Culture Promoters Desire Increase Zest
A slight paradigm shift for Christmas and new year clothes has been noticed. It is the procurement of traditional dresses by lovers of culture. A proportion of persons appeared in their native traditional dresses as they celebrated Christmas and new year, even though majority others were seen in imported dresses from other countries.
We are in Cameroon. The news online organ known as Cameroon Infotrend (camerooninfotrend.com) noticed a few people vested in traditional regalia, while they celebrated Christmas and new year.
In fact it has been an age old culture to celebrate the festival in new clothing. However, more people were seen being clad in dresses which are imported from Asia, USA and Europe.
It is however interesting to note this time that, 2022 Christmas celebration together with 2023 new year celebration, featured some persons celebrating in their own native regalia.
Speaking to them on the motive of their choices, they told Cameroon Infotrend that the reason is to signify culture
Che Eutycus, a native of Weh, Menchum Division of North-west Region Cameroon explained the reason for taking traditional clothes for Christmas but opted not to share the pictures of his kids to the media. He said he went in for the “Sang” the traditional dress of his clan “I love and respect tradition so much in a way that i can not explain. My culture and tradition is my priority, my pride. So i think dressing my children with the traditional outfit is one way or another to showcase where I come from. By so doing, I was passing the message to my kids to always love and embrace tradition and culture though their mother did not really welcome the idea of me dressing the children traditionally” he said
The choice of indigenous tradition was also spurred by the zeal to promote home made designs.
“For several years my kids have been wearing Chinese dresses, so this year I decided to choose the Northwest traditional regalia to portray arts and culture and also to promote the local production industry” Dora Peaceful told Cameroon Infotrend.
PHOTO: Splenda Bright, daughter of Dora Peaceful in Christmas dress of traditional North-west design
Wirnkar Serah Vernyuy, from Nso, in the Northwest Region of Cameroon was also one of those who acquired a traditional regalia during Christmas. On the reason for this, she said
“It gives us a sense of belonging to a particular culture. Also it is a way of remembering and growing our culture and encouraging those who are into the art”
PHOTO: Wirnkar Serah Vernyuy in Cultural outfit
Chiy-Bie Loveline is a twin mother who got traditional clothes for her kids at Christmas. She told Cameroon Infotrend that “I have a particular affection for my culture so i ordered the dresses for my twin children. To me, cultural regalia have a high quality than any other clothes. Another thing was to teach the twins and make them to have a sense of belonging in our beautiful culture.I noticed that the kids were very happy”
PHOTO: Achamkezeh and Ayekezeh, twin kids of Chiy Bie Loveline in traditional wear on Christmas Day
Traditional Designers Remark Growing Interest in Traditional Dresses
Vendors and drsigners of traditional dresses in Cameroon have testified that people were enthusiastic about cultural designs during the Christmas and new year festive period.
Auntie Stella is a traditional dress maker in Yaounde. Rating the trend of demand during Christmas and new year, she said “Customers were quite eager to have traditional dresses for their children this time. Some tried in getting the clothes including the toghu of the Northwest and the sanja of the Southwest. Even the Bamilikes came for the duop and Ewondos came for the Kaba, all of these being their traditional outfit. So I was really impressed because people were eager to have them. I really see people shifting from the west to their cultural identity. Two weeks before Christmas there was a slight increase in demand for cultural dresses. So, culture is winning. People came as a family; father, mother and children to get dresses. At first just elderly persons were getting the traditional clothes, but this time all age brackets came up”
Dzekela Bertha in Bamenda is a seamstress with speciality in traditional sewing. She looks forward for a boom in the demand for dresses that identify with culture and a vigorous support to home made clothes.
“If you look keenly, you notice that the Chinese do not wear our dresses but we prefer theirs. So I think people should use what we have rather than imported dresses. Traditional clothes are unique but imported clothes become tasteless at some point because they go out of fashion”
There is a crescence in the zest for traditional attire, thus lovers of culture continue nursing hope to see an overwhelming majority embracing clothes that identify with cultural roots which goes a long way to dignify the arts and culture sector.
By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum
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