"Cameroon wanted a national orchestra. Three of us were named by the government to audition candidates. They came from north to south; even traditional musicians came. The authorities did not ask for our opinion. Their only concern was a certain balance between the different ethnic groups: each was to be represented within this embryo of a band. This became a melodrama in which music took a back seat.
We had no say about the subject of the audition material; a famous man overseeing things had selected 'Laura', an American tune even the most illustrious jazz musicians had a hard time playing. How to play 'Laura' on tam-tam or balafon? In the audition hall, the candidates started by listening to a version of 'Laura' on the record player.
At the first chord, their faces would twist. They really had to perform now. Some didn't even try. "Sir, I don't know that piece. I can't play." They wish they had stayed in their villages. How could we grade them under these conditions?
We gave our evaluations, but the authorities took over our grading system and designated their own candidates. Using our presence on the jury, they bragged on the radio about having set up a professional selection process.
What was it - willful vice, incompetence, or lack of awareness? Twenty [forty] years later, Cameroon is overflowing with musical potential but still doesn't have a national orchestra worthy of the name."
Manu Dibango - Three Kilos of Coffee (1989)