Lapiro de MbangaCameroon
Lapiro de Mbanga, a.k.a “Ndinga Man” or “Guitar Man”, (born 3 November 1957) is a popular singer-songwriter and political activist who was wrongfully imprisoned in Cameroon in 2008. On April 8, 2011, Mr. Mbanga was released from detention after serving three years in prison for charges related to the mass demonstrations that took place in Cameroon in 2008. Mr. Mbanga is a husband and the father of four children.
As an artist, Mr. Mbanga is known for using satirical lyrics to criticize corrupt politicians and address social and economic injustice in Cameroon. Many say he provides a voice for the working class of Cameroon. His earliest success came in 1986 with his album, No Make Erreur. Since then, his quasi-rapping style and use of French and “Pidgin” English-influenced street codes have captured the nation’s imagination. Mr. Mbanga is an outspoken critic of the Cameroonian President Paul Biya and a member of the Social Democratic Front, the primary opposition party in Cameroon.
Mr. Mbanga was arrested in Mbanga City, Cameroon, on April 9, 2008. After being summoned to help calm crowds during a demonstration (something he has done in the past out of his commitment to non-violent protest), Mr. Mbanga was accused of fomenting the mass demonstrations and strikes which took place in Cameroon throughout February 2008. The government formally charged Mr. Mbanga with “complicity in looting, destruction of property, arson, obstructing streets, degrading public or classified property, and forming illegal gatherings.” These charges were immediately dismissed by observers, including participants in the demonstrations, as being politically motivated and are believed to have been made in retaliation for his frequent criticism of the government.
It is likely Mr. Mbanga’s arrest was prompted by a song he had recently released entitled, “Constipated Constitution.” The song warned President Biya of the dangers of holding onto power absolutely, a criticism stemming from a controversial constitutional amendment that was adopted by the Cameroonian National Assembly eliminating presidential term limits.
On September 24, 2008, almost six months after his original arrest and detention, Mr. Mbanga was found guilty of three of the six charges against him and sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of FCFA 280 million (approximately $600,000 USD). Mr. Mbanga attempted to appeal his conviction at the Court of Appeals; however, his conviction was upheld and the fine increased by approximately $1,180 USD. After losing at the Court of Appeals, Mr. Mbanga appealed his case to the Supreme Court. At the end of March 2011, the Supreme Court dismissed his case due to an alleged filing error.
Mr. Mbanga was held at New Bell prison, also known as “hell on earth,” which is notorious for unbearable conditions and is generally reserved for Cameroon’s most hardened criminals. It holds more than 3,000 prisoners, despite being built to accommodate only 500-800 inmates. During his detention, Mr. Mbanga’s health deteriorated rapidly due to typhoid, chronic back pains, and respiratory infections; conditions that were aggravated by the poor sanitary conditions in the prison.
For more than two years, Freedom Now worked to mobilize international pressure for Mr. Mbanga’s release, collaborating with the organization Freemuse and Vigier Guitars, and with the support of the Lantos Foundation and RealNetworks Foundation. Lawyers with the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP represented Mr. Mbanga as pro bono international counsel and, among other initiatives, filed his case with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Senator Richard Durbin (D-Il) has been a strong advocate for Mr. Mbanga in seeking his freedom from unlawful detention.
- Selected documents from Lapiro de Mbanga's case
- Freedom Now Press ReleaseJune 17, 2010
Announcing the submission of the petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
- Freedom Now Press Release April 8, 2011
Announcing the release of Lapiro de Mbanga.
- Opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary DetentionFebruary 16, 2012
Finding the detention of Mr. Mbanga a violation of international law.
- Petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention June 16, 2010
Filed on behalf of Mr. de Mbanga.