Steemit Engagement Challenge Week 2 || Sharing My Country's Culture
Image designed in PixelLab by @breeze.com
Introduction
Hello my beautiful friends of steemit Pakistan. I salute you all in the mighty name of Allah. It is yet another beautiful season of engagement challenge, another season to exchange. I always feel better starting my contest in this community because I feel so much love for this community and I always feel so welcomed. The last time I made my entry was a brief description about my country’s attractions especially about the things I like and those others things I would have love for it to change. You can check the post here. I had promised to come again with another entry explaining how the culture is structure in my country but thanks to the opportunity given to me by this contest I am here to showcase another wonderful aspect of my culture.
Brief presentation
To begin with I will like to make a brief presentation about the different cultural segments in my country. Like I mentioned in my last post, Cameroon is a country rich in culture and a lot of diversities. A country of more than 260 ethnic groups with different cultures yet harmonized by comment two languages; English and French. In as much as all these ethic groups have their own languages all average Cameroonians can either empress themselves in either English or French. This is that exciting factor so no matter where you find yourself you will always get a Cameroonian to welcome you.
Some major tribes in Cameroon include the
Bangwa in the south west region, the Nso and Kom people in the northwest region, the Bamum in the west region ,the Basa s in the littoral region ,the pigmies community in the south region just to mention a few.
Today for the sake of this contest I am going to be presenting a culture celebration which is typical of my village known as NWACUDA **(Nwametaw cultural development association).
Image source
The Fon of my village (Nwametaw)
In his Majesty
My village Nwametaw located in the Alou Sub Divison , Lebialem Divison ,South West Region of Cameroon.**
This is an exciting and most thrilling cultural event where sons and daughters of this community gather in the village for a one week period where they celebrate through sporting activities for almost six days and crown it with a grand celebration full of cultural manifestations through traditional dances, masquerade display and other events.
The ceremony always begins with a grand opening where the notables carry out sacrifices known as the cleansing sacrifice. Thses sacrifices according to tradition are meant to appease the gods for the smooth running of the event and neutralize cosmic interventions.
After the opening of the ceremony, what follows throughout the week is sporting activities where different teams from different quarters of the village compete with each other and are the winner is handed a trophy at the end of the tournament.
During this festive period families have the opportunity to hold family meetings where they try to sort out one or two issues with regards to their families’ problems. It is usually a period of reconciliation and family reunions.
On the d day which is usually the grand celebration day, the entire population is invited at the palace where each quarter is call upon to present particular traditional dance. Every villager is always advised to dress in their traditional regalia .
I am going to present to you my fervent reader, a few of these traditional dances which are usually displayed on this particular day.
To begin with, the “NSE” dance is performed first which is a cleansing dance and a call for the ancestors to intervene for the smooth running of the ceremony.
This dance is always characterized by the holding of the piece plant to signify peace. Anybody can partake in this dance as long as you can. During the dance people share money in the form of thanks given. This dance can also be performing during the naming ceremony of twins.
Another dance which peculiar to the people of Nwametaw is the “NTE” dance. This dance is a dance of joy and sign of celebration .
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It is carried out with a lot of elegance and pride. Anybodycan also participate in this dance as long as you know how to dance.I was told this dance is also a dance of vitory from wars in those dance. Well today is use a showcase of the cultural values.
Furthermor, the “AZENG”dance is another exciting dance that we perform during this festival .
Image source
This dance is quite simple and it usually performed majestically where the people dance in a circular form around the drum. An average of 4 people can play the instruments and both male and females can participate in this dace just like the aforementioned dances.
For the sake of this contest I am going to do a review another sacred dance which is perform in this special occasion known as the “TOMENDON”.Ohhhh it may shock you to know that this particular dance is performed only by the notables who have been initiated to particular curts .
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I do not really know the mystery behind this dance but it is really interesting to watch. No special instruments are played except for the blowing of flutes . This is usually one of the dances that crown the occasion and at the end of the ceremony the fon gives closing remarks and the youths head out to the clubs to enjoy themselves.
To keep the occasion running hinge free, there is always a presence village masquerades whose main duty is to police the whole occasion and make sure there is no disturbance.
Children are usually frighten when they crying and you tell them you will call the masquerade .They easily stop…hhahahaah
Conclusion
Well my people this is just a glimpse of my cultural heritage. There is still much to say and this post alone cannot contain all. Keep checking my blog if you can I will keep posting beautiful contents that exposes my culture to the whole world. My country is one of the best in Central, West Africa and the people are so welcoming and caring. Find time to visit us and I will be you tour guide. I will be a huge pleasure for me to see you around. See you soon my beautiful friends .
Inviting @majerius , @chiabetrand @wirngo.
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Wow! I've learned such a lot from the culture side of your country and I have made one conclusion. A nation is built on culture as it gives that sense of belonging.
I can understand why you say that one post is not enough to express and explain the culture of your country.
May our children never forget their true inheritance but keep them alive!
indeed no culture no identity .
Yes ohhhhh that be like a whole book and a big book for that matter that is i must explain.
Indeed i hope they won't forget ohh but the influence of modernity on our generation is making me fear..
It's thanks to our diverse cultures that we are referred to as * Africa Aminature*.
Children are usually frighten when they crying and you tell them you will call the masquerade .They easily stop…hhahahaah
I could attest to this when I was growing up as a little girl.
