Bamenda to Bafut on International Women's Day!

Our first day in Bamenda was International Women’s Day, March 8, 2009, so there were many celebrations... all the women of the city were dressed in special, colourful, dresses and there was a parade down Commercial street, the main downtown core of Bamenda. The women marched the streets in different groups representing various community groups, while the men stood on the sidelines. I believe a lot of women didn’t do their usual cooking and cleaning of their households that day... so the coolest thing for me was to see all the women sitting in pubs along the roads later on, with giant beer bottles in their hands and their booties ‘a shak’n... yeah women’s empowerment!
After visiting the parade for a bit, we went to the Bafut Palace, the home of the Bafut Fon. In Cameroon, the Fon is a local chief. Each ethnic group or language has its own Fon. There are many Fondoms in the country, but only five are classified as first class Fondoms, under a 1974 law. Much to learn! They are local royalty and very well respected, greatly influencing the socio-cultural and political life of their communities. They have multiple wives and many, many children. So, there is much historical significance and we got a taste of the lifestyle in Bafut, as we toured the Palace with one of the Queen’s as our guide. Quite an interesting, community life... although I don’t think I’m quite convinced in being an additional Fon’s wife!