The coming out of Brenda Biya, the daughter of Cameroon's President, is making headlines in the West. Is it a marketing stunt for an artist seeking fame, or a real sexual orientation?
A Photo of her kissing a young woman have been doing the rounds on social networks.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien, she confirms her homosexuality.
"I was in denial because of my country's traditions", reads -the magazine's columns.
A screenshot of this interview appears on the Instagram account of the young woman whose stage name is King Nastyy.
Known in Cameroon for her excesses of all kinds, the president's daughter is regularly the subject of Cameroon's celebrity press. Raised in opulence, she attended a private high school in Switzerland, before continuing her studies at a university in the United States. She currently resides in Switzerland.
Cameroonians discovered her a few years ago when, as a student, she shared her experience of racism. In a viral video, she recounts how she regularly paid $400 for a cab to take her from her Los Angeles apartment to her university campus. Except that the cab driver mentioned in the video allegedly demanded to be paid first. Biya rebelled, arguing that such a demand was made because of her skin colour.
Cameroonians were quick to convert the 400 $ into the local currency (FCFA). The sum, equivalent to around 240,000 FCFA, represents a fortune for the majority of Cameroonians living below the poverty line. Brenda Biya apologised on that occasion.
Since then, however, she has continued to accumulate the ostentatious moments of her life as the daughter of a billionaire.
It is not clear whether she has completed her American university studies. She made a controversial move to Cameroon in 2017, where she and her brother were admitted to the National School of Administration and Magistracy.
Her social networks are overflowing with videos capturing her in private jets and other posh places. For the moment, her musical career is that of an unknown who is more interested in being noticed for her antics than for any real talent.
Since coming out, she has removed the photo of the kiss from her social networks, given an interview and released a video explaining her passion and sexual orientation. The international press has seized on the affair. Everything seems to be spiralling out of control for the young woman.
In Cameroon, she received support from novelist Calixthe Beyala and LGBTQI defense lawyer Me Alice Nkom. She also suffered a great deal of criticism. Artist Maalox wonders why she's never taken a stand on her country's social issues, rather than "asking for decriminalisation of a practice that doesn't put food on the table..."
Homosexuality is forbidden by law in Cameroon. Anyone caught in blazing offence is liable to a prison sentence of up to five years.
No member of the Cameroon government has reacted to the young woman's coming out.
Translated from French by the author. Original article here.
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