Should I whisper a little secret about myself?(I grew up in the village and most often, during the dry season we usually do alot of celebrations and I could still remember when I was 8years old and my mom wanted to send me to a masquerade because o violated her order to go to the farm with her)
People started entering and closing their doors that evening and we could hear the talking drum when my elder brother on behalf of my mother's order backed me up to hand to the masquerade.🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 I still thinks that the most frightening day of my life🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks to growth🌺💃
Yes they are very sensitive to this by my boy has time for such and i always tell my wife never to frighten him with such. It may make him become timid ...
I wish she did 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.So it was a planned coup between you mum and your dad. Thanks for growth indeed, you are the one frightening the boys🤣🤣🤣
Your culture tradition looks like fun, I love the idea of having the masquerade police to make events run smoothly. Festivals like this always bring people together and that’s why I admire it.
Best wishes in the contest
You know before these where actually the police in an occasion before the arrival of real police.😂
Exactly they always do and a big time reunions ....
Thanks for your best wishes . steem on...
This dance is always characterized by the holding of the piece plant to signify peace. Anybody can partake in this dance as long as you can. I will really like to partake in this unque dance of your people, nice culture my friend, i like all the various cultural dance of your people. it's really an awesome culture, keep it up.
Yes my friend you can partake and we will all welcome you as you come.
Best wishes from Camerooon
As you said I think Cameroon is a country rich is arts and design. When looking at the images it is very clear. It is good that still all cultures are protected in the country.
Yes my beautiful friend Cameroon is indeed rich in culture. Thanks for checking and dropping your beautiful comment .
Do the women have to bald their heads for the NSE dance? It must mean a lot to them before they would go to such lengths. Very interesting culture this is! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Ohhhhh not necessarily my friend but this particular one was performed by the wives of the late fon only and it was during the death celebration ..reason why they shaved but during normal times you dance without bolding your head.
Thanks for going through my blog dear.
Are the cleansing sacrifice and "NSE" dance perform the same way?
From below paragraph;
Do women take part in the "TOMENDON" too? I'm just curious to know because most of the sacred part of cultural activities, women are not always permitted to get involve.
For the police masquerade, not just children that get frightened, even me as an adult get goosebumps when ever I see them. 😂
Good luck to you in the challenge, I enjoyed reading through your country's cultural review.
You can say that again dear. We are indeed gifted.
Nope.. The cleansing sacrifice has to with pouring some libations and stuff like that . But the Nse Dance is like opening the floor for other dances to beginning .
Yes ohh but not ordinary women. You must be a notable and must been initiated .
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Really you still fear . Ashia you ...
Thanks for kind words deary.
Alright.
Thank you!
Woow bro like seriously I never Knew you are from the southwest Region. I thought maybe you are from the Northwest region same as me
You guys have almost almost similar tradition like us(KOM people) in the Northwest region because we have similar cultural festival where they usually celebrate it for like up to about 3 days, I have attended this cultural festival so many times but it have been long I ever attended it. Like seriously my most interesting part is always the one of the masquerade display. I always use to enjoyed every thing about it because because of the so many types of masquerades that usually display. I think I will explain about our own cultural festival when I will drop my entry and I believe you will enjoy it because we have the best cultural festival here in the northwest
Woow you talked about “NSE”, “NTE” and “AZENG”dance, I think we also have such similar dance in our tribe. I love the way you explained how this various dance are always carried and it's pretty cool. I hope to be in your village one day to experience and see how they perform this dance
Saaaah boy you be pro 🤣🤣. So you wuna too get juju way ie di ever de compound di keep things in other when other juju them di display ehhh .. woow also have this type of a masquerades that always act as police in keeping the occasion hinge free
Thanks so much for this beautiful and healthy information in how festivals are always carried out in your village
Bro my dad is from the Northwest while mum is from the North west , but you know how we do we follow our father right ..🤣🤣🤣So i am kind f bicultural but more of my dad's culture ..
Yes bro you know apparently all cultures in the grassland region look almost similar and they perform the same cultural rights . In the south west the performance of masquerades has been on the decline since the advent of modernity .
No this one does not stay at the compound rather it is always present at the cultural event stopping the crowds from pushing into where they are dancing and asking the crowds to stop noise when they rowdy .
Indeed we are indeed one people.
Thanks for your positive and outstanding reply .
Nice write up my friend .I can see just your tribe in Cameroon has so many traditional dances that performed so many dances and cultural rite .the nse dance , the tse dance etc all having their various time to perform their dances and with some symbolic significant like twins naming ceremony.I remembered in those days inthe village were we so excited to see our cultural juju coming out and displaying .You see us tuning up. And down seeing how the juju or a particular cultural dance is dis playing .Thanks for sharing ,will surely drop my own post soon talking about country cultural .most especially the one of my village Nso .will have alots to share
Yes ohhhh dear i just named only a few dances they are many i could not name here you know. And the dances are both entertaining.
Yes ohhh i know even today you will still be excited watching these dances perform.
In the Northwest for example the nostalgia had always been the same
Thanks for this wonderful comments from you dear friend.
Brother love your commitment and engagement and pray you continue to do more better and better even though am still to pacticipate
Thanks bro. Just join the train the and let's move together .
It is so lovely so I can't wait to join you guys cuz it will be do excited for me