The English Cameroon Entertainment Industry, as some call
it, has been plagued with a number of fatal diseases, but the “Forged Celebrity
Syndrome” of FCS, has succeeded in infesting the entertainment milieu. Before I
begin, allow me define a celebrity:
According to Wikipedia, a celebrity is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination
and influence in day-to-day media … and
is easily recognized by the general
public.
Now, permit me break this down into 3 main parts:
1- Prominent profile (CV or resumé)
2- Influence (Ability to change a situation)
3- Recognition (Public figure)
I will not deny the fact that some entertainers have gone a
long way to provide constructive and quality entertainment for the English
Cameroon public, but some few ‘entertainer’ have managed to get themselves known
for doing absolutely NOTHING. The
status of a celebrity should be earned, not forged. Sadly, we get people who
become famous just by attending shows, just by auditioning or just from
mingling with quality entertainers.
PART 1- PROMINENT
PROFILE (CV OR RESUMÉ)
Part of being a celebrity is having a highly regarded CV. This
comes as a result of engaging yourself in quality productions, co operations
and other worthy events that become credible and positions you as a great performer.
Today in Cameroon, we find ‘movie stars’ who have had no major role in a
production. As long as they were used as an extra (barmaid, housemaid, security
officer), they have now become stars.
PART 2- INFLUENCE (ABILITY
TO CHANGE A SITUATION)
Another imperative component of being a celebrity is to have
the capacity to change situations. Celebrities from other countries have the aptitude
to change situations in areas like Health, Education, Communication, Politics
and Economics. In Cameroon, we have the ability to affect only our lives. What
a big difference. What a change.
PART 3- RECOGNITION
(PUBLIC FIGURE)
This is of great importance to the life of the celebrity. As
long as the general public recognizes you as an entertainer, you will be able
to go on doing greater things. Sadly, most Cameroon ‘entertainers’ are greatly known…only
by their families. The saddest part of it all is that they are contented with
the situation.
All I am trying to say here is that the Cameroon
Entertainment Industry needs people who do, not talk. Some of you, and I mean
some of you, will say that I am just seeking to be known. But I know the
visionaries will say I am passionate about Cameroon Entertainment, that I hold
it in high esteem. If you want to be a celebrity, the entertainment business is
not for you. If you want to provide quality entertainment for all, then the passion
is in you. You will be a celebrity…from your good works.
wow! dts true but i believe it will take much to educate d most part of our society to undastnd things lyk dis in a lil tym space. pple will deffinitely come to c w dis but it will tke tym. dats where d prob lies. thanks for standin out n sayin d truth abt it all
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reply. I know it will take time, but better start now than next decade. lol
DeleteGreat write Up . Keep it coming
ReplyDeleteWell said, Hansel.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear that the entertainment industry is not for people who want to be celebrities. I thought people could only be what they wanted to be. It's true, as you say, that people need to earn their fame. However, if the fame is already here, real or fake, just live it and enjoy it while it lasts. Are you jealous of someone who is less talented than you but who has more admirers? Do you listen to and watch American entertainment products? Do you think all the 'big stars', be they in the movie or music industry, deserve the celebrity status they enjoy, NO! But they represent the success of the industry with a huge fan base, period. I'm not asking for the death of authentic works of art. I just think we should let people be. Petit Pays of Cameroon , for example, is all about branding and not great quality. Would you stop people from buying his stuff or rate him anywhere other than the top 5, if not number one in Cameroon? While others have the gift of acting or singing, others are just great at branding. How you package yourself matters a lot today and that accounts, to a greater extent, to your success or failure as a celebrity or entertainer. So, while i agree that excellent quality is key, i don't fail to agree that not every celebrity should be called thus. That, however, is the world today. It hurts me too but i think there's plenty of space for the different types of celebrities and everyone is happy.
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank you for this reply. However, you should realise we are talking about ENGLISH CAMEROON ENTERTAINMENT, and Petit Pays has no place in this context. I am stressing on the fact that MOST people just want to be celebrities without doing anything. In the fight for quality comedy material, I have become popular...but I don't consider myself a celebrity. People will have to judge. I believe in celebrating merit, not the emptiness that lies in the works of most so-called entertainers
DeleteFor once grow up Ngwane Hansel.I guess u are from the English part of Cameroon and also u feel like one.I know u so much and i have met u in many events.You are seen by orders as their idols,hence u are fast becoming a celebrity.
DeleteIf you profile yourself well then u realise u will be seen as celebrity,but if not then u will not.Those English Cameroonians who are seeing their selves as celebrity are those who know what they want in life,some don't even see themselves as that,but permit me to say,other people do see them as that,they talk about them everywhere they go.I love the above comment it is good and he or she has made a clear point.
I want to say that Hansel is right. He doesn't need to grow up. he has already done that. he is not talking about any celebrity, but those who have actually done sth to merit that title. Allow him express himself. Dont stifle his fight cos u are one of the fake celebs.
DeleteWow! you said it all!and i must say changes is coming my way as from this day onwards!!!
ReplyDeleteThis was really funnyy but made alot of sense!!
ReplyDelete