Rewarding Artists

By Peter Musa

The Cameroon Olympics Awards had its maiden edition on Friday 30th, March 2012 rewarding meritorious athletes that have worked tirelessly in the field of sportsmanship. It was a a great moment for the athletes, sporting federations and the Cameroonian public in general.

I was moved and could see how the young athletes felt receiving their awards. It was an emotional and long awaited moment. It was a historic moment to say "thank you" to the young sportsmen and the beginning of the annual awards ceremony for Cameroonian athletes. Apart from their trophies the best Cameroonian sports woman and man carried home 5.000.000 FCFA each.

As I watched the awards live on the Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV) network I thought about instituting such an award to our artists also. Artists need recognition for the contributions in building the collective cultural identity of our country. Each era has its own artists and it is important to recognize their contributions. This will inspire our artists and motivate them to continue to pursue their artistic careers.

The role of arts in national life has finally been recognized by the government of Cameroon with the creation of the Ministry of Arts and Culture at the beginning of 2012. Art is also being taught in schools. Professional artists who do outstanding works and are dedicated in their work as artists deserve recognition.

African creative industries: Artists as the ultimate wheels

By Peter Musa


In the last decade a lot of attention has been placed on developing the African creative industries. National ministries responsible for the arts and culture, pan-African organizations such as; the African Union, the Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa (OCPA) and the Arterial Network have been involved in this drive. International organizations such as the European Union through its African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) cultures program, AECID (La Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo) and UNCTAD (the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) have all contributed to the development of the African creative economies so as numerous other donor organizations such as HIVOS and AFRICALIA; actively involved in supporting the creative sector in Africa. To build the African creative industries is a welcome initiative and artists in Africa feel happy that attention is being paid to their sector. Is this all?


In December 2011 a huge gathering on this topic was held in Nairobi, Kenya organized by the Arterial Network and the British Council. The pan-African conference on Africa's Creative Economy attracted delegates from across the continent. Much has been said about developing the creative industries in Africa, policy makers have their own agendas, donors have the priorities but the development of the creative sector in Africa largely lies in the hands of the artists themselves. Artists in Africa must take the lead to develop the sector.


To succeed African artists need to learn to work with each other. They must learn to build partnerships, share information and collaborate for the interest of the growth of the sector. Artists in Africa should learn to work in unity and avoid conflicts that may lead to the destruction of the sector. National artists networks are being formed or existing ones are being strengthened. The Arterial Network is putting in tremendous effort in this direction. Unless artists in Africa take the lead in developing the creative sector in Africa, it may not be as easy as it may look.


There may be good policies in place to develop the African creative industries in some countries. Policy makers however are not the ones who will run the industries. The artists are in-charge. Though at times the wrong people - none artists may be appointed by Government ministers responsible for the arts and culture to head projects or organizations in the sector. This may lead to a conflict of interest between politicians and the artists. As a result the desired objectives may never be realized.


Artists lead initiatives are the best way to move forward. Unions and copyright organizations may be there to protect, guide and ensure that there are no infringements on the rights of the artists and their works. Individual artists are the ones who can effect a rapid development of the sector. Grouping into national artists networks is a welcome development but will change little if individual artists do not take their responsibilities. Miracles will not happen. Together growth is imminent in an environment where each artist is respected, information is not reserved for particular persons, no bias in selecting leadership and a culture of mutual respect built. Once all these are in place, a collaborative spirit will definitely bring the artists under focus which will be healthy for the growth of the sector in a particular community, region or country.


Artists in Africa must become more professional. This means they must understand that their survival depends on what they can do. Good artists will excel, sell their creations and make a living for themselves and their families or dependents. Poor artists will not. This is where the difference is.


As I said in my introductory paragraph a lot of talking on building the African creative industries has been on the agenda of many organizations over the last decade. Workshops, seminars and conferences have been organized throughout the continent and beyond in building the creative economy in Africa. During these sessions African artists are taken into dreamworlds. Afterwards nothing happens. Aspirations dashed. However a few projects have been identified and funded to encourage growth but the impact is yet to be felt. 


