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Bui Division's Ban on Masquerades: Heritage at Risk Amidst Growing Tensions
A divisional official in Cameroon’s Bui Division has issued an order banning the display of traditional masquerade dances, sparking widespread backlash and accusations of cultural repression.
The order, signed by Senior Divisional Officer Menyong Gilbert Sunday on October 30th, prohibits masquerades from the Tsenla Compound-Kikaikelaki community from being performed throughout Bui Division. The directive threatens violators with prosecution and mandates strict enforcement from law enforcement and traditional leaders.
Masquerades are a deeply rooted cultural tradition in Cameroon, integral to ceremonies, festivals, and rites of passage. For many, they represent a bridge between the living and the ancestral spirits—a way of honoring heritage and community identity.
Eric Acha, an activist and government critic, took to social media to condemn the ban, calling it a “gross violation of a people’s rights.” In a fiery statement, Acha said, “They've destroyed all we had. The only thing we still hold on to is our rich culture. That too is also under attack.” He further argued that the ban on masquerades is illegal, and called on the government to reverse what he sees as an assault on cultural freedom.
“This is not just an order; it’s an attack on who we are,” Acha declared. “The SDO in Bui must be called to order.”
The ban, meant to “preserve peace and order,” according to the document, has instead stirred a hornet’s nest, with locals accusing the government of eroding their heritage in the name of control. For a region already on edge from internal conflicts and political unrest, the move threatens to deepen rifts between authorities and local communities.
As Cameroonians take to online platforms to demand the protection of their cultural rights, the world watches to see if the government will heed these calls—or double down on the controversial order.
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