MHD’s PUMA ad condemned by Cameroonian top music acts

The latest PUMA ad campaign, in which French rapper MHD rocks the new jersey of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to help promote the brand’s newest sports creation is going viral for all the wrong reasons.

PUMA is currently receiving heavy backslash on social media after releasing an advertisement in which French rapper, MHD (real name, Mohamed Sylla) rocks  the brands latest design for Cameroon’s National Football team – the Indomitable Lions.

mhd puma indomitable lions
MHD’s PUMA campaign criticized by Cameroonians

The latest kit was launched by football legend Roger Milla and French/Guinean/Senegalese afro-trap artist MHD to celebrate Cameroon’s 20-year association with PUMA. The new kit features a modern interpretation of Cameroon’s roaring lion crest on the front of the T-shirt while the country’s flag is represented on the shirt’s collar.

jovi number one
Jovi

The ad has however being met with widespread condemnation, with critics, especially famous Cameroonian musicians, accusing the popular sports brand of disrespecting the national honor as well as the entertainment industry in Cameroon.

“I do not accept that f**king advert with MHD because he sang about [Roger] Milla? Now, he is Cameroonian?” rapper Jovi asked in a tweet on Monday, November 6. Followed by, “F**k PUMA! That’s not a Cameroonian brand so THEY don’t care about your a**, they wanna sell their (OUR) Jerseys.”

Magasco
Magasco

His angry tweets went far and wide because the next day, his former label mate, Magasco, brought the topic to his Facebook wall.

“A national team represents a country. Artists, buyam sellams, civil servants etc… pay taxes nationally to endorse the team. These people cry and celebrate with the team. Now for example, if Puma be use some Mammi weh di burn planti for streets with the New Jersey with lions behind her, the billboard no for SELL? When I get an answer to this question then good. Is fine I like it,” Magasco wrote on November 7. 

“I can go on and on on this with more points. When Cameroon will be playing against the so called PUMA ambassador’s country (MHD is originally from Guinea and Senegal) I hope he will be in the field to endorse the jersey and the [Cameroonian] team,” the ‘Wule Bang Bang’ crooner added.

Jovi and Magasco are not the only ones condemning PUMA’s new ad campaign to promote their latest sports designs. Ghanaians are also calling the campaign a complete sham.

MHD-PUMA-ad-Ghana
Ghanaians react to MHD’s latest PUMA ad

Despite the outcry, some Cameroonians think PUMA is only out to make money and its a marketting strategy any business company would seek for. Popular blogger, Mbole Ekaney of TheHotJem.com claims its all about business an Cameroonians should stop taking it too personal.

“When you get into Marketing for these big organisations you will understand why they chose MHD. It’s sad to say but Cameroonians don’t have that international appeal yet and as a Marketing exec once told me, it’s nothing personal… just all about the money!”

“I truly wonder why people think Puma should care about how Cameroonians feel. All that matters the most is ‘Money in the Bank’. This is common sense. Business = Sales = Money in the bank. That’s all that should matter in business. No discussion needed when business is involved, Cameroonian artist should just understand that MHD has millions of views, I mean 42 millions views already . Who wouldn’t make such a decision? Our artists are getting there but it’s still a slow process. Till that day comes, We just have to keep supporting our local artists. This deal was made for the big boys with millions of views,” former model and businesswoman, Laura Jean Mankaa added her voice.

MHD PUMA campaign Cameroonians
MHD’s PUMA campaign criticized by Cameroonians

Now, Dcoders, what do you think? If Franco has close to 60 million views for a song which went viral across Africa and we also have other artists like Stanley Enow who has worked on international campaigns with Guinness, BICEC and MTV Base Network before , why would PUMA honor the Cameroon National Football team with a French rapper’s face?

Send us your comments below.

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Email: joan.ngomba@dcodedtv.com

49 Comments
  1. Palava Man says

    Some man don chop money for some side? Ish Cameroon!!!

  2. Bitchbox says

    This is disrespectful! Period! So puma wants to tell us that no Cameroonian act could do a song for this new commercial? Or did they forget that Franco also has close to 60 million views? Smh

  3. Flashy says

    SMH. Total disrespect to our national flag. Magasco makes great points. PUMA na fool

  4. Dominic says

    Thank you Magasco. My guy get head for him shoulder

  5. Babylicious says

    For once, i thank you Jovi and Magasco definitely makes sense. What rubbish! So mhd will swing our flaf should Cameroon play against France, Guinea or Senegal? Is that what this means? Or he’s just there to collect money and not represent our jersey? #pumaout

  6. Kiki says

    This is getting me really angry. I won’t even comment

  7. Alino says

    thank you Joan Ngomba for breaking it down for us to understand. Really good write up. AS for PUMA, They all stupid. WE should boycott the pitch should the Lions wear this jersey to play in Cameroon.

  8. Oga Money says

    BOYCOTT!
    BOYCOTT!
    BOYCOTT!
    BOYCOTT!
    BOYCOTT!
    BOYCOTT!
    BOYCOTT!
    BOYCOTT!
    BOYCOTT PUMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. Yo Gotti says

    I am so sure the sport minster has been bribed. Because thats the only explanation why a foreigner will be the face of a jersey for another country’s football team and not any kind of team – the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon! The same team we pay taxes to , support and cry with. The same team who won the AFCON. A bug team. and another man will be representing us… FOR WHAT!!!!!!!????????????????????????????

