Wednesday May 20 was Cameroon's national holiday, marking the day of unity of the two divisions into one nation of Cameroon. In the morning I rode into Garoua with all the student from the elementary school in my village to parade, or "defile". Usually the students celebrate and parade in Bokle, a regional center a little closer to Mafa Kilda, but this time they chose to go all the way into Garoua, and for many of them, it was the first time for them to see Garoua. As we got off the truck (where all the students rode in standing pressed together in the bed in the back) older kids grabbed onto the hands of the younger ones and all were wide eyed, and probably pretty overwhelmed and scared, never having seen so many people, so many other students, buildings, etc. While they found their place in line with hundreds of other kids from schools in Garoua and surrounding villages, I ran up ahead down the road and found a seat on the curb under a tree. The first part of the parade was all the military branches, who marched intimidatingly down the road, rows and rows of different forces in different colored berrets, including one group with black ski masks. I assume they were special undercover ops or something, and they got a lot of applause, but were a little scary for me. Following the military display were the elementary schools. After watching the rows of students walk by for an hour and a half, (and it was a very hot day and I didn't bring water...) I was ready to leave and made my way to the office to work. But following the elementary schools were the high schools and then special groups and organizations. A very very long parade. When I looked to the side at the road or across the road, it appeared as if stationary things were moving to the right as if on a conveyer belt---the result of watching marching students for so long!
The students of Mafa Kilda, marching in the parade in Garoua
Students from one of the Franco-Arab schools of Garoua
Boys of the Franco-Arab school in bubus
The Regional Lamidos and traditional leaders in their place of honor
Yavara Essaie, Fadama Elie, and Yakadam Elizabeth, my landlord and neighbor's three oldest children, at my house in the morning before leaving for Garoua. It was the first time for all three to go to Garoua. Quite an event!
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