Cameroonian Afro-Njang artist Shey Lontum Yov has praised the Cameroonian diaspora for having his back and that of colleagues when it comes to promoting home songs.
He expressed his love and appreciation during an exclusive live interview with MMI Editor-in-Editor-in-Chief, Mimi Mefo.
Shey Yov is on a musical tour to the United Kingdom and has been thrilling fans with Afro-Njang since September 7.
“I believe back home, we have fans. But the real fans who can put us where we can be are people who are out here. You know the economic situation,” he said, responding to a question on how tours abroad promote them as artists.
According to Yov, in Cameroon, when one organizes a show and charges a table about FCFA 5,000, only a limited number will show up.
“But out here, we come so that we can get that financial support. I believe that when I want to relate out here, it is for me to make so much money to meet up with my career,” he said.
He discourages fellow musicians for producing only audio songs, but to accompany them with videos.
He said it is through the videos that they sell their music to the world, secure travel opportunities and make money as artists.
As he continues his shows in the UK, Shey Lontum Yov says the love from Cameroonians living there has been massive.
“Everyone just wants to be by my side,” he said, appreciating the Cameroonian community in the UK.
His next show comes up in Glasgow where he will entertain the fans with Njang songs like “One Family” and “Last Hour.”
Aside from appreciating the love shown him by UK fans, Yov also discussed his musical journey with Mimi Mefo on a special live broadcast.
Before switching to Afro-Njang, he said he was into Afrobeats.
“Before I became a traditional artist, I was first of all into afrobeats, R&B, and all sorts of music. I was trying to find my niche and position myself in the industry.
“Most of the time, I discovered that when I do songs in English, they don’t sound good. Even as the owner of the music, I don’t enjoy them,” he recounted.
But when he rebranded some of the songs made as a member of the njang in school back then, they became a hit.
He started with “One Family” and people loved it. He noticed that he could carve a niche around that, and Yov is now a household name when it comes to Afro-Njang in Cameroon.
Last July, he released an album called Roots. The album, he told Mimi Mefo, is a reflection and combination of different aspects of culture.
“It is taking us back to where we are coming from,” he said, adding that it tells his story as a person too.
During the show, he was grateful to his producers and promoters as well as the fans in Cameroon.
©Mimi Mefo Info
