Holiday

Running Head : Cameroon Festival

Cameroon and the Lereh Traditional Festival

Name

Professor

Subject / Course

School / University

April 27 , 2007

Cameroon and the Lereh Traditional Festival

African culture is very diverse , historic , and artistic . In our land the land of Cameroon , people were already living here since prehistoric times . This was proven when stone objects were found in many areas around Cameroon . It is close to the Makabai Mountains , which makes our ancestors live in thick forests , in seashores and in grasslands making us rich in culture and

in tradition . Being `alive ' since prehistoric times , the culture is very abundant , especially that a small village was found there , with a one-meter wall and huge grottos from the Mediterranean world . When the 10th century arrived , the Sao tribe somewhere north of Lake Chad formed a great civilization that made receptacles , jars , masks , and statues made out of burnt earth . They also made jewels , pendants and bracelets that are made out of bronze It is this great civilization that is being revealed in one of the holidays of Cameroon , named as the Lereh traditional festival . What is this festival

The Lereh Festival of Cameroon is a traditional , ritual festival remembering the cultural ancestors - the Sao tribe - who once lived in the land . In this momentous holiday , people would be wearing colorful clothes , masks , jewels , pendants and bracelets just like the Sao tribe that once lived there . Then the leaders would pray with the ritual dances of the Africans , and then pour a drink that will be offered to the gods . After offering the wine , the leaders will pray and consult the past ancestors of the land regarding who should rule the people at the present time . This holiday , unlike the others , is a momentous holiday because it is the rulers and the leaders of the land who are doing the ritual , being the center of the holiday celebration . While the love and loyalty of all leaders are being acclaimed and recognized so does the people acclaim and recognize the beauty and abundance of nature , of culture , and of leadership among other blessings . Only recently , the Lereh festival was celebrated in Chomba , which is a political and ceremonial event , as they are about to choose the right ruler of the country . What is the meaning of the Lereh festival

During the Lereh festival of Cameroon , the leader who is wearing colorful clothes and accessories will start to lead the dance . This is in connection with what we , Africans , believe that the dance leads to shaking , which would lead to vibration . Then this vibration would lead to prolonged life and longer existence . Dance is the art of expressing the desire to be alive , to be abundant , and to be profitable , which is why it is always performed in rituals and in special ceremonies of the Africans . People here will be feasting in joy and excitement , while songs relating to `ancestry ' and `abundance ' fill the air . The colorful costumes and accessories are nothing compared to the...