AGP Executive Report

African Art: London’s 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair opens October 15–18, with a showcase tracing modernist artists’ influence across Africa and its diaspora. Books & Language: The Hausa International Books and Arts Festival is taking its first UK event to London; Hausa is also widely spoken in Cameroon. African Cinema: REFFA drew 314 submissions from 36 countries for its December awards, while the REEL BALANCE initiative is urging more than 50 African film festivals to improve women’s representation. Cameroon’s Creative Industries: Taylor Guitars and Crelicam are working to secure Cameroon’s ebony supply, linking guitar-making with forest stewardship. Cameroonian Football: Carlos Baleba has made his Manchester United debut, and former defender Jaap Stam says the Cameroon international could replace Casemiro. African Music: A new profile celebrates soukous star Kanda Bongoman’s reach through music and dance.

Cameroonian Football: Carlos Baleba could earn his first Manchester United start against Atlético Madrid, with injuries leaving a gap in midfield. Bryan Mbeumo also threatened, but his shot went narrowly wide as United fell behind early. African Cinema: REFFA’s second edition drew 314 submissions from 36 countries, aiming to boost the reach of African films and filmmakers. Film Equity: The REEL BALANCE initiative is working with more than 50 African festivals to improve women’s representation on screen and behind the camera. Music & Conservation: Taylor Guitars and Cameroon’s Crelicam are moving to secure ebony supplies, linking instrument-making with the future of a vital forest resource. African Music: A profile revisits soukous star Kanda Bongoman and the music and dance that carried his sound across the continent.

Cameroon on the Touchline: Former Indomitable Lions coach Clarence Seedorf has taken charge of Brazilian club Corinthians, now fighting to stay clear of relegation. African Film: REEL BALANCE, a new coalition of seven women-focused film groups, is asking more than 50 African festivals to improve women’s representation on and off screen. Festival Spotlight: Cameroon-linked REFFA has received 314 film submissions from 36 countries, building momentum ahead of its December awards. Cameroonian Music: Lydol has joined the MUZ 2026 cohort after performing in Montreal. Football: Bryan Mbeumo ended a four-game scoring drought for Manchester United, while Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba made his debut as a substitute. Craft and Conservation: Taylor Guitars and Cameroon’s Crelicam are working to secure ebony supplies, linking guitar-making with efforts to protect the forest.

African Film: REFFA 2026 drew 314 submissions from 36 countries, as the festival prepares its December awards and aims to bring African films to wider audiences. Cameroonian Music: Sam Fan Thomas performed at broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka’s 50th-anniversary concert in Nairobi, alongside Congolese stars Koffi Olomide and Mbilia Bel. Music: Cameroonian slam artist Lydol has joined the MUZ 2026 cohort after performing in Montreal. Arts and Craft: Taylor Guitars and its Cameroon-based partner Crelicam are working to secure ebony supplies, linking guitar-making with efforts to support the forest resource. Football: Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo ended a four-game scoring drought with Manchester United’s goal in a 1-1 draw against Tottenham.

Cameroon Football Abroad: Clarence Seedorf has been named Corinthians manager, returning to the touchline after coaching Cameroon in 2019. The Brazilian club sits just above the relegation zone. Regional Music: Koffi Olomide headlined broadcaster Fred Machoka’s 50th-anniversary concert in Nairobi, where Cameroonian star Sam Fan Thomas also performed. A tense moment between Olomide and Machoka drew online attention, though its cause remains unclear. Cameroonian Arts: Slam artist Lydol joins the MUZ 2026 cohort after performing in Montreal. Music Industry: Taylor Guitars and Cameroon’s Crelicam are working to secure ebony supplies, highlighting the country’s role in making musical instruments.

Music: Congolese star Koffi Olomide performed at broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka’s Nairobi jubilee, then walked off stage after a tense exchange; the cause remains unclear. Cameroonian legend Sam Fan Thomas was also among the performers. Football: Cameroon defender Darlin Yongwa earned a starting spot for Norwich after building fitness, while Bryan Mbeumo scored Manchester United’s opener in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Literature: Cameroonian writer Melara Mvogdobo is shortlisted for the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing. Music Industry: Taylor Guitars and its Cameroon-based sawmill, Crelicam, are working on a framework for sustainable ebony permits to support local processing.

Cameroonian Football: Bryan Mbeumo scored Manchester United’s opener against Tottenham, but Spurs grabbed a 1-1 stoppage-time draw. Live Music: Congolese rhumba star Koffi Olomidé headlined a Nairobi concert celebrating broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka’s 50 years in media. Music & Craft: Taylor Guitars and its Cameroon sawmill, Crelicam, are developing a framework for sustainable ebony permits and local processing. Cameroon Music: Singer Lydol has joined the MUZ 2026 cohort after performing in Montreal.

Football: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is urging patience with Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba, who is still working back to fitness after an ankle injury. Culture in Douala: Nigerians in the city marked their independence anniversary with music, dance and a unity football match, celebrating cultural ties between the two countries. Cameroonian Music: Singer Lydol has joined the MUZ 2026 cohort after performing in Montreal. Books & Writing: Cameroonian author Melara Mvogdobo is among the shortlisted writers for the Caine Prize, won this year by Zimbabwe’s Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza. Music & Craft: Taylor Guitars and Cameroon’s Crelicam are developing a framework for sustainable ebony harvesting, supporting local processing and the wood supply behind the instrument industry.

