National day

On May 20th 1972 the Anglophone and Francophone regions of Cameroon came together and formed the 'Unified Republic of Cameroon' That day is now celebrated with a public holiday and a giant march pass in its honour. We attended it today.

And when i say march pass, i mean march pass. Everyone and their mother joined the cue today to march in the baking sun. We were hanging out with Jamadianle kids before it started and it was power-sappingly hot and ram-jammed with school kids in their best uniforms. It was the kind of heat that makes you feel what bread goes through before being done, i couldn't think, my body was to busy sweating for me. All the wee kids were gagging on water as well. One funny wee dude reached such heights of desperation that he actually came up and just demanded money off me. Enough was enough.

We watched all the schools of Buea march past the governor at bongo square and we snapped like crazy, it's a real photo opportunity, as the uniforms are so retro and brightly coloured. The wee dudes swinging their arms in a mock comedy fashion is also a sight to behold.

Unlike national youth day in february which only celebrated the kids in the area, this march promised a whole lot more. The military with their tanks and guns and mean stoical mugs marched past us and we dared not snap them for fear of getting our camera confiscated or a nuke up our jacksies. Along with the goons of fear and war, there were less threatning social groups that wanted to show their pride on this fine day, like the tailors of Buea - all your fabric needs met under one roof.

It was all very fun and we rounded off the afternoon with a drink at Abidjan with the teachers of Jamadianle.

Happy National day Cameroon.