Celebrity
Arts & Entertainment
On Depth, Authenticity, and the Artist's Right to Critique
Following Burna Boy's public criticism of Afrobeats as lacking substance, this piece defends the artist's right to hold the culture accountable while examining what he actually meant: a call for more personal storytelling and philosophical coherence among African musicians, rather than generic feel-good escapism.
Proactive Consistency: Lessons From Burna Boy's Rise
Consistency alone does not guarantee growth; what matters is proactive consistency—the willingness to experiment, take risks, and evolve within the discipline of showing up daily. Drawing on Burna Boy's musical trajectory from 2011 to his mainstream breakthrough, the writer argues that real breakthroughs require the convergence of sustained work, artistic evolution, and external momentum.
The Afrobeats Boom and the Problem of Branding: Why Market Share Alone Won't Save African Music
The writer examines the global rise of Afrobeats and its uneven impact across Africa, arguing that Nigeria's dominance stems not from protectionist policies or population size, but from strategic branding and the cultivation of cultural cachet. For artists outside Nigeria, legislative quotas and forced promotion miss the deeper work of positioning African music as aspirational rather than merely available.
Walk Away: Libianca's Quiet Mastery
This piece celebrates Libianca's EP *In A Way* as a watershed moment for Cameroonian representation in global urban pop, while arguing that her true strength lies not in nationalist triumphalism but in intimate, unflinching songwriting about vulnerability, trauma, and human complexity.
NGANU and the Perils of Ambition Without Execution
A critical review of Kang Quintus's second feature film, NGANU, which tells the story of a violent man who joins the military in a bid for redemption. The film is praised for its technical craft and certain performances but faulted for narrative opacity, unconvincing character motivation, and a bloated middle section that undermines its emotional core.
Soundsation: Mimie's Debut EP and the Question of Label Support
A critical review of Mimie's first EP project, released amid considerable publicity following a public dispute with her former label. The writer evaluates each track with care, finding genuine artistic merit while questioning whether the surrounding narrative has overshadowed the music's own claim to attention.
When Real Talent Eclipses the Noise: Vanister at the World Cup
A critical reflection on how an unknown street musician from Akonolinga rose to global prominence during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, outshining the celebrity influencers officially selected to represent Cameroon. The piece examines why authentic artistry resonated internationally while established Cameroonian personalities retreated into irrelevance.
Kwoh Elonge: The Real Secret to the Success of the Aunty Felicia Character
This essay examines how Kwoh Elonge's scholarly formation—two master's degrees and a forthcoming PhD—combined with deliberate character construction and disciplined writing practice have enabled the Aunty Felicia character to resonate so deeply with audiences. The writer argues that behind the comedy lies serious intellectual work: a developed character arc, a reading habit cultivated over years, and collaboration with a dedicated co-writer.
The Delusion About Big Brother Cameroon: Why Celebrity Cannot Be Manufactured Here
The writer challenges the widespread assumption that Cameroon's entertainment ecosystem can replicate Nigeria's Big Brother success stories, arguing that even in Nigeria most housemates fade into obscurity, and Cameroon's smaller market, lower consumer spending, and regional audience limitations make sustainable stardom from the show nearly impossible.
Snazzy Shikena: Afro Love LP, the Artist, and Timing
Poise examines Snazzy Shikena's Afro Love LP, a ten-track project celebrating the African woman, and reflects on the artist's career trajectory as an independent operator in South Africa. The piece reads his work—marked by stylistic range and cross-continental collaboration—as substantial and deliberate, yet constrained by the structural and promotional limits of independence.
Smoke Without Fire: On Valsero's Call-Out and Jovi's Response
When Valsero publicly criticized Cameroonian artists for their silence on a colleague's legal troubles, singling out their lack of solidarity, Jovi took offense at being named among the cowardly. This essay examines the tension between the two figures—both known for speaking plainly—and argues that Jovi's defensive response obscures the shared concern they actually hold about authenticity and loyalty in Cameroon's artistic community.
