A Cameroon concert where Naira Marley was to perform has reportedly been cancelled after the controversial Nigerian singer was said to have met fierce opposition from indigenous musicians.

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Earlier, a statement announcing an “eleventh-hour” venue switch for a Valentine’s Day event Naira Marley was to attend had surfaced on social media.

It had cited an increasing demand for tickets by fans and space constraints as the reason for the decision.

The Marlian Records boss had also taken to his Instagram story to commend his fans in Cameroon, who came to the airport in droves to welcome him — upon his arrival in the central African country.

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But on Monday, Joey Akan, a music journalist, alleged that some musicians indigenous to Cameroon made a case against the ‘Koleyewon’ crooner to ensure the concert was cancelled after venues had been changed up to three times.

“Yesterday, a Naira Marley concert scheduled to hold in Cameroon didn’t happen. Special Forces Soldiers flooded the venue and chased everyone away, despite Marley being in the country ready to hit the stage,” Akan wrote in a Twitter thread.

“Why? Hate and beef from Cameroonian artists. For months, there has been a growing anti-Nigerian movement, with many disgruntled entertainers calling for a ban on Nigerian music.

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“This movement is led by a struggling comedian named CY International. A promoter, Prince Enobi, organized a special Valentine’s Day concert. Naira Marley was booked, to perform in Buea, the capital of the Southwest region.

“The heart of Anglophone Cameroon. Expensive tickets were sold out, and the event was set. But the show did not hold. Cameroon entertainers kicked. They went to Yaounde to ask the government to ban it.”

Akan said individuals who sought the show’s cancellation had claimed the singer was a bad influence on the youth.

“They went to minister of arts and culture to ban the concert. Their excuse; Naira Marley is a bad influence on Cameroonian youth, who smokes Igbeaux, and has a sex tape. The minister canceled the show in Buea,” he added.

“But the Promoter was adamant. He’s invested heavily. He moved the show from Buea to Limbe. These entertainers still went to call the special forces arm of the military. They showed up and scattered the stage and venue.

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“The promoter still moved show to Douala, the entertainers still showed up there and scattered the venue.
Naira Marley didn’t perform, but he’s been paid. He lands in Nigeria today.”

Akan asked artistes to quit stirring up xenophobia, adding that it might cause a lot of dangerous events for the art.

“What this means is that the Cameroonians have declared war on the Nigerian music industry, and have acted on it due to hate and inferiority complex. They blame us for everything. Pan Africanism in the mud,” he wrote.

“In the past 5 years, Anglophone Cameroon has not seen a major concert due to the crisis. And the first show they were meant to have, they called the same oppressive military to help chase their fellow Africans away.

“This won’t end well. It’s a slippery slope, leading to a lot of dangerous events for the art. If we begin xenophobia, it’s their industry that will bear the brunt. Either they nip this in the bud, or it’ll be a full war with no real winners.”

Akan’s account comes two months after Omah Lay, another Nigerian singer, was arrested over his appearance at an event in Uganda.

As of when this report was filed, Naira Marley is yet to speak on the incident.



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