Visual Arts
Arts & Entertainment
On the Character of African Architecture
The writer reflects on a troubling shift in Yaounde's urban landscape: newer buildings lack the cultural distinctiveness and durability of older structures, while a proliferation of glass towers—elegant at first but quickly weathered—suggests a loss of architectural wisdom. The piece pairs this observation with profiles of contemporary African architects who are recovering that wisdom through sustainable and culturally grounded design.
Francis Kere: Architecture as African Inheritance
Poise celebrates Francis Kere, a Burkinabe architect whose studio creates structures grounded in indigenous knowledge, local materials, and community partnership across West and East Africa. His work demonstrates that contemporary design need not be imported—it can be rooted, functional, and distinctly African.
On Stephanie Tum, 'Saving Mbango,' and the Possibility of Cameroon's Cinema
A longtime skeptic of Cameroon's film industry praises Embi Productions' marketing campaign for 'Saving Mbango'—specifically its strategy of educating the public about cinema history while building engagement—as a rare example of thoughtful cultural production. The writer remains wary of broader industry tendencies but allows that this effort has rekindled hope.
Artist Corner: Ndedi Asek and Seven Painting Styles
Poise celebrates the birthday of Ndedi Asek, a figuratively-oriented painter whose socially conscious work draws from African cultures and societies, and uses the occasion to introduce readers to seven major painting traditions—from Realism to Photorealism—that shape contemporary practice.
The Compromise of Craft: Image, Priority, and the Cameroon Arts
The writer examines the case of musician Awu and his apparent shift toward commercial appeal and sexual imagery, reading it as symptomatic of a deeper Cameroonian cultural crisis: the prioritization of image over substance. The piece uses Awu's trajectory as a lens to interrogate why talented artists compromise their core purpose in pursuit of visibility and prestige.
Nine Female Artists Ranked: A Critical Taxonomy
Poise presents a comparative assessment of nine Cameroonian female entertainers across seven dimensions—vocal quality, physical attractiveness, public charisma, star power, untapped potential, stage presence, and fashion sense. The piece treats ranking as analytical exercise, offering granular judgment on each artist's standing within the contemporary music and entertainment landscape.
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.
Why Design Matters: Environment, Identity, and the Spirit of Objects
Design is not a luxury but a psychological necessity that shapes who we become. Through historical, theological, and contemporary examples, the writer argues that the quality of our designed environment—from churches to cities—determines whether we feel defeated or confident, alienated or generous, and that Cameroon's prioritization of mere functionality over thoughtful design represents a missed opportunity for collective flourishing.