The tenth edition of the Bamumbu
Cultural Festival that ended on Saturday February 20 saw participants not only
from the Southwest Region but from across Cameroon and out of the country.
According
to the organizers, this tenth edition attracted an unprecedented turn out and
marks the beginning of a new era in the socio-cultural life of the Bamumbu people
under the leadership of His Royal Majesty Fon Lekunze A. N. III, Paramount Fon
of Bamumbu.
A major highlight of the event was the
organisation of a mini-agric show which demonstrated the fertile nature of the
soils of Bamumbu. This part of the program was coordinated by the Sub
Divisional Delegate of Agriculture for Wabane.
In a colourful inspection tour,
His Royal Majesty and entourage visited the demonstration grounds and was shown
the farm produce of the hard working people of Bamumbu.
The
apotheoses of the annual rendezvous which was on Saturday February 20 began
with a Cross country Marathon from the Palace at Nchingang to Banteng and back
to the Palace.
This animated event set the lively pace of the day which turned
out to be a real demonstration of the beauty of Bamumbu Culture. A moving
stream of beautifully dressed royalty lead by HRM Fon Lekunze .A.N III , accompanied
by the necessary decorum that such a royal exit demands started the cultural festivities
in a march of cultural demonstration that succeeded to show the beauty of
Bamumbu people.
Mr Francis Leku, the National President of Bamumbu
Development and Cultural Association BADECA said they come together in this annual
festival which is known as Lemuh to meet and share and also be able to promote
the culture. Hear him; “The aim is to conserve our culture and promote it among
the younger generation.
This will permit them to copy and do as our parents
did. If we have a generation that comes up that masters our culture, it will
help a lot in the development of the area and in self reliant development
initiatives.
There is no cultural development
without a socio-economic development of the area. If somebody had visited this
place 20 years ago and seen it today, it will be a completely different story.
Some said only tunnels could be used here but today the roads are there. Our
main Challenge is to make these roads permanent throughout the year. That’s why
we are trying to build bridges in the area ourselves without waiting for the
Government though we are expecting them to come in to support us. That’s what
we have been doing for the past ten years.”
Francis Leku further explained that each year a specific
project is earmarked to be carried out. He said this year there is the bridge
and that they had also launched a special cooperative for the area to take care
of the economic part of it.
He appealed to development partners stating that they were trying
to do things at their own level but that their hands were not long enough to do
everything that had to be done. “We think if they come to our aid, we will be
able to move it forward. This needed support is not only in the form of
building infrastructure but also the moral development of the society.” Francis
Leku further expressed their joy in appreciation of what the American Embassy had
done by providing some support for the bridge. He on behalf of BADECA thanked
the Korean Agency for International Development for preparing a library of
20.000 books in the area. Some of these books he said, had been shared to
schools in the area. “Madame Sok Kun Kyung who initiated the project some three
years ago is here with us and came all the way from Korea to be part of this
programme and to see those initiatives that she started. The Access Benefit
Sharing Project ABS Project is equally contributing its own bit and I think
things are moving forward.
Ketu Israel, Lord
Mayor of Wabane stated that his impressions were very positive explaining that they
had been getting back to their roots so that the youths should copy what is
left of the culture. Commenting on the red feather that was added on his cap by
the Fon, he said he felt it was a result of hard work. The people of Wabane he
said were appreciating his development strides. His Highness said I have been
doing a lot and that it was good that I am encouraged so that I keep on
improving. It is difficult for me to say everything but there are a couple of
projects that we have realised with the Bamumbu Development and Cultural
Association BADECA. The construction of three classrooms in GSS Fonenge in the
North of Wabane and presently the Wabane Council has to chip in something for
the construction of the bridge on the way to the Fon’s Palace. We have opened
roads sometimes in partnership with BADECA. In Wabane Council you have what we
call the Participatory Budgetary Approach where we realise projects in conjunction
with the community.”
HRM Nfor Robinson Tanyi of Tinto Mbuh in Manyu Division and
Vice Secretary General of the Southwest Chief’s Conference described the occasion
in glowing terms and said Fon Lekunze A.N. III is reviving the culture of his people and that
culture was what distinguishes one community from another or an individual from
another. He further described the event as colourful and well organised adding
that he was going home with a positive impression. Nfor Robinson Tanyi it
should be recalled is also a Member of the National Association of the
Traditional Rulers of Cameroon and the Secretary General of the Pan African
Council of Traditional and Native Authorities with Head Quarters in Benin. Other
Chiefs present who described the event in glowing terms were His Majesty Dr.
Foze Adolf, Fon Nkemta Jerry of Bechati Village, Fon Folla Njuh, Fon Akum
Ferdinand among many others.
Following the exceptional participation of Lebialem in
general and Wabane Sub Division in particular at the maiden edition of the
Southwest Cultural Festival in Kumba and prizes of best traditional dances that
were won, the representative of the Southwest Regional Delegate of Arts and
Culture awarded His Royal Majesty Fon Lekunze A.N. III a Certificate in
recognition of his participation and contribution to the success of the event
in Kumba.
Meantime, classmates of HRM Fon Lekunze at the Cameroon
Institute of International Relations where he is a student also came in to
support him during this year’s festival. Moussi Cabrel, one of these students
expressed her impressions in the following manner; “We are really surprised
because most of us have never participated at a festival like this one. It is
true that we have some classmates who are from this region and as such know to
an extent how these things are done but most of us have never seen anything
like this. We are very happy to be here. As a Cameroonian I can identify with
what I see here and this confirms the cultural richness of Cameroon. I am
impressed by the landscape of Wabane. We are proud to be Cameroonians.”
edevnews.blogspot.com/ Email: edevnewspaper@gmail.com/ francoeko@gmail.com/ Tel: +237696896001/ +237678401408
No comments:
Post a Comment