The Psychotherapeutic Value of Cameroonian Urban Music

Abstract

The revolutionary, reformative, redemptive, resistant and recreative purpose of societal realities in Cameroon, have continued to be evident in the thematic structures of the compositions and performances of popular music in Cameroon. Yet its psychotherapeutic value has been unheeded even though music elsewhere is being used to cure psychological problems. Hence, this study sets out to highlight the psychotherapeutic value of Cameroonian music. The Reader’s response and the Psychoanalytic theory of literary criticism foregrounds this study as it adopts a content analysis and deductive methods of research. Audio and video tape materials of Aveiro Djess and Krys M’s songs titled “Nyama” and ‘‘A Chacun Sa Chance’’ were used for deductions and analyses based on their thematic content and structure. We argue that the effective use of figurative language and poetic techniques in both songs diagnose socio-economic repressions in Cameroonian society today for psychologically treatment. Consequently, the socio-economic contexts of Cameroon music play a significant part in its psychotherapeutic value.