I once said that if Cameroonian artists go for a year without releasing music, no one will notice. The outrage that ensued was expected. I went on to ask those who came at me with rebuttals to name one artist from Germany or India. As you may have guessed, no one had an answer for me.
Germany is a highly developed country. Its engineering prowess is world-renowned and has been a driving force behind its economic success. From automobiles to industrial machinery, German engineering is synonymous with precision, innovation, and quality. Germany’s engineering prowess is the result of a combination of factors, including a strong education system, a tradition of manufacturing excellence, and a focus on innovation. German engineers are known for commitment to quality, and they are sure to remain at the forefront of engineering for years to come.
The United States is widely recognized as the center of music and entertainment in the world. From Hollywood movies to chart-topping pop songs, the country’s cultural exports have a global reach and influence. One reason is the country’s vast size and diverse population. The US is home to people from all over the world, and this mix of cultures has led to a vibrant and dynamic entertainment scene. From jazz to hip-hop, the US has been a hub for the development of new music genres, and this creativity has drawn audiences from around the world.
The US’s dominance in music and entertainment is the result of a combination of factors, including its cultural diversity, economic power, legal protections, and marketing/distribution infrastructure.
Bollywood’s success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a large domestic market, cultural influence, music and dance, low production costs, talented actors, and a strong distribution network. These factors have enabled Bollywood to create a unique identity and reach audiences all over the world, making it a major player in the global entertainment industry.
When you look at all the factors that create market growth in the various countries and industries examined above you can begin to see how a country like Nigeria has become the leader in entertainment in Africa. Most Cameroonians have heard of 51 Iweka Road Onitshta or 1/3 Pound Road Aba. Nigeria’s entertainment industry took off on the back of its movie industry which benefitted from some of the things that led to the success of Bollywood – a large market, and low cost of production. South Africa had long benefited from a structure and had that as its competitive advantage but it was only a matter of time before Nigeria caught up.
There is no need to define success in music in Cameroon by asking if the artist can fill the O2 Arena or MSG. Cameroon has exported some of the best instrumentalists, especially guitarists, but Cameroon may never become an exporter of music, and there is nothing wrong with that. We have a better chance of exporting film than we do of exporting music.
Botswana is one of the most developed countries in Africa, but I don’t know any artists from Botswana. This sudden reliance on music and entertainers to be the pride of the nation stems from the failure of the government. What our government cannot do, we now expect individuals to do.
You have the Palais De Sports in Yaounde, which none of our urban artists have filled convincingly. That should be the target, not a 1500 capacity venue in Ottawa. Cameroon is a major exporter of brains and not music. When we stop exporting brains, we’ll start exporting music. As for now, take one 33 Export and chill – pun intended.