The Lion of Africa: Mr. Leo's Reinvention as Craft
A reflection on Mr. Leo's album *Lion of Africa* and the artistic shift it represents—from Cameroon's Afropop mainstream toward a more ambitious, genre-crossing work rooted in Lamnso language and West African musical traditions. The writer sees in it both a personal reckoning and a quiet rebuke to those who doubted his range.
On Noni White, Boundaries, and Who We Really Are
A reflection on the controversy around Nigerian-born Noni White's prominence as a favorite to win Big Brother in Cameroon, using it as a lens to examine anxieties about national identity, cultural ownership, and the artificial rigidity of colonial borders. The writer argues that in defending a particular vision of 'Cameroonian-ness,' we risk denying the fluid, overlapping realities of our own histories and influences.
You Are in Control of How Social Media Makes You Feel
The writer examines Lil Nas X's use of provocative imagery—a pregnant belly prosthetic—to promote his album, and the swift social media backlash it provoked. Rather than adjudicate the offense, Poise argues that constant outrage performance on digital platforms has become habitual and exhausting, and that readers retain agency in choosing what deserves their emotional energy.
Tenor's Accident, Steve Fah, and the Buzz Economy
When a serious car accident involving rapper Tenor dominated Cameroon social media in July 2021, media personalities like Steve Fah quickly mobilized to broadcast commentary on the tragedy. The writer examines this reflexive rush to monetize attention around crisis as symptomatic of a deeper economy—one in which relevance and growth depend on capturing and amplifying every viral moment.
The Cost of Outlier Success
The writer examines Francis Ngannou's achievement as UFC heavyweight champion and his subsequent philanthropic work in Cameroon, arguing that celebrating such exceptional individual success risks obscuring structural failures and encouraging dangerous emigration as a path to meaningful contribution.
Would Richard Bona Succeed in Today's Ecosystem?
The writer reflects on Richard Bona's career arc—ten albums, no solo music videos, yet international jazz recognition—and asks whether such a path remains possible in 2021. The question turns on a shift from the MTV era (when Bona emerged) to the present era of algorithmic content discovery and visual saturation.
Richard Bona and the Cameroonian Genius: A Question of Home
This piece asks whether Richard Bona—a world-class bassist and composer whose career spanned decades in near-obscurity before recent public visibility—might become the emblematic figure of Cameroonian talent forced to flourish abroad. It examines how his life and recent activism challenge his countrymen to reckon with a systemic failure to nurture or honor their own.
Can Gasha Return to Her Former Glory?
A reflective essay on the Cameroonian artist Gasha's rise in 2014 as a distinctive voice in a nascent urban music movement, her absence in the U.S., and the structural challenge of reclaiming prominence in an industry that shifted radically during her absence. The writer examines whether a niche, alternative afropop artist can sustain a career in Cameroon's increasingly consolidated mainstream.
Stanley Enow's New Song and the Machinery of Relevance
The writer examines the sharp public backlash to Stanley Enow's song "Tu Vas Lire L'Heure," acknowledging its lyrical weakness while defending its commercial intent and infectious energy. The piece pivots to argue that the song's real function is not artistic but strategic—a calculated move to sustain a personal brand that has already peaked, and that audiences are complicit in keeping that machinery turning.
Jean Miche Kankan's Shadow: Did One Comedian's Dominance Constrain an Entire Genre?
This reflective essay asks whether Jean Miche Kankan's overwhelming cultural dominance in Cameroon's comedy scene during the 1980s and early 1990s—achieved through brilliantly observed sketch comedy rooted in everyday social grievance—inadvertently discouraged younger comedians from developing original voices and styles. The writer traces how imitators copied both his character and costume rather than innovating, and how the genre itself began to shift only when media liberalisation and new platforms allowed for different approaches.
The Kankan Question: How One Comedian Shaped—and Possibly Constrained—Cameroon's Comedy
This essay traces Jean-Miche Kankan's outsized cultural influence on Cameroonian comedy from the 1980s through the early 2000s, examining both his brilliance as a sketch comedian and the ways his dominance may have narrowed the genre's evolution. The writer reflects on Kankan's work as social commentary on corruption, bureaucracy, and everyday Cameroonian life, while questioning whether his near-monopoly on the comedy landscape discouraged stylistic innovation.
