Joe Dinga Pefok (Uncle Joe)
Cameroonian popular artist, Longkana Agno Simon aka Longue Longue, who is on self – exile in France, and who is notorious for making controversial pronouncements, has made another controversial pronouncement that has led to him to being accused back in Cameroon of hate speech.
It is reported that Longue Longue who is of the Bassa tribe in the Littoral Region, was invited by another Cameroonian in France during the end of year festivities. But then in a message of appreciation to his host, Longue Longue instead made a very controversial statement, by saying that, “Un Bamileke Vaut 10 Nkwas”, that is, “One Bamileke Is Worth 10 Nkwas”,
“Nkwas’, is known to be a coined and pejorative word that some Cameroonians used to I insult or denigrate people of some tribes in the country. The Mentor will not want to get further into it, because it is not a proper word, and we are against hate speech.
Meanwhile, Longue Longue has been denounced back home by some persons on the social media, and has have accused of hate speech. Some pro – regime fellows have even gone to the extent of accusing the National President of MRC, Prof Maurice Kamto, of being silent on the issue, and claiming that he thus agree with what Longue Longue said. The question is why some people are trying to bring Kamto into this ugly issue. Some people say it is politics.
Even though Longue has repeatedly declared that he is a sympathizer of MRC and wants Maurice Kamto to be the President of Cameroon, and even claims that Kamto allegedly won the 2018 presidential election and Biya stole the victory, Kamto has no control over the artist. It should be noted that when some CPDM militants or some pro –regime persons openly insult the MRC leader, no supporter of the regime condemns it.
Read Also: CPDM, Jeune Afrique, Disagree With Longue Longue’s Version Of Story On Why He Was Tortured By SEMIL In Douala in 2019
Talla Andre Marie
Meanwhile, it should be noted that Longue Longue is not the only Cameroonian artist in the Diaspora that has used the strong financial capacity of the Bamileke people, to denigrate some other tribes in Cameroon. One of the few remaining old guards in the Cameroon music, Talla Andre Marie, who is a Bamileke, declared in the United States last year that the Bamilekes in Cameroon are like the engine of a train, while some other tribes are like coaches that the train pulls along. He however did not state the names of the tribes that he termed coaches.
Increasing Rate Of Hate Speech
Meanwhile from all indications, hate speech is steadily on the rise in Cameroon or among Cameroonians, despite the condemnations and so called fights against hate speech. Observers are unanimous that the fight against hate speech cannot succeed, if it is not tackled from the roots. To tackle it from the roots means to be bold and courageous enough to first identify the root causes of hate speech, and then tackle the problem from there. If not, the fight against hate speech will continue to be a waste of time and resources.
It is also certain that this year’s crucial presidential election in Cameroon, which is already creating a lot tension between some tribes, will see an increase in hate speech. There is no doubt that a large majority of Cameroonians want to see genuine change occur at the 2025 presidential election in the country. And it is certain that due to the suffering, disgust and frustration caused by bad governance, many Cameroonians will certainly not have kind words for those tribes and groups supporting the 92 year old President Paul Biya. On the other hand, those tribes and groups that for selfish interests continue to support the Biya regime,, will also on their part, be hostile or aggressive against t
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