“Professor Emmanuel Yenshu Vubo, Sociologist, University of Buea, talks on the role of musicians in moulding society.

What could be responsible for declining moral values in the choice of musical themes?

The visible cause is the anti-model based on American black sub-culture that extols loud sounding, vulgar and sensuous music and Congolese beats that are full of flamboyant expressions with no moral import. This also reflects global trends in the distribution of cultural objects where Africa has constantly exposed to the subcultures or the thrash of the West.

These trends have been grafted to a youth culture that is dazzled by the apparent success of the former. Just as the economic dictum that bad money may send away good money, the good models of the past seem to be driven away by the thrash of today. However, this has sent alarm signals to some people who are nostalgic and want a return to these golden days.

One should not also dwell too much on this phenomenon which concerns only a segment of society and forget the incredible upsurge in religious music as expressed in diverse forms. These genres evidently carry moral messages that should not be overlooked.

What could possibly cause the population to be easily attracted and interested to such songs with derogatory messages?

The young who have not know any other model except this one are attracted in the name of fashion, fashion understood as the latest things that come whatever their values. The absence of structures (entrepreneur promoters, publication houses, copyright protection) that create the enabling environment to blossom is also to blame. Cameroon musical genres used to benefit from such support structures in the past whether these were local or not local.

That initiative resulted in a hit that brought together the best in the country’s musical landscape. The collapse or absence of the structures has left the vacuum for other genres (Nigerian, Congolese, sub-urban American) to take over. A few but very talented musicians still hold the flag high at all levels such as Richard Bona and Sally Nyolo. But their music resonates mostly amongst the elite. They are eclipsed by what is considered as popular.

What can be done to get musicians back to the right track as educators and important moralising agents in the society?

Music is an art with its own rules of production. It is not an instrument for the production and reproduction of rejected values. It often reflects the values and the experiences at the centre of a culture or society. Artists should go back to the models and gain inspiration from them. They should also be conscious of their role as educators and possible role models that can be emulated.

They should not be unconscious relays of depraved cultures that can be copied by unsuspecting youth. The moral messages should be encouraged and promoted. In all societies there are minimum standards that have to be upheld and even in the domain of music. Regulation against obscenity and immoral language could be a better and effective tool in shaping the cultural content of music.

The Ministry of Arts and Culture should also take steps to promote the good genres of its own national music by rewarding artists, sponsoring their works, creating an enabling environment and working in synergy with them.