Bafoussam Nyan-Nyang festival comes to a close.
By Takang Rachel in Bafoussam
It is a custom to the Bafoussam people to come together once in two years to celebrate their festival known as”Nyan-Nyang.”
The Nyan-Nyang festival is to the Bafoussam people what the Ngondo is to the Sawa people, but unlike Ngondo which only takes place for days, Nyan-Nyang lasts for weeks before it draws its curtains. This year’s edition of the Nyan-Nyang festival brought together kings and Chiefs from the national territory to witness its closure.
The just ended 455th edition celebrated under the theme “ The appropriation of the “Nyan-Nyang festival by the feussap people for its emergence” witnessed the presence of the Minister Of Arts And Culture Jean Narcisse Mouelle, the governor of West region Awah Fonka Augustin and traditional rulers from Littoral region and the West region.
The Chief of Mbam, Bafia Moute à Bidias, the King of Adie, His Royal Highness Ndong Tchomde, the Sultan of Foumban, Sultan Njoya, and traditional rulers of the Canton Bassa made up the royal guest list.
The festival witnessed thirteen weeks of festivities, each week having a special sacred dance performed by the people of Bafoussam. The first week kicked off with the initiation of male youths into the Nyan-Nyang dance. These young boys danced once a week while covering themselves in mud and other filthy substances.
The last week which is the thirteenth week witnessed the most awaited mystical dance known as the « koumdze » No male Bafoussam buys his way into this sacred group. The right to belong to this dance group is hereditary.
Before the koumdze commences, a goat is slaughtered and all members of this group walk across the spilt blood. They dance for over a week. Apart from the most awaited dance, the women of the palace equally display dances towards the end of the festival.
This edition was spiced up with traditional exhibitions from within and out of the Bafoussam. Artisanal displays and other traditional crafts were on display and caught the attention of many including foreigners. Touristic sites where visited, musical concerts organised and miss Nyan-Nyang, elected.
One of the Queen Mothers at the Bafoussam palace, Mrs Tama told The Sun that “each edition is unique in its own way and there is the come together of the children of Bafoussam from home and the Diaspora” she went on to explain that there are two types of queen mothers, the adopted and the born queen mothers. The adopted ones are not necessarily Bafoussam woman but are chosen by the Chief who sees potentials in them.
The traditional ruler of Bafoussam, Chief Njitack Ngompe Pele who has been on the throne since 1988, has made it a duty for the Nyan-Nyang festival to be bigger and better as the years go by.
This year’s edition of the cultural feast was sponsored by PMUC and Les Brasseries du Cameroon. The people of Bafoussam dispersed from their royal palace fulfilled for haven accomplished their customs and tradition. They all expressed anticipation for the 2018 edition.
