Festival to promote Fang-Beti culture announced for December 4.

The announcement was made recently by the President of the Essono Ela Foundation, who doubles as the initiator of the festival, Jeanette Christiane Moabulu Nga, and her close collaborators.

This was during an audience granted them by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt.

According to Moabulu Nga, the ESSIE-NNAM socio-cultural festival, which is in its 7th edition this year, has had the honour to be placed under the patronage of the Head of State, President Paul Biya. The event, she said, will bring together all the sons and daughters of Ekang. 

“It is a unifying event, which aims to create a general overview of the Ekang culture,” she said.

“Definitely, we shall have the rhythm and rites of ESSIE-NNAM which will be put into practice. It will be organised specifically by Ekang elders and people with immaterial powers from the South, Centre and East regions,” she noted.

The Ekang diaspora, she said, are very much involved in the organisation of the festival. 

“We equally have the technical support of the Ministries of Trade and Arts and Culture as well as that of the foundation and some of their patriarchs like: Bingono Bingono,” Nga added.

The festival, she said, will equally be an opportunity to celebrate the 135th anniversary of the city of Yaounde and once again honour the age-old Essono Ela Foundation, created in 2009.

To Alphonse Ateba, member of the organising committee, the festival seeks to help Ekang sons and daughters to better understanding, discover their cultural being. 

“We know where we are, where we have been and what the six previous editions have permitted us to know. It’s a beautiful discovery of our intimate being and our origin and history in general,” Ateba said.

The ESSIE-NNAM socio-cultural festival, he said, will help the Ekang people to discover their cultural background, their brotherhood together with hospitable tradition. 

The festival, he said, will hold at the courtyard of the National Museum with logistical and technical help from the Ministry of Arts and Culture. 

“I want to insist on the fact that this year, we have the high patronage of the Head of State. That is why the Minister of Arts and Culture has instructed his collaborators to be involved in the technical organisation, so as to ensure the festival is a total success,” Ateba added. 

Speaking during the audience, Minister Bidoung Mkpatt hailed the initiators of the festival for the efforts in the promotion of the rich culture of the Fang-Beti cultural zone.

Addressing his collaborators, the member of government noted that the 7th edition of the festival will be different as it will bring together sons and daughters of the Centre, South and East regions from home and abroad, for another dimension of exchange and enjoyment.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3210 of Monday August 26, 2024