Music & Craft: Taylor Guitars and its Cameroon-based sawmill, Crelicam, are developing a framework for sustainable ebony harvesting, aiming to support local processing and keep the prized wood flowing to guitar-makers. Cameroonian Writing: Author Melara Mvogdobo is among four writers shortlisted for the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing; Zimbabwe’s Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza won for “The Blue Fighter.” Music: Cameroonian artist Lydol has joined the MUZ 2026 cohort after performing in Montreal. Culture in Douala: Nigerians in the city marked their independence anniversary with traditional music and dance, alongside a unity football match promoting community ties.

Music & Craft: Taylor Guitars and its Cameroon-based sawmill, Crelicam, are forming a working group to set out how the company could apply for ebony-harvesting permits in designated forest areas, aiming to support sustainable supplies and local processing. Literature: Zimbabwe’s Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza won the 2026 Caine Prize; Cameroonian writer Melara Mvogdobo was among four shortlisted authors. Cameroonian Artists: Singer and slam poet Lydol has joined the MUZ 2026 cohort after performing in Montreal. Cultural Heritage: Nine Swiss museums will investigate the provenance of more than 6,300 objects from Cameroon held in their collections.

Film: Cameroonian director Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu’s House of the Wind is among 15 films competing at November’s Doha Film Festival, putting a homegrown filmmaker on an international stage. Music: Singer Lydol has joined the MUZ 2026 cohort after performing in Montreal, adding a new milestone to the Cameroonian artist’s career. Cultural Heritage: Nine Swiss museums will investigate the origins of more than 6,300 objects from Cameroon, with federal funding supporting the research. Creative Business: SplashArk, a new app launching in Cameroon, aims to help sellers, service providers and creators take bookings and payments securely through mobile money. Boxing: French-Cameroonian champion Christian Mbilli will defend his WBC title against Canelo Alvarez in Riyadh on October 31.**

Film: Cameroon’s Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu is among the filmmakers featured in Doha Film Festival’s 15-title competition, with House of the Wind representing sub-Saharan Africa. Music: Cameroonian slam artist Lydol has joined Montreal’s MUZ 2026 cohort after performing at the festival, earning a year of support from its industry partners. Cultural Heritage: Nine Swiss museums will investigate the provenance of more than 6,300 objects from Cameroon, with Swiss government funding supporting the research.

Cameroonian Cinema: A new Doha Film Festival competition features House of the Wind, by Cameroonian filmmaker Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu, among 15 international titles. Music: Slam artist Lydol has joined Montreal’s MUZ 2026 cohort, earning a year of support after performing at the festival. Cultural Heritage: Nine Swiss museums will investigate the provenance of more than 6,300 objects from Cameroon, with federal funding backing the research.

African Creative Industry: The Africa Choice Awards return to Pretoria on November 1 for their seventh edition, bringing together creatives and industry leaders across music, film, fashion and art. Cameroonian Music: Slam artist Lydol has joined Montreal’s MUZ 2026 cohort after performing there on October 2. She and two other selected acts will receive a year of support from the event’s partners. Fashion and Textiles: World Cotton Day spotlights the chance for African producers to turn more raw cotton into yarn, fabric and clothing locally, creating jobs and keeping more value on the continent. Cultural Heritage: Nine Swiss museums will investigate the provenance of thousands of objects from Cameroon, with federal funding supporting research into collections holding more than 6,300 Cameroonian items.

Anglophone Crisis at 10: Human rights groups mark a decade since Cameroon’s English-speaking regions erupted into conflict by releasing a partial list of reported deaths from 2016–2026, documenting about 4,000 casualties (with roughly half identified by name) in a Buea media conference. Public Health & Fake Medicines: A new UN-backed report warns that medicine trafficking is a major threat across Central Africa, citing seizures of at least 251 tonnes of illicit medicines in CEMAC countries between 2020 and 2025 and warning of treatment failures, poisonings and avoidable deaths. Cameroon Creative Spotlight: Cameroonian slam artist Lydol has been selected for the MUZ 2026 cohort after her Oct 2 Montreal performance blending slam poetry with Afro fusion, modern jazz and Afro soul. Tech for Cameroonian Commerce: Startup lensX launches an Alibaba-style marketplace in Cameroon, aiming to help businesses move beyond social media and informal channels with web-based vendor and customer platforms. Arts & Culture Abroad: UN SDG Action Awards name “Solar Bright Future” from Cameroon among finalists for the Resilience category.

Public Health & Arts Community: A new UN report warns that medicine trafficking is a major public health threat across CEMAC, with at least 251 tonnes of seized drugs across six Central African countries from 2020–2025—fuelled by gaps in access to safe, affordable treatment. Anglophone Crisis Memory: Cameroon marks 10 years of conflict in the English-speaking regions as rights groups in Buea release a partial list of 4,037 reported deaths (2016–2026), stressing names may be missing but victims must not be erased. Cameroon Media & Culture: Cameroon’s Vision 4 has been suspended over its coverage linked to the Martinez Zogo trial, sparking debate on press freedom and the fallout for local media. Digital Creativity & Entrepreneurship: Cameroonian-born US-based music executive Marvin Mvondo launches SplashArk, aiming to help informal sellers and creators get paid in one app. Tech for African Commerce: Yaoundé-based startup lensX rolls out an Alibaba-style marketplace for African businesses, with AR shopping on its longer-term roadmap. Sports & Cameroonian Talent: Newcastle’s Carlos Baleba (Cameroon) is still waiting for his competitive debut as Man United assess fitness ahead of Tottenham. Global Spotlight: UN SDG Action Awards name Cameroon’s Solar Bright Future as a 2026 finalist for resilience.