A medley of activities threaded through the week in Buea, the highest point being the march past at Bongo Square.
All that it takes to make a celebration eventful was in Buea from Sunday February 16 to Thursday, February 20, 2014. This explains why those who participated in the various ceremonies left Buea fulfilled and why the event will remain engraved in the minds of many a Cameroonian. Religious services, mega concert, community activities, colloquium, grand concert, historic fresco, torchlight procession, cultural evening, and March past were all that illuminated the 50th Anniversary of Reunification in Buea.
The rallying point about the major ceremonies that marked each moment was nothing less than massive participation. If the Open-air Amphitheatre and the Amphitheatre 750 of the University of Buea could speak, they would tell you they haven’t witness a thing of this nature before. Whereas the Open-air Open-air Amphitheatre played host to mega concert of young artists, grand religious concert, sound and light show of Cameroon’s historical fresco titled “Marching Forward” and a cultural evening of music, comedy and fashion, the Amphitheatre 750 hosted one of the greatest historic colloquium on the theme, “From Reunification to Integration, Fifty Years of Nation-Building.”
The colloquium and the historical fresco were two important ceremonies that told the whole story about reunification. Seasoned scholars, politicians and writers found the colloquium a great opportunity to refresh their knowledge on the country’s history. Facts and figures came out of the exercise. Historians disagreed on certain facts, agreed on some and left some without drawing any conclusion. The intellectual exercise brought out the other side of the country’s history, that of twisting history to suit personal interest.
Torchlight processions were organised from several points having as assembly point, the Molyko Stadium. The event that was dominated by youths took place under four main groups having as starting points, Buea town near former town hall, Small Soppo Government Nursery School Bridge, Bokova at the GHS Campus and Mile 17.
The biggest surprise of the celebration was the early arrival in Buea of the Head if State. Earlier speculated to arrive on Wednesday, February 19, President Biya and wife instead landed at the historic Tiko airport a day before taking many by surprise. But from every indication, it was a pleasant surprise. The early arrival could be understood as the President went ahead the following day to commission the 162 tonne-Independence and Reunification Monument. He, in that ceremony, unveiled with satisfaction the curtain of the monument amidst continuous animation from a medley of dance groups.
The highest point of the celebration of course was surely the March past presided at by the Head of State at Bongo Square. All of Cameroon was represented here where four major points featured on the agenda; a welcome statement from the Mayor of Buea, an address by the Head of State, military and civilian march pasts and handing of gift to the Presidential couple. The ceremony was a true translation of the joy in the hearts of many as expressed in the messages and ecstasy during the march past. Secondly, the massive presence as described by the Head of State in his address was testimony not only of unity in diversity but also of the importance Cameroonians attach to the unity of the country. As one could have imagined, President Biya could not leave the Prime Minister’s Lodge with granting audiences to some personalities of the region. Those who had the honour to be received were, the Mayor of Buea, traditional chiefs, the governor of the South West Region and the Region’s administration and a delegation of the CPDM.
