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29.11.2006
Ngondo 2006 Kicks Off by. Joe Dinga Pefok, PostNewsLine
Photo: Paul Millord Mbappe Bwanga, Ngondo current President
The President of Ngondo and Chief Belle Belle, Bonaberi, Paul-Millord Mbappe Bwanga, presided at the launching ceremony of the Ngondo Festival at Parc des Princes at Bali.
The Wouri Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, Bernard Atebede, and the Government Delegate to the Douala Council, Dr. Fritz Ntone Ntone, among other Sawa elite, attended the launch.
The theme of Ngondo 2006, is "PAI O MADIBA", which means "paddling the water (boat)", and is said to be a call on all Sawa people to work hand in glove for the development of the Sawa land.
Ngondo 2006 activities, which will run for two weeks, will get to its climax on the last day, December 3, with the "Feast of the Water" on the banks of River Wouri, near the Bonaberi Bridge.
The major activities billed for the two weeks include musical concerts by Sawa artists, singing competitions, exhibitions, trade fair, cinematographic projections, games, conferences, presentation of Sawa traditional dishes, a semi-marathon, traditional wrestling competition (BESUA) and the famous Miss Ngondo competition (Ngond´a Kiele).
Also featuring is the traditional ballet dance competition as well as a fashion parade with Sawa traditional regalia (Elang´a Kaba Na Sanja). A number of conferences will hold at the ´Salle des Fêtes´ at Akwa.
Meanwhile, the Miss Ngondo competition is presently going on at the level of the different cantons. The winners at that stage will all participate at the semi-final stage of Miss Ngondo 2006 competition, billed for Parc des Princes on November 29, while the final will come up in the night of December 2.
That night breaking December 3, will, as usual, be a night vigil. There will also be the finals of the traditional wrestling competition, the finals of the fashion parade competition, as well as the finals of the ballet, singing and dance competitions, among other things..
Observers of the ´Feast of the Water´ who often include foreign tourists, watch as a messenger sent by the Sawa Chiefs to the Sawa gods, said to be living in River Wouri, dives and disappears into the big river with a traditional basket.
He stays beneath the water for over an hour and emerges with his body and the traditional attire, as well as the basket, as dry as if they had not gotten in touch with water. In the traditional basket is usually an object which bears a message from the Sawa gods to the Sawa Chiefs and people.
From the Southwest, will come Chief Henry Njalla Quan, General Manager of CDC, always mentioned by the Ngondo leadership as one of the Sawa elite who gives a strong support to the annual cultural festival.
The current Secretary General of Ngondo, Prince Monie Dicka Dicka, told the press that Ngondo is a permanent traditional and cultural institution of the Sawa people.
Joe Dinga Pefok
Post News Line
http://www.postnewsline.com/
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