Freaky Table: The Culture Conversation Cameroon Needed
A celebration of Freaky Table, a YouTube talk show hosted by Joan Ngomba, Kwoh Elonge, and Yana Max, which brings sharp, entertaining analysis to questions of culture, entertainment, and society in Cameroon. The writer sees in the trio's work a natural video counterpart to Poise's own editorial mission.
Tembu Daniel and the Comedy of Professionalism
The writer reflects on the public controversy surrounding Tembu Daniel, a Cameroonian entertainer, and the Association of Anglophone Comedians' decision to expel him. Rather than taking sides, the piece examines the frustrations of a hardworking artist navigating fan entitlement and questions the procedural legitimacy of the association's action.
Richard Bona: The Troll King and the New Music Blueprint
During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, bass virtuoso Richard Bona leveraged social media lives to share long-suppressed stories of mistreatment by Cameroon's state—from passport fraud to denial of entry to bury his mother—culminating in the political anthem "Allo Fokou." The piece argues that his viral success demonstrates a hard rule of contemporary music: building an audience now requires not just making songs, but being present as content yourself.
Consistency Alone Is Not Enough: What Burna Boy's Rise Teaches Us About Growth
The writer traces Burna Boy's musical trajectory from 2011 to 2019, arguing that his breakthrough was not simply the result of releasing music consistently, but of proactive consistency—the willingness to experiment, take risks, and evolve while building an audience. True growth requires both steady output and deliberate transformation.
Young Cameroonian Musicians and the Pandemic Moment
The writer examines whether young Cameroonian musicians are seizing the creative and commercial opportunities that emerged during COVID-19 lockdowns, when global artists were innovating online to reach isolated audiences. Noting examples from the US, Nigeria, and elsewhere, the piece finds Cameroon's music scene largely absent from this moment of digital creativity and direct fan engagement.
Manu Dibango Airport: How CY Inter Played Himself
Following Manu Dibango's death in March 2020, musician Richard Bona proposed renaming Douala Airport after the legendary saxophonist. When comedian CY Inter publicly questioned whether Dibango's musical legacy justified such an honor, arguing instead for tangible investments like real estate, the writer responds with a sharp critique of how Cameroon undervalues cultural and intellectual contribution.
Sharone Konfor: A Vocalist Beyond the Mainstream
A personal testament to the artistry of Sharone Konfor (Share'On), a Cameroonian vocalist whose technical mastery and emotional depth place her in the lineage of celebrated Afro-Jazz singers. The writer celebrates her ability to translate studio brilliance into live performance and her gift for invoking place and memory through song.
Stanley Enow's Reckoning: From Breakthrough to Reinvention
Nearly a decade after his breakthrough with 'Hein Pere,' Stanley Enow faced a critical juncture: a shift from musician to brand had diluted his core product, and collaborations with major regional artists overshadowed rather than elevated him. The writer traces how strategic missteps and an inflexible artistic identity left him vulnerable to emerging peers, before a recent pivot toward afropop and local collaboration suggested a possible turning point.
Grand Barack, or the Bastardisation of the Music Industry
The writer reflects on the commodification of a viral internet personality—a 65-year-old welder—into a music performer, reading his elevation as symptomatic of a broader collapse of artistic integrity in Cameroon's music landscape. The piece laments how viral spectacle has come to displace genuine craft and critical voice.
A Joyce Babatunde a Day Keeps the Demons Away
A meditation on the artistry of Joyce Babatunde, an Afrosoul musician whose voice and lyricism operate as a form of spiritual balm. The writer praises her as a poet-musician who restores depth and authenticity to a landscape often dominated by commercial formula.
Arafat Desecrated: A Victim of Himself or of Society?
Following the desecration of DJ Arafat's grave in Côte d'Ivoire, this essay examines the event not as mere spectacle but as a symptom of deeper social fracture—young people so alienated from systems of law and opportunity that they deny reality itself. The writer argues that Arafat, a street-born icon for the marginalized, was both a product and a magnifier of this condition.
