Jean-Pierre Dikonguè Pipa: Eternal love of cinema
This year 2019, the pan-African film and television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco), is 50 years old. Half a century in which Jean-Pierre Dikonguè Pipa is crowned as the only Cameroonian to have won the Golden stallion of the Yennenga, the most prestigious award of this 7th Art festival. For the fiftieth anniversary of the Fespaco, it is worth revisiting the life of this man who is the pride of Cameroon. Moreover, to pay tribute to him, a project carried out by the house of production of audio visual documentary films Cordia Prod is underway. It is the erection of the effigy of the father of “Muna Moto” along the column of artists in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso…
Long before the realization of this project, which for the artist represents: “An awakening of the Cameroonian filmmakers who realize that their cinema is the daughter of African cinema”, a meeting with the artist is necessary. For the writing of this article, we must go to the home of the director of “Muna Moto” located in the district “Nouvelle Route Bessengué” at the Rue de la Casse in Douala, economic capital of Cameroon. It’s not hard to find yourself at this sexagenarian (78 years old) because everyone knows him. A little girl will gladly accept to serve as a guide. Just a few minutes is enough to get to the filmmaker.
Dikonguè Pipa with hair as white as his beard, quickly puts his visitor in confidence. The atmosphere is friendly and punctuated by crazy laughter with this monument of African cinema. Even if he is not as strong as his youth, retirement for Jean-Pierre Dikonguè Pipa is not soon because he remains a very busy man. “I’m working on my film projects. All my days are full. I only rest at night at bedtime, “says the filmmaker who goes on to say,” I am still 78 years old, an age where you can no longer indulge in futile pleasures. I don’t have time to get bored. The short time I have left to live, I must make good use of it. I have to leave an intellectual legacy to my children. “Among his projects, is the filming of: “Sur le Chemin de Boumnyebel”, which reverts to the story of Um Nyobe, Cameroonian leader and first political figure to claim the independence of his country.
In the meantime, Dikonguè Pipa is dedicated to reading: “I am very interested in the history of Africa and my readings are very useful to me. They allow me to discover the world, “he says. If he has eyes that shine when he speaks of reading, he is even more when it comes to cinema and especially “Muna Moto”. He takes a real pleasure in talking about this film and admits to being able to talk about it until the next day without any constrains. That said, a retrospection in this cinematic world is necessary. Dialogues, screenplay, filming Secrets are discussed. In this journey of the past, one learns that until the editing, this film with multiple rewards was called “Le blanc de sable”. “The title changes just because I found it important to speak my language”, explains this former learner of the independent French film Conservatory in France. “Muna Moto” is the story of two young crazy lovers, Ngondo and Ndomé. They get married, but Ngondo, the little orphan has no money to pay the dowry. He has to work hard to get there. Except that his uncle who already owns three women is also infatuated with the young Ndomé and manages easily to steal the place of his nephew…
After its release in 1974, critics greeted the artist’s work and the rewards are unending. Among others are, the Gold Stallion of Yennenga won at the African Cinema week of Ouagadougou now Fespaco. Sometime before, he received the Silver Tannis at the Carthage cinema days. “When I got the silver Tannis, the Burkinabes got angry. They felt that Muna Moto deserved the first prize. So at the week of the cinema of Ouagadougou, they gave me the gold stallion. We worked with this film in all the major cinema schools in the world. “It served as a demonstration”, exclaims the father of the family.
