Richard Bona Declines the Invitation: Art, Exile, and Political Conscience
A Facebook exchange reveals Cameroonian jazz musician Richard Bona publicly refusing a charity concert invitation and defending his political stance against those who questioned his patriotism and charitable record. The post captures Bona's uncompromising responses to critics who compared his activism unfavorably to that of another prominent Cameroonian figure.
RICHARD BONA REFUSES TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD. ALLEGEDLY SHADES ETO’O, TURNS SAVAGE AND TELLS A COMMENTER THAT HE CAN’T AFFORD TICKETS TO HIS CONCERT.
“Whosoever choses to side with he that has deprived the people of their fundamental liberties and basic needs like portable water, education, health becomes my enemy today and forever. Don’t talk to me, don’t try.”
That is the English version of what Richard Bona posted on his personal facebook profile last Saturday. Richard Bona did not call any names but people in the comments section of the post suggested that he was talking about Eto’o who many think tried to invite him to participate in his upcoming pre-CAN charity concert in Cameroon.
It appears Richard Bona had some time on his hands even though he is currently on a 19 date tour which began on November 3 in China and is to end November 28 in Slovakia. The accomplished Cameroonian Jazz musician who is now on a self imposed exile and living in the USA had a reply for many in the comments section of his post who tried to discredit him, his political stance, and question his patriotism in comparison with Eto’o’s.
“What has he done, he ignored me, he is gay, and now their new card Samuel…Eto’o is my brother and I love him. When he has been right, I have supported and defended him but I am not ok when he says Paul Biya gave him everything - Not true…when it is the same people who killed a great project (Set Mobile) which we could have made our MTN or Orange…”
One commenter described how his greatest humiliation while living in the United States came from a Richard Bona concert. He claimed he had invited his friends to come watch Bona perform and they all showed up carrying Cameroonian flags. He claims Richard Bona never as much as looked in their direction during the whole performance and left the venue without meeting with his Cameroonian fans. Richard Bona had this reply “ Big liar. I always meet my fans after my concerts unless I have a plane or train to catch. It feels good to have been at my concert…Can you afford a ticket to my concert? Go back to Sardinavia. There, there is sardine for life….”
As if to mock those who tried to downplay his status in comparison to Eto’o, he posted a pic of his 12 member all white staff and a picture of his Museum in Brooklyn.
To a comment asking what Americans are looking for in the affairs of Cameroonians, Richard Bona had this reply “I haven’t tagged anyone on my post but you feel guilty. Now climb back up your tree.”
In reply to claims that Eto’o has been generous to Cameroonians while he Richard Bona has done nothing, Bona posted screenshots of blog articles talking about how much he has raised for different charitable and social causes.
It was an unusual and very Savage Richard Bona. What do you make of some of his responses?
- Team Poise
The piece emerges during a moment when diaspora Cameroonians—particularly artists and public figures—faced scrutiny over their relationship to home, their silence or speech on governance, and their obligations to compatriots. The tension between those in exile and those perceived as aligned with the state was a recurring strain in public discourse.
The post documents a rare, unfiltered moment in which a respected artist rejected both an implicit invitation and the moral framework being imposed on him. It remains significant as a study in how cultural figures navigate exile, political conscience, and the burden of representation—and what happens when they refuse to perform deference or gratitude to either state or celebrity.