Richard Bona blames Cameroon’s youth for corruption crisis

The renowned Cameroonian bassist and singer Richard Bona has sparked fierce debate by publicly criticizing the country’s youth for their alleged complicity in systemic corruption. Speaking in an exclusive interview, Bona described Cameroon’s younger generation as fundamentally corrupted, attributing their behavior to systemic issues embedded in society.

“The youth in Cameroon are a corrupted generation. They have been raised this way. Their mindset revolves around waiting for handouts from above. There are a few exceptions, but they are rare. And honestly, I don’t believe Cameroon will recover from this.”

Bona’s remarks, delivered during his exile, have ignited a storm of reactions online. Cameroonians on social media and in the streets of Yaoundé are divided. While some agree with his assessment, others argue that the youth are not the root cause but rather victims of a much larger problem.

Survey reveals deep-rooted corruption in Cameroon

A recent Afrobarometer survey found that 57% of Cameroonians admitted to paying bribes to avoid trouble with law enforcement. Nearly half confessed to bribing public officials to obtain identification documents, while 37% did so to access healthcare services.

The findings underscore a culture of corruption that permeates everyday interactions, from police stops to government services. In Yaoundé, residents describe a pervasive system where young people feel forced to participate whether by choice or necessity.

Mixed reactions to Bona’s critique

One social media user commented, “Children know the police officer isn’t coming for their safety—he’s coming to collect 500 francs.” Another countered, “There are corrupt youth, yes. But most are suffering under corruption, not perpetuating it.”

The debate highlights a growing frustration with a system that punishes integrity and rewards shortcuts. But voices defending the youth argue that condemning an entire generation oversimplifies a complex crisis.

Is the youth really to blame?

Maître Akere Muna, founder of Transparency International Cameroon, offers a more nuanced view. He describes the youth as both victims and reluctant accomplices in a system rigged against them.

“Corruption in Cameroon is systemic. To say the youth are responsible… they don’t control anything. They survive. They adapt. But this is not their fault. The real issue is a 40-year culture where competence doesn’t matter—where connections, nepotism, and tribalism dictate progress.”

Muna stresses that education must shift toward rewarding merit. “If laziness leads nowhere, then laziness will always lead nowhere,” he asserts, urging young people to reject a system that rewards dishonesty.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Conac) has called on all citizens to report corrupt acts through its hotline, 1517, emphasizing collective responsibility in combating graft.