False evidence, delays and rumors appear to play an essential role in keeping the popular singer Lapiro de Mbanga in prison. In the meantime, Lapiro de Mbanga’s health deteriorates.
Lapiro de Mbanga, the Cameroonian musician and political opponent to the current president of the country, is seemingly facing endless trials and hearings. At a recent hearing a witness admitted to have signed a document without reading it. Other witnesses have failed to appear in court due to ‘travel expenses’.
Lapiro de Mbanga was accused of having encouraged a group of young people to destroy a banana plantation. According to Freemuse's research, what really happened was that the singer was found with a camera while attempting to document what happened at a demonstration.
With witnesses failing to appear and other witnesses contradiction their earlier statements, the court case continues to be postponed.
Three years Laprio de Mbanga is an activist of the Social Democratic Front and was detained a year ago. He has been sentenced three years imprisonment.
Freemuse has expressed its concern over the arrest and the conditions in prison to the president of Cameroon. Freemuse has also urged the European Commission Office in Cameroon to observe the trials.
Singer Lapiro de Mbanga has filed a case against the Chief Medical Officer of the Douala Central Prison for having denied him access to medical attention while in prison
On 8 May 2011 Freemuse recorded singer Lapiro de Mbanga's first video interview since he was released from prison in Douala on 8 April after three years imprisonment
Singer Lapiro de Mbanga was released from New Bell Prison in Douala on Friday 8 April 2011 at 2 pm after three years imprisonment under harsh conditions
After years of international campaigning, Freemuse finally managed to have a personal meeting with Lapiro de Mbanga who has been imprisoned in Cameroon since 2008
Music Freedom Day 2011: An exiled DJ returns to Kabul, music is smuggled out from Burma, and Freemuse hands over an award to an imprisoned singer in Cameroon
In ‘Smashed Hits 2.0’, Cameroonian singer Lapiro de Mbanga gives an exclusive interview to Daniel Brown from prison on protest, politics and the art of satire
The fact that Lapiro is in prison for his music has discouraged other artists in the country to create any kind of innovative projects or critical song lyrics
Lapiro de Mbanga, imprisoned since 2008 retaliates at Minister of Communication who on 30 July 2010 announced that Cameroon did not host any political prisoners
Danish politicians demand investigation of financial support to company accused of inhuman working conditions and co-responsibility for the imprisonment of singer Lapiro
On 16 June 2010, the international legal team for singer Lapiro de Mbanga filed an urgent action petition with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Freedom Now, a US-based lawyers’ advocacy organisation urges secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, to request that President Biya releases Lapiro de Mbanga
A.P. Moller - Maersk Group, the worldwide conglomerate operating in around 130 countries, is accused for being partly responsible for the imprisonment of singer Lapiro
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN has launched a new protest campaign for the continuing imprisonment of singer-songwriter Lapiro de Mbanga