Why Petit Pays should get an apology from minister Ama Tutu Muna!

Cameroon is at a major crossroads in its history. As the country speeds towards its rendezvous with destiny in which a transformational candidate -Kah Walla, is poised to sweep an overwhelming victory in the presidential election, some problems just pop up to portray the state of under development in which the country finds itself.

Adolf Moundi, who goes by the name Petit Pays is arguably the country's most popular and prolific musician. Over the course of more than two decades, he has explored, and blended rhythms from every nook and cranny of Cameroon, and even broadened his horizons beyond Cameroon's borders.

He also pushed, then blurred the boundaries of what is considered mainstream music, playing songs to which a Pastor can dance, and then later in his career, songs that can only be played in...private.

To sum it all, Petit Pays is the quintessential symbol of success in Cameroonian music.

Recent media reports from Douala indicate that he is the subject of an arrest warrant. He stands accused of failing to pay two of his employees the equivalent of approximately $4000.

That the leading musician in Cameroon has to evade police custody because of this amount of money is telling about the financial stability of artists.

Sometime about half a decade into his career, Petit Pays began including the names of prominent members of society, the famous like Fotso Victor, as well as the infamous like Paul Biya. No one raised an eyebrow. It was understood that to get this cheap but effective sort of name recognition and the attendant political leverage it procured, someone had to pay. And pay they did in droves.

But those days are long gone. The barons who robbed the state treasury dry now have 78 year old Biya's henchmen on their heels. No one is spared. Both the public and private sector (see separate story on Fotso Victor) are targeted. Suddenly, the cash is all gone and artists who made a killing chanting the names of politicians have suddenly gone broke.

But this is specifically where the Ministry of Culture has to step in. That ministry was created to consolidate and promote our rich national culture. To abandon a respected and prolific artist of Petit Pay's calibre is simply unacceptable.

Ama Tutu Muna has a direct responsibility to protect Petit Pays. He is now a national treasure, to be cherished and protected by the state, just the same as Roger Mila and Eto Fils.

The Nobel Prize comes with a cash gift for a reason, so that those giants who win the prize further their contributions to mankind in their respective fields and not bother about failing to pay guards $4000.

Furthermore, I believe whoever was on guard when Petit Pays went missing deserves a promotion. They are true patriots - they did the right thing. That is common sense, the type that works, the type that Kah Walla will bring to Cameroon.

Petit Pays is a national symbol, as the most decorated Cameroonian artist of all time, he deserves some degree of protection from the state.

Paul Biya just lost one more vote, along with millions of fans of Petit Pays. 2011 will be the year of the masses in Cameroon. Kah Walla is showing the way ahead, and she has a new advocate on her side- Petit Pays!

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