Bertoua, the best place to be
An extraordinary journey through the heart of Bertoua and its neighboring towns, where each stop unfolds a tapestry of cultural marvels and natural treasures.
Your cultural odyssey in Bertoua begins with the mysterious King Mbartoua, an iconic figure adorned with supernatural powers, and after whom the city is named. From this intriguing starting point, the journey unfolds into a tapestry of cultural elements.
Step into the ancient traditions of the Gbaya people with the “Lagbi” initiation rite, a ceremonial passage entrenched in the cultural roots of eastern Cameroon.
Explore the legends of the King’s Warriors, formidable figures intricately linked to the revered King.
Experience the mystique of a traditional Rain-Stopping Ritual Ceremony, where ancient customs come to life in an attempt to control the rain.
Join the lively celebrations of the Gbaya people during their Cultural Festival, a vibrant tapestry of festivities that encapsulates the essence of their heritage.
Finally, discover the significance of landmarks such as Parc Sembe Lecco and the Holy Family Cathedral—pillars in Bertoua’s cultural narrative, each holding a story waiting to be unveiled.
What to eat
Let’s delve into the culinary delights of the region, where the captivating mbol, paired with couscous, takes center stage in Bétaré Oya and Belabo, while Batouri boasts the unique and flavorful Koko.
Elevating our culinary exploration, discover the shared joy of savoring the pistachio dish, a gastronomic gem that unites all three cities. Additionally, relish the exquisite flavors of the Ndomba fish, casting a delectable spell across this gastronomic journey.
Local customs, tradition and festivities
In terms of festive occasions, the eastern region of Cameroon, while not hosting an extensive array of cultural events, proudly features the vibrant Moinam Festival, a shared celebration uniting Bertoua, Batouri, and Bétaré Oya.
Additionally, the commemoration of Cameroon’s National Day on May, 20 each year serves as a wonderful opportunity to spotlight and celebrate the cultural richness inherent in each local community.
Bertoua City Council
Team
Speaker
The present work was carried out by a group of three people under the supervision of Mr. Gbaman Dogoua Paul Alain, namely: 1. Mr. BENDEKE Yannick 2. Mrs BENDEKE Danielle 3. Mrs. GBAYA ANSTEL Gaelle At the beginning, we had to meet with the guardians of the GBAYA tradition, i.e. the various traditional chiefs and their notables, to gather their opinion on the different themes we chose. We then met some people who are descendants of King Mbartoua who had a very good knowledge of the history of King Mbartoua. We also relied on the few books and writings available that talk about the history of the Gbaya people. The training we received in June in Florence, Italy, by the Life Beyond Tourism Movement helped us a lot in formulating the ideas we collected. We met every evening on the sidelines of our professional activities in the meeting room of the C2D program monitoring unit to compile all the data collected in the field. As for the photos and the videogram that we will be projecting during this festival, we have made contact with the Sirta Mbartoua group which continues to this day to perpetuate the Gbaya tradition and culture. This group reproduced for us the main lines of our culture, including the initiation of the King's warriors and the rite of stopping the rains.
Bendeke Mbele Yannick
Cameroonian, 34 years old, married, father of 02 children, Municipal Contractual Executive, assigned to the Tax Base Service, then seconded within the framework of the C2D Urban Regional Capitals Program, hard worker and always available.