Ngondo

The Ngondo is an annual water-centered festival held by the Sawa (coastal peoples) in Douala, Cameroon. The highlight of the festival is a ceremony of the jengu. The ceremony is held at a beach on Wouri Bay, during which a devotee enters the water to visit the underwater kingdom of the miengu (plural for jengu). The miengu are believed to be similar to mermaids, and will grant good luck to their worshippers. According to tradition, the devotee can remain underwater for hours, and emerge with his clothing appearing completely dry. Children are not allowed to attend the ceremony. Ngondo was banned by the government of Cameroon in 1981, but reinstated in 1991. The ceremony is held during the first two weeks of December every year.[1]

Ngondo messenger on Wouri River
  • Women with blue Kaba
    Women with blue Kaba
  • Woman with green Kaba
    Woman with green Kaba
  • Women with black Kaba
    Women with black Kaba
  • Women with striped Kaba
    Women with striped Kaba
  • Festival evening
    Festival evening
  • Ritual
    Ritual
  • West community invited at Ngondo
    West community invited at Ngondo
  • Ngondo Traditional wrestling
    Ngondo Traditional wrestling
  • Assiko Dancers
    Assiko Dancers
  • swimming competition
    swimming competition
  • Ritual pirogue
    Ritual pirogue
  • Abele singers
    Abele singers
  • Ngondo place
    Ngondo place
  • Tupuri community at Ngondo
    Tupuri community at Ngondo

References
  1. Austen, Ralph A. (1992). "Tradition, Invention and History : The Case of the Ngondo (Cameroon)". Cahiers d'Études Africaines. 32 (126): 285–309. JSTOR 4392382.

Media related to Ngondo at Wikimedia Commons


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