Commemorating World Heritage Day

An amazing experience on the first day of community activities for the celebration of the International Day for Monuments and Sites. Commemorative activities began at 9:00 a.m. with a visit to the CRTV radio regional station for the program “Yours and Mine.” On this program, we spoke about the historical significance of World Heritage Day, its history and conception, and the cultural significance of this day within our local context. We highlighted the heritage sites within the Northwest Region of Cameroon and the importance of protecting them.

Next on our program was a visit to a series of heritage sites within the region with students from the University of Bamenda's Faculty of History and Archaeology. We started at the German fort, where we showed students buildings over 112 years old, as well as the graveyard on the fort where German and British soldiers were buried in Cameroon. Next was a visit to Menteh village, which holds one of the most prestigious heritage sites in the region: the Menteh Waterfall.

Upon arrival at the village, we were taken to the house of the sub-chief, also known as “MOOH.” He welcomed the entourage, giving a brief history about the village, its festivals, and historical practices. In a question-and-answer session, students learned about the cultural significance of the Menteh waterfall and practices tied to local values, such as the annual festivals where water is carried from the falls to the Fon of the village for the year. The visit concluded at the site itself, led by the MOOH and some elders of Menteh village.