APWAL: Attempting revolution of arts appreciation
By Nchendzengang Tatah
On the foot of Mount Fako, is a yearly rendezvous of arts by young Cameroonians. APWAL is in its fourth edition and the momentum has moved steadily.
Over 500 young persons gathered for this year’s edition which spans three days. Spoken word poets, singers, models, pencil artists, and other creatives made it through October 25-27, 2024. Buea has become the melting point of arts in English Cameroon.
To the APWAL team, the appreciation of arts is undergoing a revamp for good. They believe it is more than just taking random pictures before artwork or speaking about its goodness. But an engagement of the audience with the artist in appreciation and connection to their work.
“Palava Tree” being the reflection button, emersed the lines of performers to actions leading to suggestive reception by the audience. The painting stands walked through with moments of reflection, and the artiste and organizers felt fulfilled.
Arts in this part of the world are surviving on the goodwill of a few who pay the price and sometimes go unnoticed for years, says Tiafack Tongha the vision bearer. With a degree in Performance and Visual Arts from the University of Buea, he has carried out the event for four of five years as a graduate.
The artist in his mid-twenties is optimistic. So are his peers, many who saddle arts with their varsity studies. As the sun sets on APWAL 2024, the voice of the unspoken poems and unpainted stories for lack of value remains a growing concern. Government support is as much as a free venue and multinational corporations are yet to step in.
