Musicians and stakeholders in the category B arts sector are yet to find out why and who wanted to prevent the donation ceremony of guitars to some Cameroonian musicians last August 30.
The SUN gathered that the main organizer of the donation, Romeo Dika who is the National Executive President of the Cameroon Syndicate of Musicians was arrested on the eve of the ceremony allegedly at the request of an examining magistrate who ordered him to come and stand as a witness in an authors’ rights management related case. Such a move raised widespread suspicion on why. A suspect has been detained for questioning.
The SUN later gathered that instructions came from above demanding the immediate release of Romeo Dika and should appear as witness to the case.
Presiding over the donation ceremony of the 102 guitars to Cameroonian musicians, Arts and Culture Minister, Ama Tutu Muna condemned perpetrators of such actions as it retards the smooth progress of Cameroon music.
While saluting the initiative, the minister stressed that a guitar is to a musician just as a vehicle is to a driver. She said it is not talent that our musicians lack but that after the donation of working materials and the eventual building of their capacities, better performance will be rendered in the Cameroonian showbiz industry.
Minister Ama Tutu Muna expressed gratitude to the International Federation of Musicians and the Cameroon Syndicate of Musicians that has given birth to this grande event. She urged musicians to return to work because only hard work pays and that even if someone has the best equipment but does not work, he or she will not perform well.
Speaking earlier, the Executive President of the Cameroon Syndicate for Musicians, Romeo Dika told the minister that they are proud of her reforms because they fall in line with the instructions of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya who wants to better the lives of artists.
While promising to stop at nothing despite threats against his life to help accompany government in its efforts to put a smile on the faces of musicians, Romeo Dika announced that the distribution of the remaining 400 guitars will continue in Douala in the coming days.