DJ Arafat and the Reinvention of African Youth
A reflective essay on the life and cultural significance of DJ Arafat, tracing his role in the coupé-décalé movement that emerged from post-conflict Côte d'Ivoire in the early 2000s. The writer argues that Arafat's singular ability to reinvent himself across nearly two decades made him a keeper of the era's creative spirit long after its pioneers had faded.
What Briana Lesley's Return Teaches Us About Honest Work
The writer reflects on the return of musician Briana Lesley to the music scene after a hiatus, anchoring the piece in her experience running a potato and egg business—an entrepreneurial venture that became tabloid fodder. The essay argues that this pivot illuminates a broader cultural blindness: the modern tendency to dismiss unglamorous work while chasing curated social media aesthetics.
Ambe: Ten Years of Sound and Soul Searching
A career retrospective of the Cameroonian artist Ambe (formerly Denzyl), tracing his evolution from rap-fusion in 2008 through a series of stylistic shifts—makossa, afropop, highlife, experimental afro—across releases spanning Nigeria, South Africa, and Cameroon. The writer argues that while his recent work shows promise, his constant musical reinvention has prevented him from building a sustained audience or achieving mainstream recognition.
Pullover Tina: On Communication, Timing, and the Art of Artist Monetization
A critical examination of how an emerging artist's merchandise strategy, despite access to genuine fan affection, failed due to poor communication and uninspired execution. The writer argues that the real lesson lies not in the merch itself but in how creative talent is packaged and presented to an audience.
The Real Hustle: On Work, Worth, and What We Choose to See
A reflection on the social ridicule that arose when a Cameroonian musician operated a food business during a hiatus, and the deeper cultural moment it reveals about how social media has warped our relationship to honest labor and visible success.
And Then There Was Kameni
A portrait of an emerging Cameroonian vocalist whose command of live performance, unconventional lyricism, and genre-blending style—rooted in Dancehall and Afropop—mark her as a significant new voice in urban music. The writer traces discovery through social media to conviction that her artistry represents a genuine shift in the landscape.
Pakgne: The Imperative of Focus
A reflection on the rise and creative decline of a Cameroonian webseries, examining how loss of focus—through celebrity collaboration, lifestyle distraction, and mishandled fan relations—can undermine even promising creative work. The writer uses this case to articulate a broader philosophy of sustained, intentional growth.
Daphne's Win and the Spirit of Anglophone Resilience
A reflection on singer Daphne's awards victory at the 2019 Canal 2'OR ceremony, celebrating not just her musical achievement but her public acknowledgment of the Anglophone crisis and her navigation of linguistic and cultural divides. The piece frames her success as emblematic of a larger Anglophone strategy: excellence through adaptation, without forgetting origins.
Operation Dress Code: On Daphne Njie and the Weight of Public Scrutiny
The writer examines the backlash against musician Daphne Njie over her appearance and aesthetic choices, using her case to reflect on how young women—especially public figures—bear an asymmetrical burden of social judgment in Cameroonian culture. The piece argues that this cycle of criticism reflects deeper tensions between traditional norms and personal liberty, and that the responsibility for managing this conflict ought not to rest with the women themselves.
On Personal Brand and Commercial Compromise: A Question for Daphne
The writer observes a musician's endorsement deal with a flour brand and asks whether the partnership aligns with her carefully cultivated public image. The piece reflects on the tension between financial security and long-term brand coherence in Cameroon's emerging digital media landscape.
Have We Pushed Too Far With Mr. Leo?
A reflection on the public's relentless commentary on musician Mr. Leo's fashion choices—particularly his leather pants—and the larger question of what we owe public figures in an age of unfiltered online speech. The writer examines whether Mr. Leo's playful social media responses mask pain, and interrogates the line between legitimate critique and collective cruelty.
Making Money as an Artist by Staying Small (Part One)
The writer argues that in an era of market saturation and algorithmic streaming, artists face a paradox: visibility no longer guarantees income. Rather than chasing scale, the sustainable path lies in cultivating a devoted niche audience and retaining control of distribution.
