Cameroonian uses art exhibition in Cyprus to spotlight crisis in NW, SW.

The artworks were presented by Cyprus-based Cameroonian artist, Mbah Yannick. This was during an art show organised by the Art & Shock Gallery in Cyprus.

Having experienced the crisis firsthand, and witnessed the pain and suffering it continues to cause on the population, Mbah, said he decided to use his works to raise awareness on the plight of the people.

“Art transcends physical borders and barriers and has for a long time been used to raise awareness and create meaningful change. This is my own way of joining efforts to put an end to the Anglophone crisis,” Mbah is quoted as having said.

The theme for his art exhibition was: “War and Injustice”. He presented to the public a collection of oil paintings and charcoal pencil portraits, some of which stood out to spotlight the Crisis.

The first art piece he exhibited was titled Guns and Roses. The painting, Mbah said, pays tribute to the numerous school children that have been killed and injured for trying to access education. 

He cited the recent attack on children celebrating the Youth Day at the Nkambe Grandstand on February 11, and the attack on pupils in Kumba at the Mother Francisca International Academy in October, 24, 2020.

The second painting in the collection was titled: “Friends or Foes”. According to him, the piece portrays a section of territory being scrambled upon. 

He said the powers that be are metaphorically using that territory to play a game of chess, everyone fighting for their interest, meanwhile people are dying and children living in despair. 

Mbah said given the gravity of the conflict everyone has lost hope. He wonders if they are living with their friends or enemies. 

The third artwork in the collection is was tagged: ‘World Watching’. He explained that the piece is an extension of the famous painting, The Scream by Edvard Munch, which expresses someone screaming in silence with no one noticing their pain.

Mbah added that through the painting, he is highlighting the fact that, the world today has sunk into apathy. He said there is chaos and suffering everywhere but no one really cares. The screaming, he said, is no longer in silence, but the world watches with no particular interest.

The last of his collection was Benedarmo which means Blessing of the Arms. He explained that, it is a religious satire on the injustice being faced in the world today. 

He added that Benedarmo comes from two Latin words Benedictio Armorum, which is an old religious tradition of blessing arms before a war. The painting, he said, shows a priest blessing arms on one hand and on the other hand praying for the dead.

Francis Ngannou also honoured

Mbah further mentioned that he decided to use the opportunity to pay homage to Cameroonian boxer Francis Ngannou. This was through a pencil portrait of the athlete titled, The Last predator.

Ngannou, Mbah said, has an inspiring story and remains a national hero. “I am particularly intrigued and impressed by his resilience and tenacity, looking at all what he has been through and still rose to the upper echelons of boxing,” Mbah said. 

He also described him as, “someone a lot of young people look up to. So I decided to in my own small way do something to acknowledge his greatness and what he represents to our nation”.