Culture lovers and elites of the South West Region of Cameroon have kicked off a two-day cultural festival, the first of its kind meant to promote the region’s cultural heritage.
The festival provides a respite moment from a devastating armed conflict that has claimed thousands of lives in the South West and North West Regions since 2016.
Dressed in the region’s newly-launched cultural fabric, Eyasu, attendees of the South West Cultural Festival come from the region’s six Divisions.
They include Lebialem, Ndian, Fako, Kupe Manenguba, Meme and Manyu.
They are showcasing, among other products their cultural artefacts, traditional regalia, gastronomy, dance and investment opportunity.
The festival’s organiser, the South West Chiefs Conference (SWECC) says the festival aims at promoting heritage and building social cohesion after years of unrest.
Under the patronage of Prime Minister, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, the festival is anchored on the theme, “Peace, Cultural Revival, Social Cohesion and Investment Promotion.”
The festival kicked off at Bongo Square, Buea, this Friday morning with the traditional rulers of Lebialem Division staging a grand procession.
They were led by the Fon of Fontem, HRH Fontem Asabaton and other prominent traditional rulers of the area.
The festival ends Saturday, December 14.
