From Misery To Music Palaces: Inside Ateh Bazore’s Vision For The Next Five Years

In the early hours of May 1, 2026, the atmosphere inside the hall of the Centre Regional Council in Yaounde was not just one of political victory, but of collective relief. For the hundreds of musicians represented at the Société nationale camerounaise de l’art musicale (Cameroon Musical Art Corporation) SONACAM general assembly, the re-election of Dr. Ateh Ngong Francis, popularly known as Ateh Bazore, was more than another victory. It was a confirmation of a trajectory.

Staggering Victory 
With a staggering 733 votes against his opponent Messi Ambroise’s 45, Bazore’s victory was a mandate of "overwhelming proportions." It marked the end of a tumultuous campaign period and the beginning of what many hope will be the "Golden Era" of Cameroonian music administration.

The Anatomy Of A Landslide
The road to the April 30, 2026 election was fraught with tension. For weeks, the airwaves and social media platforms were flooded with what Dr. Bazore described as a "smear campaign" designed to destabilize his administration. Opponents questioned the transparency of the royalty distribution and the pace of reforms.
However, when the ballots were tallied, the results told a different story. The "silent majority" of Cameroonian artists - those from the grassroots of Bamenda to the urban hubs of Yaounde Douala - voted for continuity.
"I felt highly humbled by this massive mark of confidence," Dr. Bazore stated in a post-election interview with Cameroon Tribune Online. "This landslide demonstrates that the musicians love what we have tried to do in the last five years. It is no longer just a job; it is a call for greater commitment to bring our artists out of the shadows of misery."

The "New Deal" For Artists: 2026–2031
Dr. Bazore’s second term is built on four massive pillars: Financial regularity, social protection, infrastructure, and institutional reforms.
The Move to Quarterly Payments: For decades, the "royalty problem" in Cameroon has been described as a "hydra-headed monster." Payments were erratic, often coming once a year or every two years, leaving artists unable to plan their lives.
The new administration has pledged to institute quarterly payments (every three months). By aligning with international standards found in developed nations, SONACAM aims to transform music from a "gig" into a profession with a predictable income stream. This shift is supported by the new collection agreement with the brewery sector - a 12 FCFA levy per crate of beer - which ensures a steady, monthly inflow of cash into the SONACAM coffers.
 Social Security, Health Insurance: One of the most heartbreaking trends in the Cameroonian arts scene has been the "charity appeal" for veteran artists facing medical emergencies. Dr. Bazore intends to end this era of indignity. "We would subscribe to a health insurance for Cameroonian artists," Bazore noted. By pooling the resources of the 7,734 registered members, SONACAM is negotiating a group policy that would cover basic healthcare, emergency services, and perhaps most importantly, retirement benefits for ageing performers.
Credit Foncier, Music Palaces: Perhaps the most ambitious part of the 2026 roadmap is the focus on physical assets. A finalized convention with Crédit Foncier du Cameroun will soon allow productive artists - those with a proven track record of royalties and title deeds - to access low-interest loans to build their own homes.
Furthermore, the "Music Palace" project is no longer a pipe dream. With funding reportedly secured from Deutsche Bank USA, SONACAM plans to construct state-of-the-art facilities in Bamenda, Yaounde, and Douala. These palaces will serve as multi-purpose hubs: recording studios, performance halls, and administrative offices, creating hundreds of jobs and providing a "home" for the industry.

Legacy Of Digitalization
To understand why the musicians voted so decisively for Bazore, one must look at the "digital foundation" laid between 2021 and 2026. When Bazore first took office, SONACAM was a company that "hardly existed" in a functional sense.
The introduction of the WIPO Connect application, offered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, changed everything. Today, 105,000 musical works are documented in a physical and digital database, visible to the global rights community. This transparency allowed for 9 royalty payments in five years - a massive leap from the 2 payments managed by the previous team in a similar timeframe.
"We introduced digital professional cards for artists to identify themselves," Bazore explained. "We reorganized the documentation service. Today, our artists are not just names on a list; they are part of a global digital ecosystem."

The Funding Engine 
The success of the next five years hinges on the "Collection at Source" model. The agreement with the Cameroon brewery sector to collect 12 FCFA per crate is a masterstroke of revenue generation. In a country where beverage consumption is high, this ensures that every celebration in a local bar contributes directly to the composer of the music playing in the background.
Additionally, the Board is turning its sights toward Public Administration. By ensuring that government departments pay for the use of music in official capacities and public spaces, SONACAM expects to double its annual revenue.

The Path Ahead
As Dr. Ateh Bazore begins his second mandate, the expectations are sky-high. The "landslide" victory has cleared the political obstacles, but the logistical challenges remain. Building three music palaces and managing a health insurance fund for thousands of members wi...