Women’s Day In Cameroon: Does It Empower Or Exploit the Woman?

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‘Woman eh!

Ah hear say na dat moon dis!

Whey all woman must get penya wrapa.

I sabi say njangi haus dem  di hot.

Wona di plan style fo sew wona wrapa no bi so?

Style too fo hair di enta tori and weti wona go chop

As wona join ara woman dem selebate dis day.

Ok oh some them di vex say mansa nova buy dem wrapa.

Mansa no di hear road fo haus na ele noise.

A beg no hear that tok whey ya friend dem di gi you oh

Say make you and mansa wear one foot trousa seka wrapa.

No carry cargo fo haus go sell am seka wrapa oh.

You wan make mansa buy you wrapa whey troublems no comot,

Try cook beta chop gi ee but abeg no cook broke marriet fish.

Dat mean say nor dis wrapa palaba no bi by force oh you no must wearam

Fo show say you be woman. Ok make ah di go ah don tok ma own.

Woman eh!’

(Finished product)

 The Women’s Conference in MexicoCity in 1975 began a new era for women. That year saw the launch of the UN Decade for the woman and the first ever International Day of the Woman was celebrated. A decade later in 1985 and following subsequent platforms for action for the woman such as the Beijing Conference, 8^th March has been set aside since then as a day to honour and celebrate women.

Women the world over put a lot of efforts during this period to honour and celebrate women folk. Round tables, workshops, keep fit campaigns and seminars are organised to discuss women’s issues and how they can be redressed.

In Cameroon, this period is marked by a lot of activities. The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family organises round tables, workshops, exhibitions etc. However, to the woman on the streets, what is paramount is that she gets her women’s day wrapper.

(Machines getting busy)

The singsongs of machines in tailoring workshops all over the country is a testament to just how important this wrapper has become for many a Cameroonian woman. Given that most of them do not even understand what the day entails, it could not be too farfetched to say this day has turn out to be more exploitative than empowering to the Cameroonian woman. 

The fabrics now known as ‘Women’s Day Wrapper’ are produced and sold to the womenfolk yearly. They are said to be of inferior quality as they fade easy. And for some women, it is a do or die issue if they do not have the fabric every year. If you ask what the theme is for the year many will respond with ‘how dat wan consign me ah di find na ma wrapper’ Just as an example, I asked a lady yesterday why did she buy and sew this particular wrapper? She said ‘Every woman will be wearing one tomorrow I have to wear one too’.

(Finished product)

No doubt, it generates work and income to tailors and seamstresses nationwide and I applaud those who are using this day for what itis all about…empowering and celebrating women. That notwithstanding, I cannot help but feel for the vast majority, this day has lostits significance as it has become more or less a money making, merry making,  home wrecking and exploitative period.

Celebrating women’s day is not about putting on your Women’s day wrapper skillfully done into whatever model you chose; and vanish from your house, eating, drinking and ‘Soulever le kaba’ until the next day. It is about knowing what problems affect women and looking for solutions while at the same, time honour and celebrate women.

Someone is surely getting rich at the expense of Women. As Cameroonian women join their counterparts today in celebrating 8^th March, may we look past this ‘wrapper’ obssession and seek ways to address and redress issues plaquing women. Looking at the way the day is celebrated, there is no iota of doubt that to many a Cameroonian woman, somewhere between getting a new wrapper and drinking to stupour, the day lost its significance.

Please like, comment and Share. Your thoughts motivate me.

ARREY E. AGBOR-NDAKAW.

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