Douala : Christmas Fever around the Corner

It near December 25th again and the economic capital is beating to the rythm of Christmas once more. The chrismas fever can be felt everywhere in Douala with people putting small red hats sepcially desined for Christmas or an artificial crown of thorns in allusion to the cruxifixion. Markets are awash with toys for children ranging from miniaturised cars to dolls with the introduction of coloured baby dolls. Bars and other drinking spots have also taken a facelift with either a fresh coat of paint or multi-coloured twinking lights hund around the vicinity. the City Council is is not left putting up special christmas lights around the major junctions of the Douala metropolis but also cleaning up the town towatds the feast of nativity.
Christmas trees and other decorative ornaments are placed in offices and private homes.
Given the rise in business activities, there has also beeen a consequent rise of banditry. Hardly a day goes by without one getting stories of peope who had been deprived of the precious earnbings in markets. Women mostly fall prey to these men of the underworld. There has also been an increace in mobility in and out of the town given the affluence that can be found around travelling agencies ad the increase in traffic jams witnessed within the city.
Given the increase in demand, the prices of basic foodtuffs and other essential commodities have also soured high in the markets as people stock their houses in preparation for Christmas. The most highly priced foodstuffs now income yams, plantains ; rice and the cherished comm...