Kang Quintus under fire boasting Cameroon needs Nollywood’s collaboration, not support

By Tata Mbunwe

Renowned Cameroonian film maker and actor, Kang Quintus, has come under intense criticism for stating, during a movie premiere in Douala on Saturday,that the Cameroon film industry rather needs collaboration, and not support from the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood.

The movie guru is facing a backlash from many Cameroonians, including social media influencer, Delly Singah.
In an outing on Facebook Monday, social entrepreneur, Delly Singah wrote “Dear Kang Quintus, if we agree on one thing, then let’s at least agree on concepts. Your ‘speech’ was sheer disrespect, uncultured and void of wisdom to those legends and you know it”.

She insisted that the Cameroon film industry needs to “respect that of Nigeria and if not so, then there is no need bringing in veteran Nigerian actors to feature in Cameroonian movies”.
“If we will ever get to where they are, we have to use wisdom and humility especially when dealing with those who are clearly ahead of us and what you did was totally void of it,” she added.

Delly Singah is among several Cameroonians who have accused Kang Quintus of being arrogant, disrespectful and proud.
They have since been condemning of manner of speaking during the premiere in the presence of veteran Nollywood actor, Zack Orji.

“Nigeria has done a lot for Africa, Cameroon is doing a lot for Africa. I don’t think that we can say Cameroonian film industry needs support. We don’t need support to become who we want to be, we need collaboration with mutual respect,” Quintus said during the movie premiere.
In a live video he made on Monday to explain his actions, the award-winning producer maintained he meant what he said – that Cameroon film industry needs collaboration, not support, from Nollywood and that respect between both industries must be reciprocal.

He added that what he said on Saturday was his way of defending the local film industry from being disrespected, supposedly by Nigerians and other foreigner nationals.
“I will not be anywhere in the world… and see the image of our country, of our industry being disrespected. There is one sense of patriotism that we must exercise, and that is to defend our image first and then quarrel at home,” he said.

“To me it is the only sense of patriotism I have being a Cameroonian. Be proud to be a Cameroonian. And being proud to be a Cameroonian means you have to defend the image of your country. I can’t be in the hall and you talk about you are here to be in support or help the Cameroonian film Industry grow,” he said in the live video on Monday.

He furthered that Nigerian actors like Ramsey Noah, for example, who have featured in Cameroonian movies, including The Fisherman’s Diary, a movie he produced, did not come to “help” or “support” the Cameroonian industry, but to make money.

“When you come in, make your money, take your money, go back with respect. Do not come, we pay you a business flight ticket, you come here and your money is paid and at the end of the day you say you are coming to support us. How are you supporting us? How are you doing us a favour?” Kang Quintus wondered.

Despite the backlash from many compatriots, other Cameroonians have opined that the actor did not err in what he said, but was bold and courageous to defend the image of the industry.
“Solo is right. We need each other. Let’s start prioritizing ourselves too. Cameroon entertainment industry has been living with low self-esteem all these years. Let’s wipe that mentality off,” commented a Facebook user.