Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mimi Mefo Info (Editor)
Published on 2024-02-20 17:25:55
By Daniel D.
The fervent advocate of the 80-20 campaign in the Cameroonian entertainment sector, Cyprian Egomang Tayong, also known as CY International, has declared that music is no longer a part of his advocacy. In an exclusive interview on February 19, the controversial comedian and content creator expressed his disappointment with the “ingratitude” from some Cameroonian artists, stating that none of the artists who have benefitted from the 80-20 campaign have publicly acknowledged it. According to CY International, he has been advocating for this cause for 10 years without any recognition from the artists.
As a result, he has announced that he will no longer focus on promoting music, but instead, shift his attention to other aspects of Cameroonian entertainment, such as home videos and comedy. CY International, also known as Old Pancho, has been a vocal advocate of the 80-20 concept, which emphasizes consuming 80 percent local entertainment content and 20 percent foreign content.
In his previous efforts, he has raised concerns about the dominance of foreign music, movies, and other creative content in Cameroon, emphasizing the need for Cameroonians to support their own entertainment industry in order for it to grow.
CY International recounted that before the 80-20 campaign, there was little to no awareness for local artists and content, while foreign music dominated the scene. He claimed to have played a significant role in influencing big companies to start including Anglophone artists in brand ambassador deals. Despite his efforts, CY International claims that the artists themselves have remained silent on the issue.
The conflict between CY International and Cameroonian artists further escalated when popular musician Asaba allegedly publicly criticized him, implying that he was suffering from “bipolar disorder.” In response, CY suggested that she may have been suffering from depression. He emphasized that he has always supported Asaba’s career and promoted her songs, and he claims that she disrespected him without any provocation, accusing her of being depressed.
Aside from the conflict with artists, CY International has been facing backlash from some music lovers who believe that Cameroonian music still needs substantial investment to compete with the influx of foreign content, particularly from neighboring Nigeria.
In conclusion, CY International’s decision to remove music from his advocacy and focus on promoting other aspects of Cameroonian entertainment represents a shift in his campaign for a more localized entertainment industry. Despite the criticism and conflicts, his efforts have brought awareness to the importance of supporting local content in the entertainment sector.
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
