I am no longer Cameroonian until further notice - Richard Bona

Richard Bona, one of Cameroonian top musicians whose reputation is established across continents says he is no longer Cameroonian. He has thus declared that he would no longer set foot in Cameroon, as he would be required to get an entry visa.

“Despite my unwavering commitment to my country, I have to make a decision that is only based on my view”. “I will not step foot there as more people ask me of an entry visa. At some point, you have to be consistent. By consulting the law of my country, I am not Cameroonian until further notice”. Richard Bona wrote this on his official facebook page on October 29.

“So for your national holidays etc … Do not waste your breathe … I’m not Cameroonian. Do not call me. I am from USA / Portugal and proud of it. Equal justice for all. Nothing else … even for the leaders”, he added at the end of this post which is still widely discussed.

“What a mess! Yet Richard Bona is an ambassador to Cameroon and hence should have been issued a diplomatic passport as some African countries”, says Sam Mbende, former president of the Cameroon Music Corporation, among many other comments.

“I traveled last year on an SN Brussels flight. Arriving in Brussels a passenger sitting next to me was a Minister stationed in Cameroon who released his French passport … Shocked??? Not at all. Simply, gentlemen stay consistent with legal law … do you vote?”, stated Richard Bona over the debate on its Facebook page.

“My last post is on a universal level, equality before the law is a principle that all citizens without distinction must adhere to. If the powers cannot enforce the law and see to it that it is executed, then the law does not exist”, noted Bona who is also professor of music at the New York University, in an article posted Oct. 31 on the social media page.

Obtaining or forfeiture of Cameroonian nationality are legally governed by the law of 11th June 1968 on the Nationality Code that says, “Lose of the Cameroonian nationality for Cameroonians who voluntarily acquire a foreign nationality as referred in the first paragraph of Article 31 of the Code. Under this law, Cameroon does not accept dual citizenship”.

Last year Ndedi Eyango was stripped off his position as the head of Civil Society of Musical Art (SOCAM) by the Minister of Culture because it was proven he possessed dual nationality.