Cameroon:Manyu Women celebrate culture in Buea

By Christopher Ambe

Manyu women and   girls under the banner of Manyu Women Association (MOHWA), on Saturday August 24, at Buea Mountain Hotel, celebrated the cultural values of the Division, in a ceremony dubbed MOHWA Cultural Jamboree.

MOHWA women dancing during  the cultural jamboree in Buea

The event, placed under the theme” Handing down the Manyu culture to the Younger Generation”, had as special guests Doumbe Jean Marc,head of Division for Administrative and Legal Affairs at Southwest Governor’s Office, who sat in for Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai;MOHWA Partron,Senator Mbella Moki;Dr Ogork Ntui Besong,Managing-Director of SOWEDA;Southwest Regional Delegate for Culture, Mrs.Grace Ngoh Ewang.

In her welcome speech, MOHWA Buea President,Dr.Mrs Kate Ogork, said  the culture of Manyu is very rich and it is the duty  of the Manyu women to pass on such values to the younger generation.

She said since it was difficult now to take the children to the village in Manyu,”we have decided to bring the village to the children in Buea” 

She hailed Senator Mbella Moki, who is a noted MOHWA patron and other MOHWA men for always supporting the association’s activities intended, among others, at encouraging academic excellence and empowerment of the girl child.

Dr.Mrs. Perpetua Fonki,a Mohwan, presented a talk on “Career Orientation” to  Manyu girls at the ceremony. She advised them to take their studies seriously and endeavor to distinguish themselves in whatever activities they undertake, and to value the sacrifices of their parents towards their upbringing and empowerment.

“If you are able to work hard, you will be able to have what your parents you liked and your parents could not give you”, Dr. Mrs. Fonki, who is a pastor and counselor, told her target audience. She advised them not to consider failure as the end of life but rather as an opportunity to concentrate more on their weaknesses, in order to succeed.

Dr.Mrs.Fonki further advised them: “Wisdom is very important. Listen to the wisdom of your parents plus your intelligence and you will all be distinguished Manyu women.”

After watching the cultural dances and exhibitions by MOHWA, Mrs. Grace Ngoh Ewang, Southwest Regional Delegate for Culture, affirmed that God has really blessed Manyu people with a rich and beautiful culture.

The Delegate said the main objective of the Ministry of Culture is to preserve, valorize and promote important culture.

“What Manyu Women are doing here is just what we are crying for,” she said, adding that “we should not neglect culture which is the first thing God has given us”

Apart from traditional Manyu dances such as Moninkem and kokoma, thrilled the association’s members and guests,the  jamboree was further graced by poems,folktale, fashion parade,exhibition of Manyu artifacts and cuisine,as well as  award to prizes to Manyu children, who excelled at various public exams this year such as the GCE.

An elated gubernatorial envoy, Mr.Doumbe Jean Marc, who is also a senior administrative officer, extended words of encouragement to MOHWA, noting that he would attest to the richness of Manyu culture to his hierarchy.