Barely two hours after the march past at the May 20 Avenue in downtown Yaounde, many of those who attended the event barely hard time to dash back home to change clothes to conform with the dress requirements of the evening party at State House.
By 4 pm, the vast parking lot the facing the main entrance was laden with cars of varied makes. Guests stood patiently in the long queues leading to the main entrance for the mandatory security checks. The slow, but steady trickle into the main banquet hall and presidential gardens continued until about 6.30 pm when the gates were shut after the country’s top political, business and social elite, including heads of institutions, cabinet ministers and parliamentarians, leaders of political parties and top-level State functionaries, senior clerics, etc. Meanwhile, the gardens were reserved for lower ranking guests.
Along the line, a downpour had invited itself into the revel but not heavy enough to dampen the interest of many guests who joined other revelers with soaked suits and gourds, but which quickly dried up, the warmth of the hall helping in its own manner.
President Biya showed up at about 7 pm, waving to the sell-out crowd of guests from the stairs as he descended into the hall. He made some quick rounds, chatting with some well-known faces and the unknown ones along his path as they dutifully and understandably introduced themselves. Braving the heavy rain and wet weather, he headed for the gardens but could not really have his way.
The President’s departure some 15-odd minutes later, left a freer atmosphere in which champagne and good wine flowed lavishly, washing down good quality pastries, meat of all sorts and other goodies. The continuous rain outside kept many guests locked up in the reception hall with many rather finding good fortune in the situation as they could occupy themselves wining and dining.
It was a cosy manner of ending National Day events in Yaoundé.
