A famous Cameroonian musician, songwriter, entrepreneur and social activist, Ndifonka popularly known as Wax Dey, has cautioned Cameroonian artists and their Nigerian counterparts from fighting over amount of content from Nigeria being aired in Cameroon and vice versa, even though he is a staunch supporter of the promotion of local content (80/20).
Wax Dey, who always says Nigeria is a brother nation to Cameroon, made the statement while fielding questions by the Nigerian Diaspora Magazine on his opinion about the 80/20 campaign some Cameroonian entertainers have been heralding as best means to improve the industry.
“I started pushing for 80-20 back in 2016 after spending Easter with President Olusegun of Nigeria: he explained to us how a policy prioritizing local content helped to spur the music industry. That has been a key point of interaction in my meetings with Cameroonian leaders and lawmakers since. Other local platforms like Bimstr support this campaign actively on social media.”
He adds however that this does not need to be a cause for divisive outbursts or hatred.
According to the proposed regime, 80%of content played at clubs, receptions, Television station and radio and likes should be Cameroonian while 20 is foreign (including Nigeria).
Cameroon entertainers felt more value is given to Nigerians in their country while the same is not reciprocated by Nigerians in the clubs spaces. As a means to promote the Cameroon culture and revampe its values, the 80/20 campaign was adopted by humorist and socialist « Old Pancho ».
Measuring from that time of inception, Cameroonian musicians sort of won the 80/20 debate ; making a case why there is a need for the government to institute a quota of local music that must be played by local media houses and entertainment businesses.
The main argument put forward was that of other countries that had instituted similar laws to positive outcomes. This has been a heated debate on social media platforms.
Wax Dey, being the National Coordinator of the Cameroon Music Art pole, has worked over the years to not just put Cameroon but African music on the world map.
He was recently named the Central African Director for All Africa Music Awards ( AFRIMA). Wax Dey’s opinion to the fued which is seemingly fueling a sepration margin between Cameroon and Nigerian entertertainners, is that « Cameroon needs to collaborate more with Nigeria to grow ».
“What we are seeing is that people are increasingly calling for Nigerians to be boycotted” affirms Wax Dey. “This is a wrong interpretation of 80-20. By prioritizing local content, our artists will have more airtime, more shows, more income and will be able to both compete and collaborate better with Nigerians. At the end of the day, we have a lot to learn from Nigeria as an industry, and that will only happen through more collaboration. Cameroonian artists also perform a lot in smaller industries, so unity is a must.”
He sees « a possibility to market the uniqueness of Cameroonian arts on the global scene through fruitful collaboration with Nigeria », noting that many countries have done that and it has worked out well for them.
However, though Cameroon ‘s Afro Pop music is not where it used to be, Nde believes and it’s putting the work to make his country a name on the global stage. But for that to happen, he believes 80-20, applied the right way, is a must.
Wax Dey is known in Cameroon to have fought a lot of silent battles for the industry.His role in the Ministry of Art and culture has much to do with this; he has been instrumental in making some great Central African and Cameroonian artists infiltrate AFRIMA , MTV Awards etc.
Wax Dey has learnt from the greatest culture promoters, and he says he owes his country the due to to ensure the growth of the Industry.
Going by Nde, the ancient Makossa , Bikutsi, Asiko, Njang genre, have remained the country’s cultural heritage; he enjoined millennials and up coming artists to revive it by creating a fusion of afro pop with these genres to create a unique blend because in any case, « we are proud of who we are ».