The second edition of the Ballantine’s Boiler Room took place in Yaoundé from the 3rd to the 5th of May precisely at the Cascades du Mfoundi.
May 4th at around 2 pm, media representatives were given opportunities to do 30 minutes face to face interviews with headliners HAPPY D’efoulan, Aveiro Djess, DJ LOUDA, Z-Tra, Kameni, and DJ Chinjong. The theme was Ballantine Boiler room and the entertainment industry in general. Below are the abstracts of some interviews conducted.
Mbole music is a new genre originating from the Central region and is gradually penetrating music fans in Cameroon. We urge Cameroonians to support us export this genre so that other countries will enjoy and vibe to the style. Mbole artists need to learn to blend it with other genres as we work in a team and synergy.
What is “Tchapeu Tchapeu” in reality? What message would you like to convey in this hit? “Tchapeu Tchapeu is an expression in the Bamileke dialect that means “oh Lord”, In this song, I denounce all the scourges that are affecting our society. I am a kind of Aimé Césaire, the voice of the voiceless, you have to denounce to be able to remedy it. singing is a talent and passion. I’ve been performing at weddings and other big ceremonies. I also wrote singles but I didn’t have anyone to guide me.
I surprised fans with the hit “Tchapeu Tchapeu”, I have more great surprises in store. I didn’t stop my studies I would like to be a talented artist that sings and promote vocational training in school. To my fans I would simply say that everyone has the potential within them to become a leader in society, the most important thing is to trust yourself and to give it a shot to succeed.
2. Aveiro DJESS
Hitmaker Aveiro DJESS reveals that his career was still on the move, his long silence was because he was preparing for his next project. Music for Aveiro is considered to be a dream that has come true and through that, He will like to be an influence on a new generation. His Alias “Bagando” doesn’t simply mean rascal as most might think; it’s a tribe in the east region of Cameroon, and in our nowadays language it’s a term that means hustler. The name “Bagando” was given to him because he was a street hustler.
He is currently from Europe and when he came back, he went to a popular Market in Yaounde Marche Mokolo where he used to sell shoes and other stuff so as to keep his street lifestyle and never forget where he comes from.
Aveiro Djess doesn’t consider himself a success no matter what people say about him, so don’t expect him to come and belittle others.
I see myself AS SOMEONE WHO DOES music, not a star.-Aveiro DJESS
Being chosen as the main headliner of Ballantine’s Boiler Room is an honor but the artist will like the Cameroon music industry to frequently organize events like this for the artists. it will be an encouragement as we see it in Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and many other countries., It mustn’t be from time to time but permanently this will increase credibility the of Cameroonian music worldwide. My advice for the young girls is to be patient if they don’t want to end up doing Potty Porta.
3. DJ LOUDA
Being in Cameroon after a long period of absence was a pleasure for the France-based Cameroonian Dj Louda. After assisting at the Festival de Cannes in Paris last year DJ Louda has been active lately and it was a privilege for him to come back home for Ballantine’s Boiler room Second edition. Dj Louda said that Cameroon being a country that possesses several tribes, its difficult to impose a single musical identity like in other countries for instance in Ivory Coast/Coupe Decale, South Africa/Amapiano, Nigeria/Afropop, etc. so trying to impose a single identity won’t be effective, Cameroonians easily adapt to any type of music Mbole, Bikutsi, Shabashiko, Makossa, etc.
Dj Louda concluded by appreciating Ballentine’s initiative to be great cause it was going to portray Cameroon and its music to the world.
4. Z-TRA
Most people began identifying her as the female version of Maahlox Le Vibreur maybe because she claims to say things the way they are.
I Am A Feministe .-Z-TRA
Z-TRA in the interview with Critiqsite claimed to be a feminist, therefore, she defends all that concerns women and their values. She acts as a women’s defender being in a world where people tend to belittle women. Being an African nevertheless, an artist justifies her extravagant way of dressing. She sings what she lives and points out the fact that she is a dynamic artist who does hip-hop, reggae dancehall, Rnb,… and precisely the fact that her music is for +18.
5. KAMENI
She grew up loving music because her father was an artist, he usually worked with the legendary Dina Bell. Her first ever record was in lower sixth, she accompanied a friend to Akwandor Studio as he records she was murmuring in the background with beautiful vocals. This caught the attention of Blaise B and Mr. Leo who were under Alpha Better Records and they were scouting for a female artist, that is when they introduce Kameni to Salatiel, who signed but later dropped her out of the label because she was pregnant. She, later on, joined Mr. Leo’s Label Lionn Production after which she go her musical breakthrough with her hit song Nayo Nayo.
It’s Kameni’s first time headlining Ballantine’s Boiler Room and she is pleased because she met some colleagues among which Mani Bella, Happy d’Effoulan. but with the difficulty being the interviews in French. Kameni’s songs are mostly about Life, energy, motivation, and hustle but she promises to be a lover of girls in her new project as he will be releasing her debut album by the end of the year.
I don’t Drink Alcohol.-Kameni
6. DJ CHINJONG
Dj Chinjong choose to become a DJ because she wanted something that will sort her out. At first, she wanted to become a producer like her brother considered as her role model but found that it was not easy so she switched to becoming a Dj.
Her chosen path got the support of all her family, and she doesn’t feel any complex about choosing that Job. Being a female Dj is indeed regarded somehow, especially in Cameroon but what she likes is the fact of shaming those who couldn’t believe a woman can be good at being a Disc Joker, coupled with the fact of a well entertained public. Ballentine is one of the major events she was privileged to assist and can be considered a major push-up to her career as a Dj Chinjong.
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