Lapiro de Mbanga, a.k.a “Ndinga Man” or “Guitar Man” was a popular singer-songwriter and political activist known for providing a voice to the working class people of Cameroon. He often used satirical lyrics to criticize corrupt politicians and address social and economic injustice.
Lapiro’s earliest success came in 1986 with his album, No Make Erreur. His quasi-rapping style and use of French and “Pidgin” English-influenced street codes captured the nation’s imagination. He was an active member of the Social Democratic Front (the primary opposition party in Cameroon) and an outspoken critic of President Paul Biya.
In April 2008, Laprio was summoned to help calm crowds during a demonstration (something he did in the past out of his commitment to non-violent protest). He was arrested after he performed and accused of fomenting the mass demonstrations and strikes which had been taking place for the past several months. In September 2008, Lapiro was found guilty of three of the six charges against him and sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of approximately $600,000.
It is likely Lapiro’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.
Lapiro 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.
For more than two years, Freedom Now worked to mobilize international pressure for Lapiro’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 Lapiro as pro bono international counsel and, among other initiatives, filed his case with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The Working Group determined he was held in violation of international law. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) was a strong advocate for Lapiro in seeking his freedom from unlawful detention.
Following his release from prison, Lapiro and his family were subjected to repeated threats and harassment. In September 2012, the United States granted Lapiro asylum and he, his wife, and three of their children moved to Buffalo, New York. Upon his arrival in the United States, Freedom Now’s executive director Maran Turner had the opportunity to meet with Lapiro and his wife and speak with them about their experiences. In the interview, Lapiro talked about the importance of speaking out against human rights violations, described his arrival in the United States, and discussed what Freedom Now’s support meant to him while he was imprisoned.
Sadly, Lapiro passed away in March 2014 after a long battle with cancer.