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Popular rapper Mic Monsta has explained why he deliberately avoids mixing French into his songs, unlike many other English-speaking musicians in Cameroon, saying he wants the Anglophone identity to be represented on the national scene.
His remarks, made during a recent podcast, sparked significant engagement on social media. Supporters praised the rapper for expressing pride in his roots, especially in an environment where Anglophone artists see singing in French as the ultimate way to reach audiences in a Francophone-majority country.
“I intentionally don't put French in my songs because it's what makes me different. I want the Anglophone identity to be represented,” he said.
Mic Monsta, who sings in Pidgin and English, traced this artistic philosophy back to his childhood experiences.
“Growing up in Cameroon, most of the people I used to see represented in the media—like the influential figures—were all Francophones, like Samuel Eto'o and Patrick Mboma. I didn't feel like, as a young Anglophone, I was being represented in the media. So I told myself that if I ever got to these heights, I would want to represent that Anglophone identity, speak like an Anglophone, so that the young kid listening to me in Kumba will feel like he can be something as an Anglophone in Cameroon,” he added.
In bilingual Cameroon, many artists mix English and French in their songs to give their music a national appeal.
However, both music lovers and artists agree that language is just one aspect of music: message, rhythm, and other elements often carry equal or greater significance to listeners.
What do you make of Mic Monsta's approach to music in Cameroon?
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