Cameroon: Bandenkop Kingdom – Festival
While in Bandenkop, we got super lucky to witness a spectacular festival, attended by the king and also another king from a village nearby. The kings presided on the shell-clad thrones and wore shell-woven clothes (shells used to be money in Cameroon). In front of them – all men and boys of all ages from probably 5 to 90 danced and walked in circles – everybody shirtless and body painted and carrying various horns, logs, statues, and so on. The festival was the celebration of “right of passage” for all males in the Bandenkop kingdom, and only those males who have passed this could participate in the dancing. Rows of spectators and VIPs, some also wearing insanely bright outfits, witnessed the celebration which lasted about 3-4 hours.
