On April 8, the Association for the Preservation and Development of Guidar Culture held a mini-festival at the National Museum in Yaoundé. The festival was dedicated to the traditional musical instrument known as the Guma, which is a cylindrical instrument made from part of a tree trunk. The Guma has long been associated with the Guidar culture, which spans Cameroon, Chad, and the diaspora. The festival was attended by several members of the government and dignitaries invited by the community from the northern region.
Handover of Guma to National Museum
One of the highlights of the festival was the official handover of the Guma musical instrument to the National Museum in Yaoundé. The Guma is considered the best representative of the Guidar culture, and its donation to the museum is a significant step in preserving and promoting the culture for future generations.
Symbol of Unity
The National Museum in Yaoundé is a place to foster national unity. The festival brought together different communities and highlighted the importance of understanding and appreciating each other’s cultures. “It’s a mirror through which visitors can look at themselves, a call to other cultures to come and share their heritage so that Cameroonians can get to know and understand each other better,” says Dr. Hug Eumen Tchana, director of the National Museum.
Celebration of Guidar Culture
The Guma is not only a musical instrument but also a dance that is associated with celebration. According to Dr. Albert Doufisse, president of the Association for the Preservation and Development of Guidar Culture, this instrument and its sounds summon all Guidars in Cameroon, Chad and the diaspora to stand up and dance, but above all to perpetuate their rich culture. He emphasized the significance of the Guma and its role in bringing together different communities to celebrate their cultural heritage.
The mini-festival at the National Museum in Yaoundé was a vibrant celebration of Guidar culture, highlighting the importance of national unity and preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
