Volunteers from the German Society for the Advancement of Culture (DGFK)
Friday, May 4, 2012
Aaron Kaah
Two volunteers from the German society for the advancement of culture (DGFK) Lutz Fluegge and Renate Perner on a cultural exchange program are in Cameroon on the invitation of the Center for Appropriate Technology CAT-Cameroon. The two volunteers are gifted entertainers who are assisting CAT –Cameroon on its knowledge sharing campaigns on alternative sources of energy and the importance of solar energy to households in the rural areas of Cameroon, low cost building materials and the need to sustain and protect the environment.
Lutz and Renate have accompanied CAT to schools, villages, and institutions to share knowledge on the above topics and to bring aspects of German culture closer to the people of the North West Region through song and dance. The high point of their visit was the organization of a tombola and puzzle at the CAT head office last Feb 18th 2012 which pulled across section of the public. Lots of prizes and gifts were won by some people in the audience.
Lutz Fluegge is the Dean of studies in the faculty of Cultural entertainment and development while Mme Renate Perner is the Vice Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Design at the Bamenda Royal University.
This is the third conservative time the two volunteers are in Cameroon.
Lutz and Renate have accompanied CAT to schools, villages, and institutions to share knowledge on the above topics and to bring aspects of German culture closer to the people of the North West Region through song and dance. The high point of their visit was the organization of a tombola and puzzle at the CAT head office last Feb 18th 2012 which pulled across section of the public. Lots of prizes and gifts were won by some people in the audience.
Lutz Fluegge is the Dean of studies in the faculty of Cultural entertainment and development while Mme Renate Perner is the Vice Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Design at the Bamenda Royal University.
This is the third conservative time the two volunteers are in Cameroon.
Labels: Culture, DGFK, Lutz Fluegge, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Renate Perner, Volunteers
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:23 PM,
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Woodabe Girl in Niger
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Wodaabe (or Bororo) are a small subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group. They are traditionally nomadic cattle-herders and traders in the Sahel, with migrations stretching from southern Niger, through northern Nigeria, northeastern Cameroon, and the western region of the Central African Republic. The number of Wodaabe was estimated in 1983 to be 45,000. They are known for their beauty (both men and women), elaborate attire and rich cultural ceremonies.The Wodaabe speak the Fula language and don't use a written language. In the Fula language, woɗa means "taboo", and Woɗaaɓe means "people of the taboo". "Wodaabe" is an Anglicisation of Woɗaaɓe. (Wikipedia)
See Ferdinand Reus' photostream
Labels: Cameroon Impressions, Culture, People
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:06 AM,
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Cameroon NGO and Culture
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Most NGOs fall into one of two types: those with a focus on social problems such as AIDS awareness, condom distribution, and street children; and ethnic development associations that link urban migrants with their home villages, build hospitals, schools, and bridges "back home," and organize urban ethnic festivals. Ethnic associations often are organized as rotating credit associations, building on a long tradition of mutual aid in both rural and urban areas. They reflect the increasing importance of ethnicity in national and local politics.
Read more on Culture of Cameroon - traditional, history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social, dress, marriage, men, life, wedding, tribe, population, and religion.
Read more on Culture of Cameroon - traditional, history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social, dress, marriage, men, life, wedding, tribe, population, and religion.
Labels: Cameroon, Culture, NGOs
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:29 AM,
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Cameroon Calling
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Labels: Cameroon Impressions, Culture, People
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:46 PM,
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African Art - Its Style And Cultural Importance
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The traditional art of Africa plays a major part in the African society. Most ceremonies and activities (such as singing, dancing, storytelling, ect.) can not function without visual art. It can also be used as an implement and insignia of rank or prestige, or have a religious significance.African art consists mainly of sculptures, paintings, fetishes, masks, figures, and decorative objects.
Sculptures are considered to be the greatest achievement for African art. A majority of the sculptures are done in wood but are also made of metal, stone, terra-cotta, mud, beadwork, ivory, and other materials. It is found in many parts of Africa but mainly in western and central Africa. Many ancient rock paintings have been
found in Southern and Eastern Africa. These paintings are believed to be attributed to the SAN (Bushman) people. Masks and fetishes are often used to scare off bad things such as evil spirits, witches or ghosts. They are also used to bring about a desired end-break a bad habit, improve ones love life, or kill a natural or upernatural enemy.
There are three basic themes of African art. The first is the dualism between bush and village. African tribes wear masks and headresses: the male is represented by the elephant, the most powerful of bush creatures and the female is delicately coiffed to express refinement and civilization. The second theme of African art is the
problematic relationships between the sexes.African tribes use art as a therapeutic device to deal with the problems and issues dealing with the relations between the sexes. The third theme is the struggle to
control natural or supernatural forces to achieve a desired end. African tribes often use masks in ceremonies (called Gelede) to please and honor the forces.
For each region in Africa,there is a different style of art. The western Sudanic Region have masks and figures representing.. Join For Free
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:04 PM,
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Technic and Culture?
Monday, August 30, 2010
Labels: Appropriate Technology, CAT, Culture, Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:36 AM,
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Miss Africa USA
Thursday, August 5, 2010
George Mbella
The colourful Grand Final and Coronation event was attended by African Ambassadors to the US, local elected officials, university professors, sponsors, friends, family members and a crowd of anxious spectators, who cheered the 32 finalists present, representing different African countries in the USA.
According to a press release from the Miss Africa USA Newsroom, Miss Fatoumata (Fifi) Souma, 21 years old, representing the Republic of Guinea-Conakry, was crowned as the African Queen of Beauty in the USA. She speaks fluent French and English and is a full time student at Montgomery College with a major in Communication. Fifi was given the mission to raise awareness and enhance the fight against the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), as well as promote education of the girl child in Guinea by teaming up with charitable organisations across the US that serve needy communities.
Runners up were Natasha Beckley (Sierra Leone), Priscilla Boateng (Ghana), Coretta Antchouey (Gabon) and Roseline Amusu (Nigeria). Miracle Edison, the finalist from Cameroon who resides in Texas, made it to the top fifteen but failed to grab the crown.
Miss Africa-USA pageant is gaining popularity in the USA for it serves as a window to project Africa's rich culture and beauty in the USA. This year, the event was chaired by Valerie Ervin, Vice President of Montgomery County Council, who presented a proclamation to the Miss Africa-USA pageant. Other prominent Cameroonians who participated were Joseph Eyong, Aide to Valerie Ervin, Linda Arrey, the Pageant Coordinator, and Dr. Aretha Makia, a former beauty queen who hosted this year's event.
Besides organising the Africa-USA pageant yearly through the African Women's Development Foundation, AWDF, Inc, that she heads, Lady Kate Njeuma also plays key roles in mobilising Africans in the USA for cultural and philanthropic initiatives that benefit needy populations in Africa, in general and her native Cameroon, in particular.
Labels: Culture, Miss Africa USA
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:41 PM,
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