Efforts to end the division between them vis-à-vis CMC and SOCAM have begun in Douala.

Struggles to curtail strive among music artists in the country have often hit the rock. Since June 28, 2012 the artists have for the first time decided to resolve their problems. A group of music artists from around Cameroon reuniting under the banner Groupe éclairé pour l’Unité du Corps Artistique, began efforts to end the CMC-SOCAM imbroglio and years of wrangling within the ‘defunct’ CMC, as well as the crisis of interest on the music landscape that is blowing negatively against the new Société civile camerounaise de l’Art musical (SOCAM).

Three years after the Arts and Culture Ministry withdrew its license from the Cameroon Music Corporation (CMC); SOCAM which appropriated it soon faced dissenting voices from some music artists and singers who would remain loyal to the old outfit CMC. When a law court ruled in favour of CMC a new tussle for leadership cropped up between the CMC Chair and his Vice, although it is yet to be ceded its functional license, according to Roggy Stentor, Organising Committee member.

Within this crisis lies a deep-seated silent contestation against the legitimacy of the two corporations. Until last June 8 and 15 when the CMC Chair and his vice convened two separate assemblies, one by Sam Mbende at the CMC headquarters in Yaounde, the other Monatele by his Vice. Beside the usual accusations, the leaders castigated SOCAM for “illegally” keeping the license. It is within this background that the group of music artists, led by Roggy Stentor and popular Makossa singer Njohreur, convened the Deido meeting. The goal, they said, is to seek consensus within a single corporation by thrashing out the differences between music artists as well as establishing allegiance toward the unique course of advancing music and all music artists in the country.

To accomplish this, the three parties involved: the Arts and Culture Ministry, SOCAM and CMC officials will convene in the days ahead to set up a platform whereby affiliates of the two corporations and other music artists will come up with solution to their problems, reconcile dichotomous parties and establish solidarity and unity.