In Akwa, the commercial neighbourhood of Douala, the business practised mostly by stamp sellers and a few individuals who have taken upon themselves to print and hand-sew national and foreign flags, is flourishing one. Rise in the sale of flags is visible as every busy street in Akwa is branded with various national colours from poles and pillars.
Tamo, one of the flag sellers who also hawks different flag sizes to select from – ranging from a table fag to a six-yard size and many more options in-between, reveals that the business booms during sport events, especially when the Indomitable Lions are winning as well as during schools’ reopening. Football fans who buy flags of small sizes to much larger ones fly them around for a show of national dignity, pride and patriotism. He further says he sells, averagely, 6 large-size flags a week during schools’ reopening and more of them as well as several small ones during football matches in which the Indomitable Lions win.
Another seller, Tabou, who says joblessness forced him into the trade, discloses that a large flag of about a metre and a half is sold at FCFA 3,500 while a neatly printed flag of such a dimension sells even more. A small flag sells for FCFA 500 and it is widely used in taxis, cars and sitting rooms. “Today, I am hosting a large family in Douala and all depend on me and the flag business,” he explains.
International flags are commanded for by foreigners such as marine officers who place them on ships. However, some Cameroonians go after American flag and French flag, amongst others The flags, they say, are digitally printed and hand-sewn. Some retailed are textile flags printed by the Cameroon Textile Industry (CICAM) produced to offer more adaptability, intensity and quality, with a long lasting finish.
