Charles Ewanjé Epee, misunderstood genius

The musician, Charles Ewanjé Epee, is in Cameroon to launch the celebration of 50 years of his career in music.

"You are part of the big three of Cameroon with Francis Bebey and Manu Dibango," said Guillaume Bwelle, the Minister of Information and Culture. That was in 1981. Yet, Charles Ewanjé Epee has never received the same energy that his two accomplices did.

He was the first African to participate and win the first prize of the global epicenter of guitar in 1982. He did not have the opportunity to formally present it to his homeland the following year.

It was not an issue of putting in his best as he was a musicologist, music teacher, guitarist, composer for Grace Decca and Sam Mbende. Charles composed a song for the Indomitable Lions during the 90 Italian Campaigns. He was also the brain behind the Tet'Ekombo song to pay homage to Rudolf Duala Manga Bell which was taken over by Ben Decca. It only played twice in his country during an improvised concert and another 83 years later.

Charles Ewanjé Epee said his frustrations and demands went unheeded. It had to do with whether to open a music school with foreign support or whether to attend a master class among others. He admitted that, “I suffered from the lack of recognition from my motherland.”

To compensate him is the ‘Artistes to celebrate Charles Ewanjé Epee’ initiative which will cajole him to come back with a bang to Cameroon and to launch the celebration of his 50 year music career.

The launch will be held at a giant concernt in Doula on October 2 and he would be supported by old artistes like Ekambi Brillant, Henri Njoh, Ben Decca, Sissy Dipoko, Grace Decca, Eriko and Hervé Nguebo.

This initiative was to honor the eminences of the Cameroon Music signed by Henriette Epee and would be an annual recurrence born out of the will of an old lady who said: "I saw how our music, our culture is dying. I do it for the love of my country, for the love of Sawa music, for the love of our culture."

A warm welcome was given to the father of the famous Maryse and Monique sports, Ewanjé Epee, at the Douala International Airport on July 1, 2015.

The public and journalists will be inspired by Mister Charles who said “I was very honored. On returning to my country, I have had the pleasure of going through the door and not looking through the key hole."