Their plight has been made international however more still needs to be done to help these people live the lives that they want and help them protect their environment.
The Camer Couture Fashion showcase which will be held here in London on the 17th of October have chosen Global Music Exchange (GME) as their chosen charity and all takings from the raffle tickets sold on the night will be given to this charity to continue the work they are doing to help the Baka pygmies.
As they say, charity begins at home so please join the Camer Couture team in supporting Global Music Exchange in their work.
Here below is an interview with Martin Craddick, founder of GME.
Happy Reading y’all
DC: What does your music represent?
MC: I am not sure my music represents anything really. It comes from past experiences till now. The latest album is a combination of my work with the Baka pygmies which has been going on for 18 years now.
DC: Why did you decide to use your music to help those people like the Baka pygmies who their own societies had forgotten about them?
MC: I work primarily with the Baka people and I got attracted by their music when I first went there 18 years ago and I did not decide to use my music for this cause, it just fell from me selling albums! That’s how it all kicked off.
DC: How did you hear of the Baka people of Cameroon?
MC: Erm…I saw them on television on a documentary in Channel4 in 1989 and as I was watching it I just thought I wanted to go there!
DC: So far, what contributions have you added to their community?
MC: So far, we have helped them to get ID cards, we have built them a music house which acts as a meeting point, we are paying for their healthcare therefore making them the only people in Cameroon with free healthcare, we are currently trying to set up summer schools for them. Overall, what this has helped them to have is their own voice, their plight has been made known internationally.
DC: What is your goal for these people?
MC: I would like them to keep being able to live as they want to live. This is what we are trying to facilitate.
DC: What contribution would you like to see from the Cameroonian government towards these people?
MC: The Cameroonian government have been very positive towards us and helpful thus far however, I would love for the Cameroonian government to give the Baka people jurisdiction over their land.
DC: And the rest of the Cameroonian general public?
MC: They could support them by buying their music.
DC: The royalties for the Baka people are collected by GME (Global Music Exchange), is that a charity you created?
MC: Yes it is. It was created primarily to look after the Baka people as well as a way for traditional recorded music to get respected and appreciated in other parts of the World.
DC: How has both albums been doing in the charts?
MC: They had good reviews, a little bit of airplay and some sales.
DC: In your opinion, what does the future look like for the Baka people?
MC: It is hard as pressures such as loggings etc exist however, there are some positive movements.
DC: Dulce Camer
MC: Martin Craddick
Catch Martin and his gang on tour by going to http://www.baka.co.uk/
If you can, please support the GME movement and help the Baka pygmies and their forest.
For tickets of the Camer Couture event, please visit email info@camercouture.com or call
Cynthia: 07834 321373
Isabel: 07733 735 515
Ngum: 07944 043 954
Go to their website for more info http://www.camercouture.com/
Follow them on twitter: http://twitter.com/camercouture
Miss this event, well you will see the pics later on!
Stay sweet
Dulce
xxx
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