For the past few days, Cameroonian bikutsi diva Lady Ponce has been trending on social media after Cameroon’s telecommunications company, Camtel announced Fally Ipupa’s invitation to Cameroon as the main artist for the end-of-year mega concert it is planning to organise on December 30 at the Omnisport stadium of Douala.
Lady Ponce, in her revendication, made it clear that she has no issues with Fally Ipupa, but her outing was to call out Camtel for neglecting local artists over a “stranger”.
“Are you not tired of this smear campaign against artists of Africa in miniature”? She questioned
“Enough is enough! Petit Pays couldn’t be the headliner of this event? Isn’t he an icon of African and world music? Damn, what excessive contempt!” she added
“Camtel, what shame, what contempt! Our societies have no respect for the Cameroonian artist”.
According to reports, Camtel is choosing Fally Ipupa for the concert, firstly because he is one of the most listened-to African artist in Cameroon and secondly, because they have their Blue services to launch. Lady Ponce says Camtel should have chosen a Cameroonian artist for the launch of their products because the money they make is from Cameroonians and Camtel should be giving back to them.
“Cameroon Telecommunications, you are launching a product consumed by Cameroonians, yet you are a taxpayer’s company, but you take Fally as the headliner and it is he that you put at the headliner.”
Thousands of Cameroonians are already mobilising for this concert. Worth noting is that Fally is not the only artist invited to this concert. Other Cameroonian artists will be performing too, like Ben Decca, Indira Baboke, Kameni, and others still to be revealed.
“Now you put some four local artists to confuse Cameroonians, while we know the misery you pay them. You could take a good number of local artists and make this product launch a national event for the Cameroonian people,” Lady Ponce continued.
“If we don’t have jobs today, it’s simply because you’re taking that right away from us because you like to see us suffer and beg in your offices. Is handing over what is rightfully ours becoming a problem in this country? Shame on you”. She added.
Camtel the Problem! Not Fally
Lady Ponce has been insisting on the fact that Camtel has the obligation to invite Cameroonian artists for any project they have because every cash they make comes from Cameroonians.
“Camtel, We created you with our taxes, we Cameroonians, and you owe billions of our royalties; you don’t pay them. But you’re throwing a party for free with our money, and you think I’m going to leave you? It’s my money and my right to claim”.
Is Lady Ponce fighting alone?
After her outburst, Lady Ponce has faced criticism from other Cameroonian celebrities who disagree with her claims. To Maahlox, Camtel has the right to invite whoever they want for their project if it will please her customers.
“CAMTEL has noticed that its subscribers love FALLY; they went for him to please their subscribers, whether it pleases people or not.”
Cameroonian comedian Moustik Le Karismatik has also taken to Facebook to condemn Lady Ponce’s outings, which, according to him, are full of hypocrisy.
“When you received the money from the PRC and spent it, life seemed wonderful. However, things have taken a turn for the worse since they stopped providing the funds. Tap, because of the disorder we know, you’ve become superwoman, girl! Please begin by ensuring that you pay your dancers fair wages, considering the substantial fees you charge”.
Mani Bella on her part without condoning any of them, has called on both Lady Ponce, Maahlox, and Moustik to call off the ranting and make peace. Lady Ponce has refused and insists she has the right to air her mind.
It is worth noting that in 2020, Lady Ponce was invited by Camtel to attend one of their concerts. The concert was organised with French rapper Me Gims as the guest artist. Many are questioning her now for calling out Camtel if she has once been called by them for a project.
This comes at a time when there has been a strong call for Cameroonians to consume their homemade content with the “80/20” concept which calls for the consumption of 20 percent foreign music and eighty percent Cameroonian.
- Why Fally Ipupa and not others?
It is worth noting that Fally has been invited to Cameroon for a concert before, and he is not the first artist to come as a main guest for a concert in Cameroon.
A Nigerian artist last year (2022) was invited as the main artist for UCB’s 50th anniversary. Burna has also been brought into Cameroon as the main artist for a concert. Wizkid was invited to the presidency in 2020 for Brenda Biya’s birthday, and it did not pose a problem to anyone. Why Fally now?
Lady Ponce’s recent outing has caused the managers of the Fally Ipupa Foundation to invite her to a concert in Congo Kinshasa, and it is now left to see if Lady Ponce will honour the invitation.
