By Nchendzengang Tatah
The casket bearing the mortal remains of iconic Cameroon-born bottle dance musician Rick Nguti was conveyed on May 16 into Mankon-Bamenda, where he was born and had left some twenty-three years ago for the new world. The corpse was discharged from the Douala International Airport on May 15. It had been bound for Cameroon since May 13.
Before heading to Bamenda, tributes and honours were accorded to Rick at the Mankon Cultural and Development Association (MACUDA) Hall in Bonaberi, where he was laid under the tunes of live bottle dance sounds. The Mankon community, family, and fans in Douala in great numbers showed up to pay the fallen hero his last respect.
Preparations according to family sources are in good tune to give him a befitting funeral. Going by the tentative programme, he will be laid to rest on May 30 in Mankon, where he was born some 79 years ago. His trajectory was bittersweet with a rise to fame, a search for greener pastures and years of sickness.
Born Richard Ade Nguti, he became one of Cameroon’s foremost folklore artists. The guitarist and songwriter is remembered for thrilling bottle dance pieces in the 90s and early 2000s, the topmost being “Stop AIDS.”
Rick’s fame came with limited financial rewards. Despite this, he braved through churning out calls against thievery for young people in his songs. He later moved to the USA in the early 2000s in search of a better life. It didn’t go well for him as he later got broken by sickness marking a great part of his over 23-year stay abroad. All these years, the public waited for his voice on new tracks to no avail. Instead, Rick at the time of his demise could hardly recall the lyrics of his own songs which had brought him acclaim.
Since his death on February 21, tributes have been pouring in, in recognition of his contribution to entertainment and advocacy nationwide. In one of such by Anye Louis Atanga a nephew of the deceased, he hailed the artist’s life and attachment to passion. He further noted that Rick’s journey was a powerful lesson in living passion.
“From his life, I have learned an important lesson: the best way to help someone is to support them in doing what they love most. Passion gives life. Purpose gives strength. When we help people live out their passion, we help them live longer and happier lives. If only it had been realised earlier, perhaps he would have returned home sooner to continue the music he loved so much,” Anye noted.
Rick formed an older generation of artists with great feet who have continued to drop off the scene in recent years. He is survived by his wives and children. He had his first cry in 1947 and his last breath on February 21, 2026. He had begun receiving last respect on April 11 following a requiem in Ohio, USA.
