Press Release
MISAJE,
August 25, 2015—The third edition of the ‘shaa’ festival has opened in
Misaje in the Donga Mantung Division of the Northwest region of
Cameroon. The festival opened on Tuesday August 25 and will span six
days.
Some five villages of the local municipality of Misaje;
Kamani, Sabonguida, Mfume, Misaje are taking part in the third edition
with over 100 ‘shaa’ producers.
The initiator of the festival,
Ndansi Elvis Nukam said besides the increase in the number of
participating villages and ‘shaa’ producers, the third edition will
witness a number of innovations.
“Some 40 under privileged pupils
from denominational schools will receive scholarship. Staff of Unite for
Health Foundation will carry out sensitization campaigns, donate drugs
and rapid HIV test drips to the participating communities,” Mr Ndansi
Elvis said.
Day four of the festival would be reserved for the
muslim community of Misaje and Dumbu. The festival initiator will donate
praying mats and kettles to the Misaje and Dumbu mosques.
The
hallmark of the third edition of the ‘Shaa’ festival will be the
launching of the Misaje Sports Academy. The baby soccer academy will
play an inaugural match with Bang Bullet FC; a third-division football
team from Nkambe.
About the ‘shaa’ Festival
‘Shaa’ is locally
brewed liquor which is highly consumed in the rural municipality of
Misaje. While most households depend on the sale of the liquor for a
livelihood, most youths spend their days drinking—making them lazy and
less productive. Hygienic conditions surrounding its production and sale
too have been doubtful over the years.
“The festival does not aim
at encouraging the consumption of alcohol. It is an avenue to educate
producer and consumers on how they could better manage the business and
render the consumption more responsible,” Mr Ndansi Elvis said.
‘Shaa’ manufacturers from the different contesting zones each bring a
20litres of the liquor which a specialized committee tastes and grade.
Results are tallied and first three finalists are awarded prizes ranging
from cell phones, tap adapted buckets, drinking cups, amongst others.
Each participant’s 20litres of ‘shaa’ is paid for by the organizing
committee and shared to consumers. All participants receive a token
participation bonus (and transport where necessary).
“‘Shaa’ is made
out of corn and is served locally using cups. These cups are re-used
after each person drinks from them. And so during this period of washing
the cups they have their traditional washing bucket system wherein they
use one bucket in washing. Based on the principle of basic hygiene if
you continue to use this method and we have the outbreak of a disease
like cholera, it would be disastrous,” the festival initiator explained.
During the first edition, ‘Shaa’ sellers adopted a resolution dubbed
‘operation 12 O’clock’. Rather than open their ‘shaa’ houses from
6-10pm, they agreed that the drinking spots will hence open from midday
and close at 8pm.
Contact
The Communication Unit
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