End of year is always a festive period of getting together by families, friends to share love, for reconciliation among others. It’s a period for a special celebration. In spite of this, some families experience hardship and lack of purchasing power and are unable to meet up with the festivity which takes place. In a bid to help these families have the same sensation and feelings which other families encounter, the Douala City Council in partnership with other companies is organising a festive time from 24th December to the 2nd of January 2011 at the Government square in Bonanjo. The event has been baptized Badoul and it is in its second edition. Badoul is organised with the idea to animate the city and give an opportunity for those who cannot afford to also distract themselves. There will be an attractive park where children will spend time to play different games from 10:00 am; there will be cinema in the afternoons which they will project films like 24 chrono from season one to nine. There will be a podium for live music by musicians in the night such as Meiway, Dom Tom, Sergio Polo, Papa Wemba, Hugo Nyame, among others, traditional dances. There will be some exhibition by some of the companies and above all restaurants to sell at affordable prices. Entrance is free but for the games which FCFA 100 has to be paid.
The brain behind Badoul is a group of young people headed by Michelle Ebongue, Regional Delegate of Communication, who came together to organized festivity in town to keep families both old and young people joyful. The idea was adopted by the Douala City Council which is a Godfather of Badoul.
It is not only Badoul, there is also Christmas market baptised Marché de Noel which has the form of a trade fair organised at CAMTEL Bepanda complexe. There are companies which have taken stands and have drastically cut down prices of goods. There is also a podium for live music in the nights, tombola, and other diverse attractions. One of the striking aspects is the Bethlehem village which has been mounted. It is incredible and very impressive. The difference with this attraction is that entrance is FCFA 500 with a free bottle of Malta Guinness quench. The attraction is organized by Decoralia, a decoration company, in partnership with the Douala City Council. The promoter, Madame Kwekam Leonie told CT it cannot be free because they have to meet up with costs of payment of security, electricity and the cost of mounting the Bethlehem village. It started on the 8th December and will end 2nd January 2011.