Miracles will not happen to change things for African artists. The secret is if you are a performing or visual artist just perfect yourself and strive to do your best. You will make it. It is a great idea to belong to networks with like-minded individuals and to collaborate with other artists. But do not run out of focus. As an African artist that wants to make it, be yourself and continuously work hard in developing your talents. 


African theater houses, spectacle spaces, art galleries and museums, music, book, film industries have a future in the hands of artists. African artists are the ones to promote these industries. It is their sector and they must take control of what belongs to them. Unless African artists are able to stand-up and do things without waiting for miracles the creative sector in Africa will not immediately develop as some lazy artists on the continent may think. Look around you there is much potential, see what other fellow artists are doing. This is the change that can completely impact a lasting difference on Africa's creative economy.


Unless African artists learn to work together for the interest of the common-good of the creative sector in Africa the way may still be long. Together our cinematography, photography, publishing, and allied industries may continue to be largely underdeveloped. Artists in Africa need to know they are the owners of these industries and it is their duty individually and collectively to ensure its success today and for posterity.

Making Mus'Art Gallery ecologically sound environment

Before Mus'Art Gallery was set up in December 1996, the yard was bare. There were no plants. Thanks to the sacrifices put in by Mrs. Paulina Muba Musa (1938 - 2010) Founder of Mus'Art Gallery, who passed away in February 2010. She embarked on ensuring that the yard had some beauty. She enjoyed gardening and horticulture so she actually went around looking for the plants, planting them herself and thereafter looking after the plants. Her effort was meant to make Mus'Art Gallery an ecological sound environment in its small location. She actually succeeded thus was able to grow the plants featured on this page at the museum's premises.

Mrs. Paulina Muba Musa 

Birds, butterflies, bees enjoy the plants. The noise from birds, nice breeze when the atmosphere seems to be stiff especially in the dry season makes the small backyard a fantastic relaxation area for museum guests. The area is also used for museum events. That was the space Mus'Art Gallery used for the international photographic exhibition "1000 PeaceWomen Across the Globe" it hosted in March 2007, becoming the first museum in Africa to host the exhibition. Mus'Art Gallery no doubt is highly indebted to her for greatly creating  a sense of environmental consciousness at the museum.

                                                                                        

My little brothers of the Cameroon Grass-fields

I enjoy moving about discovering new places and people. My travels within the grass-fields has taken me to several localities. Children continue to play an important role in those communities. They help their parents at home and in the family farmlands, attend school, enjoy playing, developing their creativity. In some villages I found children who have their own farms. Proceeds are used to pay their fees, thus helping their parents, who may not be able to do so. Imagine a polygamous parent with three wives and about seventeen kids. It really becomes difficult for such a child to be able to attend school if he or she does not find a way to raise the needed finances.

The children continue to group under exceptional difficult conditions. Poor water conditions, inadequate health infrastructures, living on particular staple food, etc. However government has been doing the best it can to ensure that each Cameroonian child goes to school. Each year, a lot of new public schools are created by government. Unfortunately some kids are still unable to benefit as their parents cannot afford to send them to school. Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Mission bodies, the local councils, village development associations are also doing their best to ensure a brighter future for these kids. They are assisting with potable water installations, providing medicines, paying school fees especially for orphans.

As I move around what interests me most is that the kids are happy. Creative activities make up most of their day especially during holidays. These boys really do enjoy their childhood days. The photos taken on my trips remind me of my childhood days. I did similar things with my brothers and friends just like my small brothers of the Cameroon Grass-fields. That is our heritage. These photos will constitute a photographic exhibition "Growing up in the Grass-fields" being planned in the future by Mus'Art Gallery.

Photos by Peter Musa

CREATE Directory of Arts and Culture Organizations active within CEMAC countries

Are you based in any of the following countries - Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, or Gabon? Are you involved with the arts and culture? Make sure you get listed in the CREATE Directory of Arts and Culture Organizations Active within Central Africa 2011 edition coming out soon. Share this information with friends and networks that you know might be interested. No entries to be accepted after the 20th August 2010. 

