The South West Chiefs Conference, SWECC, has announced the holding of South West Cultural Festival in Buea from the December 13 to 14, 2024.
This was revealed during a press conference in Limbe, September 21, 2024.
The cultural jamboree will be held under the patronage of the Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute, on the theme; “Peace, Cultural Revival , Social Cohesion and Investment Promotion”.
Addressing media practitioners during the conference, the Secretary of SWECC, HRM Chief Ekoka Molindo disclosed that the maiden cultural festival is aimed at bringing normalcy to the region after over seven years of socio-political crisis in the South West and North West Regions.
He said the festival is equally aimed at preserving the culture of the six divisions of the South West Region for posterity.
Chief Ekoka Molindo emphasized that their rich cultural diversity is their identity. “The whites have colonized us, taking away our culture, which is our pride. The festival is meant to regain our lost pride. The pride of Cameroon is the South West Region”. Chief Ekoka added.
The Adviser and Consultant of the South West Chiefs Conference, Grace Ewang added that the festival will equally have space for the diaspora because they want them to communicate with the land, which is their root and participate in the activities.
The president of SWECC, HRM Chief Moses Obenofunde ended the press conference by saying the choice of Buea for the festival is because Buea is the capital of the South West Region.
“Buea is the home for all South Westerners and the festival will not rotate to other divisions.” The president emphasized.
He equally used the opportunity to encourage other divisions to organize cultural festivals to promote friendship and unity.
It was also announced at the conference that some of the activities that will be carried out at the festival include; traditional dances, fashion parade, gastronomy, revival of cultural languages, artifacts, music and body art, among others.
The festival is envisaged to have more than 10.000 participants from all the six divisions of the South West Region, Cameroon and beyond.
In order to display the rich culture of the region, the SWECC festival will have a carnival on December 14, beginning from Bongo Square, Buea to Mile 18, where SWECC’s secretariat is located. The carnival will then continue to Mile 17, the University of Buea Junction and back to Bongo Square.
By Hannah Bissong
