketers? What’s special about you?

Ebangha Njang: Kreef is focused ONLY on promoting Cameroon talents. I guess that’s different enough (laughs). Eva: Yes!! We try as much as possible to stay focused on what Kreef represents.

Nexdim: Well planned. Kreef Ent, any plans for a website? Eva: We have plans for a website which is under construction. It will be launched by the end of June or beginning of July by God’s grace.

Nexdim: Okay. We shall patiently wait. Is your focus just trending urban artistes or Makossa- Bikutsi fills in?

Eva: All of it. Makossa and Bikutsi are our “musical identities”. No other music genre can get a Cameroonian at home and abroad, nostalgic like Makossa and no other genre can make a Cameroonian go crazy on the dance floor like Bikutsi. You cannot promote Cameroonian music without these two. It will make no sense, honestly.

Nexdim: Any favourite Cameroonian music? Eva and Yvonne.

Eva: What genre; Makossa or Urban or Bikutsi?

Nexdim: Music is music. Are there any two favourite?

Ebangha Njang: Yes. My two favourite of the moment right now are Charlotte Dipanda’s ‘Elle n’a pas vu’ & Minks’ ‘Les Pantheres’.

Eva: Mani Bella – Pala Pala, Teddy Doherty and Inna Money – Je Veux, Peter Jericho – Kamer 4 Life, Dareal – Petite Pause and so on.

Nexdim: Wow. Nice playlist on Nexdimempire. Any plans of signing artistes?

Eva: We have the talented Peter Jericho who just released a single ‘Kamer 4 Life’ which you can listen to on his SoundCloud account and we have other amazing artistes coming on board.

Nexdim: Oh yea. Listened to the song; good one and his cover art had Kreef Ent. That’s great and shouts out to Peter Jericho. What else do you have for the future?

Ebangha Njang: Kreef’s future has a lot and it includes a studio and a discotheque, yes discotheque.

Nexdim: Wow. Discoteque? Okay hoping to see a tremendous evolution.

Ebangha Njang: Yes Discotheque (laughs). Kreef wants to revolutionise 237 music and artistes. God is with us! Eva: Yea. We are working on getting office space in Cameroon.

Nexdim: It was nice having you on Nexdim Empire. What are your last words to the public?

Ebangha Njang: KREEF is here for all Cameroonian artistes. Let’s join hands and trend Camer. More hits and less beefs. Can Eva say Amen?

Eva: Amen. Let’s support our artistes. They work so hard and deserve all the love and support. Team work makes the dream work and all those supporting us, thank you. It’s all by His grace. Nexdim, thank you for having us.

Ebangha Njang: Thank you very much Nexdim Empire. Kreef appreciates a lot.

Nexdim: Keep up the good work and we hope to get updates about the Cameroon music tour.

Eva: You will.