A deadly weekend...

Foréké-Dschang Funerals

Saturday 18th ws the last day of the 2-week funerals of the chief Djoumessi Mathias of the chefferie Foréké-Dschang, dead in 1966. According to the newspaper "Le Citoyen Dschang" (http://www.lecitoyendschang.com/infos2.php?citoyen=109), he was known as one of the greatest chief that the West Province has known. Following the Bamiléké tradition, the funerals occur several years after the death (about 50 for this one), when the dead person is considered to have reached the ancestor status. Then he can watch over his family and connect with Gods to improve living-people life. The body is dig up and this is the occasion for lots of speeches, music, food, etc. for anyone willing to attend the ceremony.


the chief's wives:The secret societies and guardians:



At the center of the chefferie's plaza: the sacred Tree:


The musical instruments, the sacred ones hiden behind a vegetal screen:


The clothes made individually in the fabric chosen for the ceremony:
Traditional dances with specific Bamiléké fabric (white and blue):





The most important people (chieves and their wives) carry horse tails:

Unfortunately, the rain started at 2pm and didn't stop till 7pm, so I did not see the entire ceremony. I understand why they usually celebrate funerals during the dry season!

As I went back home and slept all the afternoon (nothing else to do when it's raining strongly and when there is no electricity), a friend inviting me to his girlfriend's birthday party. A good occasion for catching up with dancing and eating! :)

Traditional dishes: grilled fish and chicken, plantains (boiled or fried), egges and ndolé, manioc sticks and hot pepper sauce, sweetened peanuts and pop corn:

ONE bottle of champagne for... 30 people! hope you're not too thirsty...

The most famous local dance: Coupé-Décalé (from Ivory Coast) that you have to learn when going out in nightclubs!








A deadly accident at the swimming pool

But why did I entitled this article a "deadly weekend"?
Because, besides the funerals (occuring a long time after the death anyways), a very sad accident happened at the swimming pool. As I was supposed to go diving after the funerals but didn't because of the rain, a student drowned in the deep pond, below the diving boards. Because he didn't struggled or call for help, and because of the cloudy green water, it took a while for the swimming instructors to find him at the bottom. After resuscitating him, they took him to the hospital, where the doctor said he would be fine. The young man died an hour later...
Is the swimming pool or the hospital responsible? This week inspection will tell us, but one thing is sure, the pool won't reopen till the water is totally clear. We told them several time to clean it up, but they needed a death for doing it...

After this weekend strong in emotions, i go back home to clean the house, do my laundry and wash my hair. Now I understand why Sundays are made for, especially when you don't have water at the tap and electricity!
Other than that, I appreciate more and more my place, for leaving on the hill where it's cooler and without moskitos, waking up with the birds and roster, to enjoying interesting sunsets and going to bed with calm music from the neighbors :)