In a lengthy open letter to Richard Bona, the artist Marco Mbella who also presents himself as a Polytechnique Engineer calls out the bassist, especially concerning his social media posts.

Whether it’s on the double issue of dual nationality or the debate on political change in Cameroon, the author of the correspondence says Richard Bona is an American who should shut up. K’mer SAGA got a copy. Read it below!

“From time immemorial, the unbridled quest for a more increased popularity has often led some artists to criticize the rulers to the point of taking themselves for politicians, preachers or leaders of opinion.

Musicians are no exception to this rule. Music is a means of social expression, it is normal for musicians to develop through the texts of their works themes that denounce the evils of society, and particularly the criticisms of rulers. It would be understandable.

But to leave the artistic field to become a politician “for a week” (in the words of Minister Tchiroma), fans are wondering if their manners have changed cap. Recently, a US citizen named Richard Bona, outstanding artist, talented bassist, perhaps noting that his former success has somewhat eroded recently in Cameroon because of the emergence of many talents, would have found a way to remake a small health popularity by attacking the institutions of a country that is not his: Cameroon.

The question that one would immediately want to ask him is how does this concern him the “American” citizen. First he had better try to get the popularity in his country, the United States, seeking to make himself known even that by only 1% of Americans. We always knew that this American citizen liked Cameroon because he always had himself promoting our country first by singing in Douala in his musical creations and then by being present at his shows throughout the world as “Cameroonian”.

Therefore, in recognition of this, the President of the Republic of Cameroon (the same person he insults today online) decided to honor him by awarding him a medal that would have been pinned to his garment by Minister MOUELLE Kombi alongside Ben Decca and Othéo, if and only if he had not himself declined. That was the first affront against the republican institutions. Does Mr. Bona know that the recognition of Cameroon via the decoration of the president is a privilege that many bravest Cameroonians have never had?

Apart from singing in Douala and appearing everywhere as “Cameroonian” (I do not know if we should call this usurpation of nationality), what else did he do for this country? We know several Cameroonians who, despite having made the choice to take another nationality, have shown their love and attachment to Cameroon by investing in the country and even staying there. Bona does not even have a box in Cameroon. What right does he therefore has that allows him to tarnish the image of our dear and beautiful country, Cameroon? Giving opinions on social issues making the news in Cameroon without finding out what really happened?

What right allows it to criticize the President of the Republic of Cameroon?, to give advice on calls for his candidacy? Denigrate Cameroonian musicians? Denigrate Charly Nelle simply because he was the head of the collective of artists living in the Littoral and who signed the call for the candidacy of President Biya? Mr. BONA does not remember his infancy, when it was recording demos at my home, he was a fan of Charly Nelle of whom he even interpreted songs by calling himself “Charly Nelle”?

Bona thought the mere fact of being invited by the Cameroon government for a decoration was enough to violate the laws of the country allowing a Cameroonian enter Cameroon without visa with his US passport. That’s where his anger comes against our country. No one is above the law, dear sir! Bona apparently did not know the sacrosanct principle of respect for the thinking of others: those artists who choose to line up behind President Biya, as those who choose not to do so all have freedom to their choices.

Why does Bona want to impose his thoughts? Where this gentleman crossed the Rubicon and is unacceptable is the fact that he said “President Biya is worse than Boko Haram.” He who is installed in cozy comfort of New Yorkers away from Cameroonian families who are bereaved every day because of Boko Haram does he know this terrorist group whose members rape and brutally kill? How can a sensible person say such a thing when all Cameroonians have freed themselves of political, ethnic and religious divisions to rally behind President Biya in winning his war against Boko Haram?

Before comparing Boko Haram with whosoever, has this man who wants to become a leader of opinion or perhaps politician in Cameroon thought one day to mark his indignation at the atrocities of Boko Haram, show his support for our brave soldiers who are at the front and sacrifice their lives for our protection? Did he send a word of comfort to many families who lose loved ones every day by the terrorist actions of Boko Haram?

Bona demonstrated an appalling blindness in not doing all this to think only foolish comparison which constitute a grave insult to the memory of thousands of our compatriots (soldiers and civilians) we have lost in this war. We like Richard Bona because he is a good singer, because he is a virtuoso bass guitar, without being the best bassist, if one were to classify in this discipline among Cameroonians. But he knows that we who have not renounced our country up to beg for another nationality also do not need their opinions regarding the progress of our dear Cameroon.

One would have expected that he gives his opinion on calls for the candidacy of Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton, as we are informed that in this renowned country of democracy. Manu Dibango, the most famous icon of the Cameroonian music, even after suffering unjust frustrations and is the most despicable object of insults in the management of copyright in Cameroon, has never denied his country to go to the conquest of another nationality. God only knows how many proposals he received in this direction. He declined to stay all Cameroonian.

The Grand Manu, who has had to train several Cameroonian artists he recruited in his orchestra (unlike Bona who plays solo and never trained any person) has never insulted the institutions of his country. The “young” Bona should be inspired by Manu Dibango if he dreams of having a beautiful musical career as him, because he still has a long way to go. Dear Mr. Bona (meaning in Duala language “line” or “group”), create your own lineage or group in the United States. We have never asked others born in a country where we play pool, but are proud to be born in one where we play Songo.

We never asked to be born in a country where one eats the “Big Mac”, but are proud to be born in one where we eat ndolé. We never asked to be born in a country where we play “Jazz”, but are proud to be born in one where we play the “mindjang”. Bravo to you, Dynasty Le Tigre, brave young Cameroonian artist I am paraphrasing and who does not need to attack the republican institutions to increase his popularity. His beautiful lyrics in his songs are largely sufficient for that. “

Marco MBELLA
Musician & Polytechnique Engineer
CARPA Coordinator