North West : Regional Assembly Fosters Peace

A mammoth crowd turned out last Friday, December 23, 2022 at the courtyard of the Mezam Senior Divisional Officer’s office in Bamenda to take part in the second edition of the ‘North West Regional Assembly end-of-year cultural festival’.  The event organised by the North West Regional Assembly in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), took place under the theme, “fostering peace, solidarity and living together” and saw the participation of dance groups from all the seven Divisions of the region.
Speaking on the occasion, the President of the North West Regional Assembly, Prof. Angwafo III Fru, in consonance with the theme said the event should be an opportunity for forgiveness and reconciliation as key to peace. A view corroborated by the North West Regional Coordinator for UNDP, Mary Nyuyinui who expressed gratitude to the authorities for their commitment to the peace building process. She said the cultural festival should be an instrument of peace “sow love not hatred”, she said.
The Governor of the North West Region, Lele Lafrique, who was taking part in the event for the first time as guest of honour, enumerated the various peace overtures made by President Biya since the outbreak of the crisis in 2016 notably the creation of the Bilingualism Commission and the Special Status accorded the two regions. He said this should be a point for the North West to turn over a new leaf so as to see Bamenda back on board as a peace loving people.
Besides the various cultural dance groups, the event also witnessed the performances of guest artistes like the social media star in plantain leaves dress, Jato and the Forest children, as well as Lucky Wonder from Momo Division.  There was also a theatre performa...