Steemit Engagement Challenge Week 2 || My Favorite Cultural Festival By @nancymboghi

Greetings lovely people; it is great joy to be here as always. I am personally super excited about the topic as it takes me back to my roots and my origin. Thank you Steem Pakistan for this awesome opportunity.
Without further ado, I’ll dive straight away to the topic of discussion.

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Introduction

In this piece, I’ll be talking about our annual traditional cultural festival.
February is always this exciting time in my tribe annually. This is so because, within the month of February, special dates are set aside for traditional annual celebrations. As to why February, all I got is that, since it’s origin it’s been February thus they people do not want to change it for no reason.

It is often a three days festival. Within this period, people leave from all over to country and even abroad to come to the village so as to enjoy the ecstasy of the event.

Therefore this is truly a special moment for us as we get to meet our brothers and sisters as well as relatives from far and near. It is truly an opportunity for us to get to know one another

Equally, it serves as a way of greatly preserving the culture and passing it onto the new generation. The younger ones get to learn from the older ones and the culture is sure preserved up to centuries to come.

This has been an age long celebration and our desire is that it continues till forever; this is our root and identity, it is what makes us a people and we are so proud of it.

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The Nerre Annual Traditional Festival

Nerre is an annual festival that is celebrated by the people of Batibo in the Northwest region of Cameroon every February. During this period, there are thousands of people from far and near. The ambiance is always so beautiful and magical. The festival is celebrated in three days and diversed activities. The attires, the set up, the people and everything is always just on point. It is truly beautiful.

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Day 1

The first day is always merry merry. Plenty to eat and drink, all feasting and celebrating. On this day, there are two dance groups that showcase themselves; the males and the females.
The females start up the dance, showcase their tricks and beautiful styles,motherhood, care and the beauty in and out of them and leave the atmosphere all happy and wanting more.

Next, the males come up with their own dance steps, showing the power and strength in their masculinity, fatherhood, protection and a lot more. It is just breathtaking.

At the end of the day, there’s an open floor for all to dance and dance and dance until all you feel like doing is to sleep.

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Day 2

Amongst other activities on day 2, there is racing. Youths in the village come out and do a racing competition.
Equally, there is introduction of elites and dignitaries of the community. There is also general introduction.

Another important activity that takes place on this day is fund raising.This is a very important activity for our community as the proceeds are used for developmental purposes. It is from this that roads and built, community schools and hospitals, the palace and the make the whole village look appealing in one way or the other. There are annual projects so it serves as fuel for the réalisation of these projects.

Also, pledges are made both large and small which are all of utmost importance. In this light, levies are also laid on individuals and households.

Day 3

The third day which is also the round up is as interesting as the rest of the days. On this day, major traditional rights are performed. Some by dance groups, some only men are allowed to partake and so on.

Equally masquerade groups dance too. It looks somehow scary especially for first timers yet it is just so interesting. They dance, do their magic tricks and entertain the people.

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There is equally general dancing after this until dawn.

The chief however gives some words of gratitude, peace, blessings and a whole speech in general to mark the close of the ceremony. It is after this that the partying and dancing takes place till dawn.

Here is where it all ends; happy and nice🤗

Conclusion

Due to the political crises in my country and specifically my region, we haven’t experienced these for about 3years today. The whole place has been unsafe so much so that gatherings as such have been prohibited. I pray peace reigns again so that we continue to uphold this age long tradition so as to continually pass it on to the next generation.
As I earlier said, this is our root and I believe it shouldn’t be tempered with in any way.

I am happy to be able to share this; thank you for the opportunity.🤗