The Cameroonian public and I are one - Charlotte Dipanda

Charlotte Dipanda has one of the best voices of her generation and the ambassador of Cameroon culture has always distilled happiness through her work leaving the audience wanting more of her.

Her third album, ‘Massa’ (after ‘Mispah’ and ‘Dube Lam’) will be launched in Douala and Yaoundé on April 10 and 11, for a celebration at the height she has attained. Charlotte disclosed more to us in the interview below.

Q: Charlotte Dipanda is set to organize a show in her country, Cameroon. Is it just to outdoor her new album or there will be stage performances? And why create it abroad before thinking about her homeland?

A: (She laughs) I least expected these questions, especially the second one. I arrived in Cameroon especially to host two stage shows for my new album on April 10 and 11 in Douala and Yaoundé respectively. Regarding the second question, you know every time I held press conferences, especially for my first and second album, journalists have always wondered why I chose to launch it in Cameroon. Would I feel unable to do so abroad? That’s what they asked me. Today I see that the opposite is true (laughs).

In short, for my previous albums I was that girl who needed the anointing of her parents (the Cameroonian people) to evolve. It was more than important to me to know that I am accepted, understood and blessed. Today I feel stronger as the child who grew. The Cameroonian public and I are now one, I am very proud and satisfied about it.

So I believe that I can’t be blamed because I feel sufficiently prepared to introduce my album to a French audience. I already know that in Cameroon people understand me; they support me, they like what I do for the culture of my country. And that's a real challenge for me to come to Cameroon “after Cigale”.

Q: Your previous album was recorded under the symbol of maturity. So what African artistes does it include? And what can be learned from this album?

A: Let's say in ‘Dube Lam’, my previous album, I was really aware of the richness of the culture of my country. You know, I consider myself as a singer who is open to other styles. So I'm the musical bridge, which links several cultures. I played in Brazil with the percussionists, Zé Luis Nascimento. I also play with Hervé Samb of Senegal. I was even in Mali with a guitarist. Thus this is to communicate to you that my music speaks to everyone and it is this wealth that I advocate. So my fourth album will be very universal, because I launch it in Cameroon to unveil myself to the world.

Q: Why ‘Massa’? Then, in the title ‘Elle n’a pas vu’, who has not seen what?

A: ‘Massa’ is a Cameroonian expression used to speak to someone. In this case, I call on us all to work towards the development of our country. Also ‘Elle n’a pas vu’ is a song that’s dear to my heart. I also relate to it because this is a dedication to the mothers who left early and whose children have no chance to share or show them what they have become.

Q: And in terms of theme?

A: Of course I talk on daily issues that happen universally. Take, for example, a title like ‘Laka Mba’, meaning forgive me. You know, no one can say he has never faced a situation where he had to ask for forgiveness to wipe out mistakes. This is more like humility, humanism, love and then respect.

I will also take the title ‘Bia Na Te’ which peaks about prostitution and its setbacks and it’s regretted later. I do not give lessons. I just invite some women to turn to the Lord who sent his only son for the forgiveness of our sins and for them to realize nothing is lost after they do so.

I have also worked on ‘Lena’ which is a song that has collaboration with Fernando Andrade, former manager of Cesaria Evora. The song is a tribute to women of the Sahel.