  10. Mbeng says

    You all are talking nonsense here and i forgive you because you all dont know this is all about selling those jerseys and making money and has nothing to do with a stupid flag which the same Cameroonians have been seen burning down lately. Abeg wuna go sleep ya

  11. William says

    Na temptation dis. I don go me… Puma na fool but MHD na bigger fool and those players surrounding him in that picture are even the biggest foools

  12. T-Lover says

    When will people get it… Cameroon has been sold a long time a go. I wont be surprised if they say my heart has been sold to help Jacque Chirac to live longer

  13. Erica says

    PUMA has failed us!
    WE should boycott PUMA!

  14. Christopher says

    Hahahahahahahha T-Lover is crazy. Bye

  15. Loverboy says

    Well, its business!
    Don’t get too worked up!
    Cameroonians dont buy original jerseys. So shut up with the ranting!

  16. Ebangha says

    PUMA offered such a deal to MHD and he took it! Wandas!

  17. Claude says

    These jerseys are really looking good. Oops! I am only an admirer of good things. Sorry if i offended anyone with my post

  18. Rudolf says

    Total rubbish!
    Shame PUMA
    Shame Mhd

  19. Coco says

    MHD took this deal after we showed him so much love in Yaounde. I am sure he told himself, if only i can wear thses new puma kit at my next concert in Cameroon, i think i will have a sold out concert. hahaha

  20. Kendra says

    SMH
    No words…. for now

  21. Its Me says

    No surprise here.
    Minister don chop money!
    Fools we have as leaders.
    Nonsense

  22. Frida says

    What a shame that we have a minister for sports who knows nothing about national honor. Embarrassing our flag and sports just like that because of money.

  23. Constance says

    I think the indomitable lions players could have said NO!

  24. EK says

    As usual, Samuel Eto’o will keep his mouth shut!
    I wonder why we see him as a hero….

  25. Papa D says

    Wuna relax . na business.
    Any company wants to make money and honestly there are no cameroonian rappers who can help them make that kind of money MHD will make. I understand Franco has views too but what has he done for us lately. This serves them right. Sing about Milla and become a brand ambassador

  26. Love says

    I feel sorry for us Cameroonians…
    To think we have national dignity is like thinking a pig will ever be clean.
    #pumaout

  27. Jess says

    #pumago
    #pumago
    #pumago
    #pumago
    #pumago

  28. Yannis says

    On what criteria was MHD chosen to represent Cameroon, Ghana and as i found out Cote D’Ivoire? To think he is even from Guinea and Senegal who has now nationalized as French shows u how confused he is. He is lost and PUMa found the right target – someone who has no origin and gave him one – in a tshirt! Stpid idiots

  29. Ebot says

    My god, i didnt know Cameroonians could comment on a website like this. Merde! I am impressed. Nice write up Joan!

  30. Collet says

    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhhhahahahahha
    I am just here for these comments.

  31. Prudence says

    I am not a football fan but this hurts

  32. Larry says

    Cameroon and politics!
    No shame at all.
    Puma well done o!

  33. OG says

    I imagine if this was Nigeria. Super Eagles’ new jersey represented by Stanley Enow! Choi! the fight will not be easy. Nike, hope you are seeing this.

  34. Don For Kwata says

    Why are Cameroonians angry today?
    Thats how my teacher slapped a child today and he died.
    Please you people should not let PUMA and this lost MHD to give you high Bp.

  35. Vivian says

    Jovi and Magasco thank you so much.
    The lions have failed us.
    Atleast let musicians say something.

  36. Ordette says

    What a sad story.
    This has just spoiled my day. Rubbish people.

  37. Ayomide says

    Only in cameroon will you see such. Make NIKE come try am for Naija, we go burn all their jerseys give them back as black dust. then kidnapp their so called ambassador and send him to Warri. Foolish PUMA.

  38. Gilbert says

    I think Cameroon + Ghana = Push PUMA out and bring NIKE

  39. Hilson says

    Absolute rubbish!
    Why is PUMa making out jerseys when we have fashion designers in this country?
    Our love for foreign things brings such results. #pumaout

  40. Oscar says

    I am speechless

  41. Pierre says

    Merde!
    #pumaout
    #pumago

  42. Agbor says

    I dont even know why Cameroonians are angry. I thought you love foreign things? or have you forgotten that your money is produced by France and your president no longer has wisdom?

  43. Lava Baby says

    Isnt this the best time for Eto’o to fight for his beloved nation or has he been bribed too?

  44. Collet says

    Stupid PUMA

  45. Namata says

    Its really great that people are getting more and more conscious of these things. It really just about money with all these multinationals so no surprise there. I really hope some of this pressure can make the government change their minds and give this jersey production contract to a local company that will bring more jobs and money back to the country.

  46. Pablo says

    Crookery not business. Someone somewhere is benefiting from this and I am not referring to PUMA!

  47. Godson says

    Stop blaming MHD! Dude is just doing his job. If there’s anyone to be mad at, its the Minister of Sports. That man has bagged millions over this disgraceful deal with PUMA. What a world we live in.

  48. Jake says

    If Pepsi can take down an ad, then puma can .
    #pumaout
    After all, local designers can something much better and cheaper. Encourage your own !

  49. Bad Boy says

    PUMA go away!
    Now Samuel Eto’o can’t say a word. He has suddenly gone blind, deaf and dumb!
    Heroes who are just powerful for waving hands from their cars.

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