Contact: Peter Musa, Editor

E-mail: musapeter@gmail.com or createartsorg@yahoo.com

CREATE www.createinfo.net.ms

Slackening of entry conditions into Cameroon

By Peter Musa

We recently witnesed the government applauding herself over the liberalisation of various aspects of life in the country when like a lizard that fell from a tree it nodded its head saying "yes, I have done it!" This was in reaction to the U.S. Embassy's press release on the democratisation process in Cameroon. The recent slackening conditions for entry into Cameroon is one action for which the government has not got to blow its trumpet. The rationale behind this action not withstanding, many questions are left unanswered.

Yes, tourists will definitely come in with a lot of foreign exchange but at what cost to the nation? What in the absence of correct infrastructure and personnel  for the handling of such a volume of tourists as it is envisaged? Kimbi Game Reserve in the North West Province, has only one staff who is the conservator and there are no lodging facilities for tourists. How do we expect this lone worker to receive a hundred tourists alone? We should equally consider the impact on the environment of heavy tourism. How many of these countries from where we expect our tourists will grant entry visas at their at their ports of entry to Cameroonians? How sure are we that some of such tourists would be financially viable to sustain their stay in Cameroon? What becomes of a tourist at the port of entry that is refused entry into the country? Are we going to test these visitors for HIV as is done in some of these countries? Are we not opening our borders to fleeing criminals and drug traffickers? In the light of the above considerations, I believe it will be more honourable for us to remain in our poverty if the only way out would be to sell our country cheap to tourists.

The Herald No. 180

Monday February 20 - 22, 1995

Dr. Helen Marie Schimdt It saddens to bid you farewell

Tribute by Peter Musa, Director Mus'Art Gallery

20th September 2003

It behoves me to address this occasion which has come to sadden the hearts of all who have known our Dear Missionary Doctor, Sister, and Queen Mother who has lived with us for over thirty years today.

As a young Christian Missionary Doctor, you dedicated your life to God and offered to come over to Banso Baptist Hospital to contribute to the spreading of the gospel through the healing ministry. In this act, you braved the harsh and very hard conditions in a bid to serve humanity in a country and continent which was looked upon as primitive and refered to as "dark continent."

You came when the church in Cameroon was still in its infancy and at a time when basic health services were not generally available in the country. For all these years, you tirelessly worked very hard to bring health services closer to the people of Kumbo in particular and to Cameroonians in general. You also greatly contributed to the spiritual growth of many Cameroonian Christians and their families.

In an age of capitalism without a human face, you sacrified the wealth of your country for us. Who again will render us these sacrifices when Gold and Silver have become the Gods we worship? Who again will remind us that God is the real healer and that doctors and nurses, medicines and health technology are his agents and tools?  Who again will readilly accept to come, work and stay with a people being ravaged by the HIV/AIDS pandemic? Who again will consider moral principles, professional norms and work as demanded by Christian teachings? Who?

Though we regret missing you as we witness you retire from medical practice, we strongly believe that with the knowledge gained over the years from your rich professional background by numerous young Cameroonian and expatriate medical doctors and medical students, another Dr. Schimdt is in the making somewhere? But, when shall that Dr. Schimdt come back to BBH to replace you? Will the quest for money, earthly riches and comfort bypass passion and committment to serve humanity?

Out of your professional functions, we will for sure miss you in many circles. Let me mention a few here; In our individual homes and families where you were already part we pray that the bonds that tied us together will continue to remain strong. In our Church and Christian groups you were such an active member and we all enjoyed your maturity and dedicated service to God and to humanity. You also helped to mould up a lot of Cameroonian youths who without you could have been very desperate. What you did will always remain fresh in our memories. In our municipality you gained a lot of respect and admiration.  As a prominent figure of reference for your good works you will be remembed in our town's history books and in health records of our country which you dedicated your life to serve .

Finally in Nso' Kingdom where you remain a Queen for life, you will never retire. We would have loved that you remain here with us in order to enjoy and fully execise your royal functions.

Thank you for your great sacrifice, we know things did not move on so smoothly the way you would have wished at times. That are human short comings and makeup life. We thank God for standing by your side and guiding you all through so that you could live to get a befitting retirement we are all witnessing today. We admire and love you. We will always remember and miss you. We will pray for you and wish you well. One thing I must tell you now is that your foot prints are visible and we shall strive to follow your steps in whatever we do.

Thank you oncemore for dedicating your life to come this long way to contribute to God's healing ministry in Cameroon.