Meet Saadat Hasan Manto
Poise introduces the Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto—celebrated for fearless, satirical treatment of social taboos in mid-twentieth-century India and Pakistan—through a curated selection of his most piercing quotes on religion, gender, inequality, and the writer's moral duty.
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.
The Eto'o Question: Celebrity, Patronage, and National Dignity
Samuel Eto'o's announcement of star-studded charity events ahead of Cameroon's hosting of the African Nations Cup sparked public backlash when he revealed meetings with government officials. The writer examines how Eto'o's visible alignment with the Biya administration transformed him, in public perception, from national hero to perceived collaborator, and asks whether Cameroonians will prioritize principle over spectacle.
Dready Christ and the Promise of Versatility
The writer makes a bold wager that Dready Christ, a multifaceted Cameroonian urban artist, will become one of the continent's biggest acts. Drawing on close listening to his EP and recalling his earlier work with PIM BOYS, the piece argues that his rare mastery across rap, trap, dancehall, and soul—combined with an unconventional sensibility—sets him apart from his contemporaries.
Ko-C's Gambit: When a Rapper Curates His Own List
After being excluded from PoiseSocial's ranking of Cameroon's most valuable rappers, Ko-C creates a WhatsApp group and invites a roster of his peers, sparking a chaotic and hilarious conversation that reveals ego, ambition, and the absurdity of ranking art. The thread becomes a live performance in itself—a carnival of linguistic invention, non-sequiturs, and the rappers' own competing claims to worth.
The Price of Change: Youth, Value, and the Charity Hustle
A critical examination of young rapper Otang's EP pricing strategy and her management's conflation of commercial sales with charitable giving. The writer questions whether pricing a five-track EP at 10,000 FCFA—while claiming half proceeds go to victims of the anglophone crisis—represents genuine game-changing or exploitative misdirection.
Wax Dey vs Realm Squad: On Contracts, Ego, and the Limits of Public Opinion
When a copyright takedown by LOLHIPHOP Records halted Realm Squad's career progression, public sentiment turned against label owner Wax Dey. The writer argues that public shaming only hardens positions and that the artists must instead negotiate directly—accepting that they cannot have their way entirely.
Pascal and the Art of Storytelling
A celebration of Pascal, an Anglophone Cameroonian rapper distinguished by his narrative craft in an industry often dominated by catchy but hollow punchlines. The writer traces Pascal's strengths through key works, positioning him in a lineage that includes hip-hop pioneers like Slick Rick, and calls for a broader return to storytelling as the soul of rap music.
Celebrity, Craft, and the Confusion of Packaging: A Cameroonian Reckoning
On the occasion of the editor's first year, Poise examines how Cameroonian youth confuse celebrity with image—mistaking fashion, scarcity, and aesthetic performance for the work ethic, integrity, and genuine audience-building that produce real fame. The piece argues that social media's democratization of fame has paradoxically made young talent chase a manufactured ideal, often to the detriment of their actual craft.
Should Our Celebrities Speak Up or Remain Silent?
A sharp critique of Cameroonian celebrity silence on national crises, particularly the Anglophone conflict. The writer argues that most celebrities lack the substance, courage, and genuine commitment to speak meaningfully—and that shallow, self-serving commentary may be worse than silence.
Brand Safety and the Price of Representation
A reflection on the backlash to a Cameroonian artist's fashion choices at a public event, and what it reveals about how local companies assess risk when selecting brand ambassadors. The writer argues that while integrity and talent should matter most, companies in Cameroon rely on visible markers like appearance because they are easier to evaluate and defend.
"This Is Cameroon": The Question of Who, and Why It Matters
Responding to social media calls for a Cameroonian adaptation of Childish Gambino's
The Debt Cameroon Owes Jovi
A reflective essay on Jovi's foundational role in revitalizing Cameroon's urban music scene and the complicated legacy of an artist who gave the culture oxygen when it was dying. The writer grapples with Jovi's retreat from cultural leadership and the gap between his early visionary promise and his later protective withdrawal.
