Orange Cameroun unveils Orange Music Legends contest.

The initiative, which is in the form of a music contest, is set to run for the next 12 weeks. The winner of the competition is expected to bag home a cash prize amounting to 10 million FCFA.

Orange Music Legends, which will unify the old and new generation around the theme of music, was unveiled during a press conference in Yaounde Friday August 11.

During the press briefing, the Senior Manager of Brand and Communication at Orange Cameroun, Venant Pouemi, explained that the initiative is a reality show in which the audience is taken on an unprecedented exploration of Cameroonian music, from its source to its contemporary expression.

For this musical experience, some five legends of Cameroonian music, notably Makossa icon, Petit Pays, Afo Akom, Talla Andre-Marie, Ange Ebogo and Isnebo, will team up with five talented young artists to form random duos.

The duos, he explained, will perform before the public over the 12-week programme, with each session lasting 24 minutes. The live performances will be judged by the public through votes with the highest votes to be crowned the ultimate winner.

“The aim of Orange Music Legends is to put together the legends of Cameroonian music with the stars of the new generation in order to propose to our public and tele-viewers a very innovative concept or programme,” Pouemi said. 

The music adventure, organised with the support of Starnews, will be aired on CRTV and on Orange digital platforms every Wednesday at 9p.m.

Music icons laud initiative

The five Cameroonian music legends selected from the varied music genre in the country such as Bikutsi, Makossa, Folklore, Benskin Tchamassi and another, have all lauded the initiative of Orange Cameroun. 

While thanking Orange Cameroun for the initiative, which he said long overdue, Petit Pays, wished the telecoms giant and its partners the best for the endeavour to valourise Cameroonian cultures through music. 

Joining his voice to salute Orange Cameroun for the music adventure, renowned Benskin baobab, Talla Andre-Marie, expressed his wish to have the public to see the profession of musician in Cameroon as a respectable one, contrary to the misconception of many who see it as a profession for ‘feymen’.

He also called on other stakeholders to join forces to elevate the Cameroonian music to another level.

According to Afo Akom, the Orange Music Legends initiative comes at a time when Cameroonians must learn to love and promote their local music instead of foreign music.

“This is something we have been hoping that one day it was going to happen and I am just fortunate to be one of those who were selected,” he stated during the press conference. 

He continued that: “We needed to start this from somewhere and I want to thank Orange and its partners for coming to rescue us from this long time cry for salvation that we artists have been crying for this kind of thing to happen. It happens in other countries but it is better late than never”. 

The music legend, with over 30 years in the field, also urged the younger generation to seek counsel from the elderly in order to make a name and sustain a career in the industry amidst contemporary challenges. 

“Every one of us the legends started young and the younger generation will not remain young. They are growing up and so they have to make a name, then a career and then the most difficult thing will be to maintain that career,” he stated. 

Afo Akom added that: “If they work hard, they will arrive the level which we have arrived. It is a hard road to travel and a rough way to go. When they come to us, we will be open to them for advice”. 

Meanwhile, the public, aside voting for the best performances, will also be entitled to win prizes of up to 5 million FCFA during the 12 weeks of the music show.