Canal 2’Or 2023 : First Lady Crowns Cultural Award Event

8:24 p.m., October 28, 2023, Cameroon’s First Lady, Chantal Biya, in a stylish orange attire, with a trending ribbon revealing a traditional fabric from the West Region, made her majestic entrance into the Yaounde Conference Centre hall for the 2023 award ceremony (Canal 2’Or) for the best musicians and cultural players in Cameroon and Central Africa. On hand to receive the most awaited cultural icon for the evening was a host of dignitaries amongst whom the Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt and the President of the Canal 2'Or organising committee, Colette Chatue. Elegantly, the First Lady who is also UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion, made a catwalk through the Canal d’Or red carpet to kick start Act 14 of the award ceremony. This kept the audience, and viewers at home spellbound through cultural performances which lasted over six-hours. Tribute was also paid to departed comedians.
It was a long night. A night to celebrate the essence of music and comedy made in Cameroon. It was a night to honour those who have dedicated their lives to entertain others. It was also a night of laughter, a night of dancing and, above all, a night of compensation. When the ever smiling Mrs Chantal Biya made her entrance into the biggest hall of the Conference Centre with over 2,000 seats, a standing ovation accompanied with shouts of joy and applause welcomed her to the show which gave the audience a full dose of Cameroon’s cultural diversity. A cultural display which revealed the 10 regions of the country kick-started the event. The Master and Mistress of ceremony, Pascal Pierre and Joan Ngomba, respectively, took to the rostrum to present the different categories of winners for the evening. Some 20 artistes in 20 categories were vying for prizes. It was revealed that the audience voted via SMS, social media and the Canal 2 website. During the award of trophies, the stage was graced with energetic performances from Krys M, Toofon, Fadil Le Sorcier, Lucky +2 and Prince Ndedi Eyango, amongst others. This part of the show left nobody indifferent. The majority of the audience, either standing or siting danced alongside the different performers. 
The opening sequence was dedicated to the best musical revelation, Artiste ou Groupe de Musique d’Inspiration Patrimoniale and Artiste ou Groupe de Musique Gospel. “Fadil Le Sorcier” set the ball rolling by lifting up the first trophy of the evening in the category of the best musical revelation for the year. The young artist fro...