Former Lionn Production signee, Ebude Kate Kameni is seeking to set things right with her former boss, Mr. Leo.
Kameni and fellow singer, Gomez had left the label over a year ago, following their deteriorating relationship with Mr. Leo, and had since been at loggerheads with him ever since.
In a series of interviews, the duo called out the label indirectly for not taking good care of them.
In one of such interviews with Darling Lyonga, Kameni who had just announced her own label, – Rude Gyal Nation – said no label in Cameroon was doing what it ought to.
“All my life as an artist with my former label I never saw a dime… My former label, Lionn Production took every money I made,” she revealed, adding “from shows, YouTube views, even endorsement deals. I never saw even 25 francs and I don’t even want to speak for Gomez.”
Many saw this as an affront to Mr. Leo who had held her hand right from back in the day when he was still signed to Salatiel’s Alpha Beta records. Social media users and bloggers trolled the ‘papi’ crooner, with some calling her an ingrate.
Despite the backlash, she appeared resistant for a while but has now dropped her guard. This she did, in a new song titled ‘Mr. Ayele’ in honour of Mr. Leo who is set to release a song titled Ayele.
“… I am only human and as human beings we are bound to make mistakes … I am truly sorry Mr. Leo, forgive me,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
“I love you lion and I forgive you too and I will always be in love with my fans,” she stated, before attaching a YouTube link to the clip. Many fans have saluted Kameni following her apology, terming it a brave and modest thing to do. Others however feel she’s using the situation to garner likes and accolades, instead of being genuine.
atch song here:
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Prior to Kameni’s apology song, Mr. Leo had expressed the desire for peace and unity in the face of her attacks: “Nobody is perfect. We learn every day. Kameni and Gomez Oba are still my younger ones and I plead on everyone to keep supporting them” he wrote in a social media post. He went on to ask them to forgive him if he had wronged them in any way.
Enter Gomez
In a session on Freaky Table in March 2022, Gomez broke the silence that surrounded their departure from the label. He revealed that Mr. Leo and Kameni had not been on talking terms for over two years. He also went on to imply being poorly treated by his former boss.
Mr Leo on his part, noted that he had been spending on Gomez and Kameni without any contract because he regarded them as family. Once they were bound by contract, they became hard to work with, he said. Following social media pressure, Gomez would later tender an apology to his former boss.
Days ago, he again reiterated his apology in the wake of the Kameni-Mr Leo row. “Please I repeat… Mr. Leo forgive me, I know we are good but let the fans and media know again. I am sorry and also sorry to my fans and Cameroonians. Let us focus on music and growth for us all,” he wrote.
Facts swept under the carpet
While Kameni’s apology is likely to put an end to the row with her former boss, it might aid to cover certain pertinent aspects she had raised earlier.
Kameni in her interview with Darling Lyonga, noted with dismay the lack of respect for contract terms by artists’ employers as well as exploitation.
“Make sure you have your YouTube channel even if you are going under a label… that is one thing they do that will mess up your life as an artist if you are supposed to leave that label. You will start from one subscriber,” she warned. This, to her, guarantees that the artist retains their followership and streaming income when they get to leave the label.
Her cry resonates with those of multiple artists who have taken the gold step to raise a voice against their labels. Singer, Mimie was celebrated when she opened up about the treatment accorded her by Pit Bacardi’s Empire Music. Her worries were much similar to what the limes of Magasco had raised earlier.
Her approach much like Kameni’s, was radical and non-conformist, as she even threatened to take legal action. While she was lauded for being a hero, Kameni on her part was portrayed as a villain disrespecting her former boss, biting the finger that fed her.
With the row between her and Mr. Leo supposedly over, many will be eager to see whether the issues she raised are handled or remain swept under the carpet.
