On February 14th, 2025, while the residents of the region’s capital were gearing up for a highly anticipated Valentine’s Day, one of the city’s musical products and the country’s cultural ambassadors, Salatiel, was focused on paying homage to this beautiful town of Legendary Hospitality, Cameroon.
For starters, Salatiel is a Cameroonian artist who embodies both the Anglophone and Francophone cultures – an advantage he has embraced since stepping into the spotlight. However, after being forcibly displaced by the ongoing political crisis since 2016/17, it was finally time to return to where it all began – Buea.
Salatiel is an artist who has faced numerous challenges, including natural events that disrupted many of his earlier plans, despite his impressive achievements in the music industry. His first international concert, which was set to take place in Paris in 2021, was unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19. The High Man General returned to the country, released his first studio project, and made waves globally. Before his debut album, Salatiel had already collaborated with the artist with the most Grammy Awards—Beyoncé. Without hesitation, he released “Africa Represented,” his first album.
This album set the record straight on what Salatiel is truly about as an artist. While in the early 2010s many recognized Mr. Livenja Bessong primarily as a producer, few had witnessed his versatility as a singer and performer. During those years, he collaborated with his signees at AlphaBetter Records to release a few hit singles, but his journey as a singer only truly began 10 years ago. That’s why we celebrated a 10th-anniversary milestone at the Molyko Stadium for Salatiel – not just as an artist, but as a singer and performer.
With two albums under his belt, Salatiel had been away from Buea for many years. However, as a son of the soil, shaped by instability and driven by the desire to never let his talent fade, he ventured beyond borders to live his dream and build a legacy for himself. It was this legacy that he returned to Buea to showcase on February 14th.
Among the many artists Salatiel worked with during his 10-year journey as an artist, Beyoncé undoubtedly stood out as a major highlight. However, one of the most remarkable achievements of Salatiel’s career – something many artists may never attain – was not just securing a collaboration with Petit Pays, but building a father-son relationship over the years that evolved into something truly special.
It’s worth noting that before Salatiel’s 10th-anniversary celebration, the last time Petit Pays performed at a major concert in Buea, particularly at the Molyko Omnisport Stadium (prior to its renovation), was during a Flavour concert around 2012. That was almost 13 years ago, and it was thanks to Salatiel that he returned.
Petit Pays, simply out of love for his son, agreed to open Salatiel’s concert, even though he was headed to Paris, France that same evening. After performing their song together, “Pelé,” Petit Pays immediately flew off to France, while Salatiel went backstage. But just the fact that Salatiel and Petit Pays opened the show together kept early music lovers on their toes and fired up.
As the hype man entertained the crowd during the early hours, both couples and singles alike were primed for what was to come. And then, an unannounced explosion of excitement hit. It wasn’t a grenade, but rather Buea coming out in full force to show Salatiel just how much he meant to them, and boy, did they deliver.
All the seats in the grandstand were packed to the brim, while the VIP and semi-VIP tables on the field were completely occupied. It was a full house, and whether everyone left fully satisfied or not, one thing was clear – Buea was ready for Salatiel’s return.
Although there were noticeable absences, such as major colleagues like Mr. Leo, Magasco, Stanley Enow, and Jovi, several impressive performances from artists who couldn’t pass up such a platform made the event unforgettable. A few playback performances came from rising stars like Franky Ice and other up-and-coming artists.
One highlight of the night was that it was more of a live music experience than a playback showcase. Artists like King Luca and Elisha K, who have been making waves on streaming platforms in 2024 and 2025, had the chance to test their live performance skills. It was an exciting yet new experience for them, and although they enjoyed their moment in front of a massive crowd, they realized there was still much to be done outside the studio.
The major performances from artists like Muss, Rinyu, Locko, Tenor, Tzy Panchak, Seppo, and more were all highly entertaining and captivating.
The former Alpha Better Records trio, consisting of Salatiel, Blaise B, and Askia, took us down memory lane. Fans were treated to a nostalgic experience, reminiscing about the early days of their careers. Although Mr. Leo didn’t perform that night, the former group demonstrated qualities of growth, forgiveness, and love as they performed some of their biggest hits.
Observations:
Salatiel isn’t just a “family man” on an album cover. He’s love incarnate; a product the music industry should hold onto, especially when it comes to building strong relationships. Without exaggeration, Salatiel proved in Buea that he has the power to reunite the music industry. It may take time, but he has the tools to shape the energy and foster progress. He’s one of the best live performers this generation of Cameroonian music will ever witness.
Rinyu’s departure from Akumba Music left many fans wondering how her night would unfold, but her stage performance alongside her brother was a major highlight. Her collaboration with Locko could go down as one of their most successful, not only because it became a hit but because it built a strong chemistry between the two, which they’ve enjoyed ever since.
Additionally, Locko and Tzy Panchak are truly adored in Buea. Aside from the man of the day, there were very few artists who received the kind of acclaim and cheers that Locko and Tzy Panchak did. Fans could sing their songs word for word.
Major Absentees:
While Salatiel’s concert was a success, there was notable absenteeism. In addition to artists like Mr. Leo, PhillBill, Jovi, Pascal, Phido, Loic Sumfor, and others, one name we can’t overlook is Rutshell Guillaume. Her collaboration with Salatiel over the years has been remarkable, and while Salatiel was in Haiti in 2024 to show support for Rutshell’s 10th anniversary in the music industry, we expected nothing less from their partnership. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
Remark:
While he had been visiting Buea ever since he moved to the economic capital, his 10th anniversary celebration marked his first major concert in the South West Region – his first-ever major concert in Buea. It was exciting to see the journey come full circle, starting right where it all began.
Since the onset of the Anglophone crisis, only CIMFEST had caused the mountain to tremble like Salatiel’s concert did on February 14th. No one expected a full house, especially since it was Valentine’s Day, but the turnout was overwhelming.
Note: Salatiel’s event wasn’t free. Entry fees ranged from 1,000 CFA and above. With the grandstand packed to capacity, this event set a standard for other artists to consider Buea as a prime destination for their shows. Once again, Buea proved it is the main Cameroonian showbiz city.
In conclusion, Salatiel can finally take a deep breath after his remarkable performance in Buea. The support he received from fellow artists and comedians who performed during the concert is a testament to the way he has supported others throughout the years.
The question after such a successful display is: What’s next?
