Comedian Cy International undertakes to shun online xenophobia after arrest

Cameroonian Comedian, Cyprian Egomag Tayong, aka CY International, has undertaken to shun online hate speech against Agbor Gilbert, the organizer of the Cameroon International Film Festival (CAMIFF), after spending close to 24 hours behind bars.

MMI learnt he also pledged to make no comments about any foreign guests invited to CAMIFF, an issue he has often castigated.

The fervent promoter of 80-20, a campaign that encourages Cameroonians to consume 80 percent of local entertainment content, was arrested on May 6 by officers of the Buea Gendarmerie Legion.

He regained freedom around 4:30 pm on May 7 after reportedly signing an undertaking pledging to “not interfere in anything that concerns Agbor Gilbert,” human rights advocate, Sally Ndape, told MMI.

“He took an undertaking that he would not interfere in anything that concerns Gilbert Agbor and his foreign actors, and he will not attack Gilbert’s personality again,” Mrs Ndape added.

A long-time friend of the Comedian, Sally was among the first to rush to Gendarmerie Legion upon hearing of Cy’s arrest.

She decried his arrest as unfair. She said he was arbitrarily whisked off from his house in Buea under the watch of his wife and children and “without any warrant of arrest”.

“His arrest wasn’t normal for us because he was harassed, embarrassed in his community and worst in front of his children,” Sally added.

Sources say Agbor Gilbert ordered Cy’s arrest after he published derogatory remarks on his Facebook page concerning the just-ended Cameroon International Film Festival.

In a video post that has now been deleted, Cy also hurled insults at Nigerian actor, Alexx Ekubo, who was invited for the festival.

Agbor Gilbert, the CEO of CAMIFF, has usually disagreed with Cy International’s approach to promoting local content.

In an interview last year, he said the comedian had no clear plan for the 80-20 campaign but has rather fueled division and hate within the entertainment industry in Cameroon by attacking local and foreign entertainers.

Cy International, who has always kicked back against the importation of foreign Actors, Comedians and Musicians for events performed in Cameroon, blasted CAMIFF and its organizers for inviting at least three Nigerian Actors to the recent festival.

These include Ruth Kadiri, Alexx Ekubo and Eyinna Nwigwe. Past editions of the festival have equally featured renowned actors from Nigeria, Ghana, India and other countries.

Agbor Gilbert and other actors in the entertainment industry believe Cy’s 80-20 campaign method is rather destroying much-needed cohesion between the Cameroon entertainment industry and its foreign counterparts, especially neighboring Nigeria.

In his previous posts, Cy has campaigned against Cameroonian musicians collaborating with foreign singers and has castigated show organizers for inviting foreign entertainers to perform in the country.

While many Cameroonians have previously saluted his dedication to the 80-20 cause, they ostracized him for his latest insults on Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo.

“CY’s arrest was due to the fact that he came at a foreign guest like Alexx who meant nothing but good. That’s why the intervention was necessary,” said Blogger Ndicho Boris.

“CY deserved to have been like a god father in the industry if he addressed issues with caution and care… His ways were not pleasant and quite more derogatory,” Ndicho added.

However, supporters of Cy International, including social media influencer Delly Singah, strongly oppose his recent arrest.

Other entertainment actors like musician Big G Baba also wrote passionately on his Facebook account to support Cy International.

Beatrice Manka’a contributed to this report.

©Mimi Mefo Info