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Nguon drums


Nguon drums
Photo Information
Copyright: Steven Le Vourc'h (Curioso) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 585 W: 287 N: 1498] (8902)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-12-10
Categories: Festivals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon 17-40/4L USM, Digital RAW, Hama UV 77 mm
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: LIVING IN CAMEROON
Date Submitted: 2007-02-25 14:16
Viewed: 850
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Early december 2006, a major event called "Nguon festival" took place like it does every two years, gathering the "Bamoun" people around the palace for two days of ceremonies.

This is a major cultural and political event since the Sultan still has a great influence in the political life of the Province. During the "Nguon", the Mfon (sultan) has to listen to spokemen from the Bamoun people (praises like criticisms) who try to judge the past two years. He has to answer to fundamental questions raised at the moment by the spokemen. In a certain way, this is a piece of democracy in a frozen political system in which the new Mfon must be a son of the former one. He has to face for few hours the spokemen and answer their remarks in front of the people gathered around him.

The major Sultan of the Bamoun people (Njoya 1876-1933) created a Bamoun alphabet. He's considered as the greatest Sultan of a long dynasty which started in 1394. The Bamoun people grew in importance all along the centuries and is now considered as one of the biggest ethnies in the Western Cameroon.

Here, one can see the large traditional drums which aims at calling people and chieves from different places around. These drums located close to the market are really large and can be heard from places located several miles around.

In the darkeness of the background, you may notice some paintings and masks which embodies ancestors.
robiuk, sebcz has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • robiuk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1941 W: 170 N: 2191] (9391)
  • [2007-02-25 15:49]

Very interesting one, Steven!
I'm still not sure whether I'm looking
in only one drummer on the left side of
the frame, or if there's another one
behind him (as this second one may as
well belong to the artwork in the background).
Seems like you had a really good time in
Cameroon...
Robi

Hi Steven
As musician I am interested in this kind of traditional music.Thnaks for sharing this good picture. Only I cannot see the whole drum here.Perhaps you have more....
greetings Albrecht

  • Great 
  • sebcz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 667 W: 149 N: 348] (2345)
  • [2007-02-26 15:01]

Hi Steven!
A very interesting scene, not only good in terms of quality and light but also quite TE orientated, TFS!
Seb

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