A Disappointed Fan Confronts Artistic Inconsistency: Reniss After Dan la Sauce
A devoted listener critiques Cameroonian musician Reniss's release 'Doudou', arguing it falls short of her earlier landmark work 'Dan la Sauce' and represents a pattern of musical experimentation without coherence. The writer laments the loss of the cultural resonance that defined her breakthrough, seeing in the new track a retreat into derivative, underdeveloped songcraft.
The Man of the Hour: Tzy Panchak
Poise examines the rapid rise of Cameroon-based artist Tzy Panchak and his label Blu Nation, crediting their efficient marketing machinery while offering a critical assessment of his debut EP 'I'm Not Lucky.' The piece acknowledges Panchak's momentum and fanbase while questioning whether production quality and artistic growth have kept pace with his commercial acceleration.
Miss Coconut Heads: On Beauty Pageants and the Absence of Substance
A sharp critique of Cameroon's proliferation of beauty pageants—from Miss Cameroon to product-branded contests—which the writer argues celebrate superficiality over intellect, originality, and the real contributions of women in the country. The piece argues that pageants fail to recognize or honor the substantive achievements of Cameroonian women across professions and walks of life.
Tenor's Universal Signing: A Technical Reckoning
The writer celebrates Cameroonian rapper Tenor's signing to Universal Music Africa, framing it not as surprise but inevitable recognition of exceptional craft. Through a detailed linguistic analysis of iambic pentameter and syllable stress—drawing parallels to Eminem—the piece argues that Tenor possesses a rare technical mastery that extends beyond mere skill into the architecture of language itself.
On Branding and Authenticity: The Cost of Performative Celebrity in Cameroon's Entertainment
The writer critiques how Cameroon's emerging entertainment industry has become obsessed with superficial "branding"—fake luxury goods, manufactured scarcity, and performative wealth—rather than cultivating genuine artistry. Through examples of international artists whose success stems from authentic identity rather than display, the piece argues that local artists are copying unsustainable models while bullying peers into self-destructive behavior.
The Unrealised Potential of Gasha
A passionate essay tracing the distinctive artistry of the Cameroonian singer Gasha through her early work, and making the case that she possesses world-class talent comparable to acclaimed West African artists like Asa, Ayo, and Nneka. The writer argues that Gasha remains constrained by her production and management team, who fail to understand the depth of her gift.
Gasha: Misunderstood or Arrived Way Ahead of Her Time?
A listener and music enthusiast argues that Gasha possesses world-class artistic potential comparable to artists like Asa, Ayo, and Nneka, but remains trapped by collaborators and management who do not fully understand or know how to develop her distinctive talent. The piece is both a tribute to her artistry and a critique of the machinery surrounding her.
Self-Aggrandizement and the Bonteh Digital Media Awards: A Reckoning with Ambition in Cameroon's Cultural Space
The writer examines the choice of musician Wax Dey as brand ambassador for the Bonteh Digital Media Awards, using this decision to open a broader critique of self-promotion and institutional naming practices in Cameroon's entertainment and digital media sectors. The piece questions whether personal ambition—whether Wax Dey's career trajectory or Bonteh Engelbert's naming of an awards show after himself—serves or distracts from genuine cultural contribution.
On Stanley Enow and the Weight of Early Promise
The writer argues that Stanley Enow, despite his breakthrough hit "Hein Pere," has failed to sustain artistic momentum through subsequent releases, and suggests he may be better suited to building Motherland Records than continuing as a rapper. The piece balances respect for his pioneer role in Cameroon's urban music with frank assessment of his lyrical and commercial returns.
Are Cameroonian Artists Finally Taking Control?
The writer distinguishes between entertainers—who follow public emotion and demand passive consumption—and artists as true innovators who defy convention and advance society. The post argues that Cameroon's music scene conflates the two categories, and that genuine artistic progress requires creators willing to push boundaries rather than reproduce what already works.
Does Pascal Have a Future Without Jovi?
A critical assessment of rapper Pascal's departure from New Bell Music to join Strange Kings, questioning whether his move away from mentor Jovi will yield growth or stagnation. The writer examines the decision through the lens of artistic readiness, label choice, and early output, suggesting that Pascal's talent is undeniable but his new environment risks enabling complacency over musical excellence.