Cameroon | Muna Ekane Urges Richard Bona to Release Tribute Song for His Father, Denounces State Responsibility

By Hippolite Ikome

In an exclusive interview with Panorama Papers, Muna Ekane, eldest son of the late Georges Anicet Theodore Ekane, revealed that he has never been able to listen to the tribute songs composed for his father, whether by a young Cameroonian artist or by world-renowned bassist Richard Bona, without breaking down in tears.

Through this testimony, he launches a solemn appeal to Richard Bona: “I humbly ask that the tribute song you composed for my father be officially released.” He describes the composition as a “poignant” and “essential” homage, necessary both to preserve his father’s memory and to testify to the injustice he suffered.

Beyond this appeal, Muna Ekane delivers a harsh indictment of the Cameroonian state. He argues that his father, a citizen supposed to be protected by the authorities, died in detention under deplorable conditions. He recalls that hundreds of citizens have been arbitrarily arrested and that protests have been suppressed with live ammunition, despite the existence of non-lethal alternatives.

He also criticizes the collapse of public services: thirty years after he left Cameroon for studies abroad, Douala still suffers from a lack of drinking water and uninterrupted electricity, and roads remain in disrepair. He denounces official claims of fully equipped reference hospitals across the country, pointing out that his father was never transferred to a proper medical facility and remained in the prison infirmary.

Finally, Muna Ekane condemns the unauthorized disclosure of his father’s medical file by the Minister Delegate for Justice, describing it as an attempt to manipulate public opinion. He maintains that several public statements were false and has requested proof of certain claims regarding family visits to his father in detention. Georges Anicet Theodore Ekane, a prominent opposition figure, died in detention, sparking national and international reactions. His family has consistently denounced the inadequate conditions of detention, lack of proper medical care, and direct state responsibility. Artistic tributes, including Richard Bona’s song, have resonated strongly with Cameroonians and the diaspora. Muna Ekane’s request for an official release of the tribute underscores his desire to honor his father’s memory and highlight the injustices he endured.