KOICA Alumni Association Cameroon held an edifying jamboree in Yaounde on October 26.
Koreans living and working in Cameroon under the banner of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Cameroonians who have studied in Korea, members of KOICA Alumni Association Cameroon (KAAC) have edified each other on the rich culture of both countries, diversified as it is, with the view of boosting the already cordial bilateral ties existing between them. Cameroon’s dances, dishes and dresses from the North to the South and East to West likewise those of Koreans were displayed in style and colour during a thrilling cultural jamboree at the head office of KOICA in Yaounde on Saturday October 26.
From water fufu and eru to locally manufactured corn beer, fondly called, ‘Shaa’ passing through the njang, bikutsi, bottle dance from the southern part of the country to the waist-twisting dances from the Northern regions, the display of Korean dishes like Bibimpap, Bulgogi…, the cultural display was thrilling and attracted thunderous applauses from the many attendees.
The Resident Representative of KOICA in Cameroon, Kim Tae Young, said when he first came to Cameroon, everything was strange. “I am increasingly getting used to it and this cultural jamboree will better help us to know the culture and eat each other’s food,” he said. Like him, Koreans who attended the jamboree said when they came to Cameroon, they thought Cameroon was one person but time and the display edified them on the rich cultural diversity of the people who although different in culture are interestingly united under one State and leader.
The President of KAAC, Chancel Ako Takem, said the jamboree was an opportunity to discover the two cultures and strengthen ties between the two countries. “Korea has similar experiences with Cameroon in development because in the 1960s, Korea was almost at the same level of development with Cameroon. Today, it is a developed country and we believe we can learn a lot from the Koreans and that starts with their culture. We are seeing their attitudes, their values and since we believe that these values have enabled them to move from an undeveloped country to a developed one today, we believe we can learn a lot from such values,” he said. A view corroborated by the Secretary General of KAAC, Amina Abdul. “I am satisfied because our objective was to bring the two countries together to better discover their cultural values. It also allowed other non Koreans and Cameroonians to discover our rich cultures,” she said.
