TIPTOPSTARS

It’s no longer news that Cameroon is so gifted in talented young people. But it is news each time these future stars emerge to exhibit their works and share their successes with the entire world. Banye is the name Cameroon, Africa and the rest of the world would start learning to know and keep. His works are what his audience would find an immeasurable pleasure in savouring.

At a tender age of 20, the Banso Boy, as Banye would fondly calls himself is already making revealing strides in rap, creating huge sensation as he rides on. With a 4000 and above download counts on the various social media platforms, the taleted Cameroonian singer has cut his own nitch and fully prepared his audience for his album. « It drops in March, » he announced. Banye went on : « The title of the album is Country di Boom/Ambitiouse Dairy. We are also coming up with videos. »

The said album which according to some fans is highly awaited, will be a production of the PK Family Records label, based in the United States of America but run by Cameroonians.

Meantime, Banye’s Afro rap/Inspiration rap seems usher in a new feeling among lovers of this genre. The songs are captivatingly melidious, yet, Banye succeeds to drive across his messgae – the need for country and the well-to-dos to give a helping hand to the struggling class.

Banye hails from Nso, a tribe in Bui Division in the North West region of Cameroon. In recent years, the Division has produced a good number of talented musicians including Richard Kings, Uncle T, Kibungla Siprano, Akere-Maimo, etc. Banye invites us to savour Chorkoh, a tract in his up-coming album.

Blessed are those who answered present at the Hotel Residence Carlos in Buea on Saturday November 17, 2012. For, they experienced wonders of the fast-growing Cameroonian film industry. The event was the highly publicized Hang-Out Party which culminated in the maiden edition of the Cam Movies Merit Awards.

"Amazing!” Victor Viyouh, in deep emotion, pointed out. He went on: “I was thrilled that I it [Ninah's Dowry] was just accepted into the festival. Amazing!" According to Yibain Emile-Aime Chah aka Ancestor, Viyouh was reacting to the pronouncement of Nina’s Dowry as best film of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) in Florida, USA recently. Yibain who made the story available to us was cinematography for the project.

Selected for the 27^th edition of the festival (said to be America’s oldest film festival), Nina’s Dowry caught the attention of the jury, convinced them and clearly distinguished itself. That’s how the Cameroonian feature film won the prize as the most valuable production for the 2012 edition.

Not only were the technical aspects of the production convincing, its artistic connotation spoke volumes to the jury. In a bid to reward excellence, the film’s lead character, Mbufung Seikeh bagged home the best actress in foreign film award. “This is more than I ever expected,” the director/producer expressed his feelings.

Shot in Sabga,( a small predominantly muslim settlement near Bamenda, headquarters of the North West region of Cameroon), Nina’s Dowry is written by Victor Viyouh. It exploits the theme of early/forced marriage, common in certain typically traditional societies in parts of Africa. Starring, Anurin Nwunembom, the film is edited by Andrew Groves. Cody Westheimer with Julia Newmann and Hollyamber Church provided the sound track. It is co-produced with Daniel Tan. TIPTOPSTARS will be conducting an exclusive interview with Los Angeles-based Viyouh who is one of Cameroon’s leading film makers in the diaspora. Watch out!