Music and Dance at the Wedding
One thing that can’t be captured in all of the pictures is the music that was constant on our wedding day. And not just the subdued classical that played in the background at the ceremony, but the singing, clapping and drumming after we left the city chambers.
Everyone was outside on the lawn in front of the building singing. It’s a traditional upbeat dancey tune about how there shouldn’t be any bachelors here and everyone should get married. (Of course this was based on a translation I was given afterwards.) I was dancing from the time I left the building. It’s all a capella and everyone seems to know the chorus, but one person plays the designated soloist.
There were also a group of young men who provide a good dance beat. Weddings are posted at the city hall weeks in advance, so they know to show up and start to play, confident that they will be compensated. On the walk from the mairie to the place where we took pictures everyone was dancing along with us down the road. Patrice actually ended up transporting the musicians back to the reception in the back of his pick-up and they continued playing in the pickup and for a while back at the house.
beenile@yahoo.com
May 8th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Thanks for the entries about your wedding planning and festivities! I am an American engaged to a Cameroonian from Limbe. He really wants to get married in his hometown and I am trying to figure out what it might be like. It’s hard to give up control over your wedding without having any idea what the day might entail. It sound like you had a wonderful day. Any advice for a Western bride-to-be?
Congratulations on your coming baby! I hope the three of you may be reunited as soon as possible.
May 11th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
My advice would be to find a way to make yourself visible at the wedding. You can have a favourite dish on the menu, music you want to have played or even a wedding tradition that you’ve always wanted that’s not Cameroonian. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, but I think it’s important to have a reminder that it’s two cultures coming together. Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful day and a beautiful life together.
May 30th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
I came across your website when I was looking for information on Cameroonian wedding traditions. My fiance and I live in Toronto (well, actually Brampton now!). He is a Cameroonian immigrant and I am Canadian-born. His family will be coming from overseas for the wedding in October; this will be my first time meeting my mother-in-law and I would like to try and incorporate some Cameroonian traditions into our Catholic wedding ceremony – any suggestions?
With his family only speaking French and mine only speaking English, I really want to ensure that both families feel included in our day!
I did get a few ideas from your website and I thank you!
May 30th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
The two Cameroonian traditions that came to mind for me are the wedding fabric that people can incorporate into their outfits and the presentation of gifts at the evening reception.
I don’t think I mentioned the wedding gifts before. At the reception, people tell the DJ/master of ceremonies that they have a gift to present and give their names. Then at a designated point in the evening the bride and groom stand in front of the head table and each person/couple who gave their name is announced and they bring their present to the couple. You accept it and give kisses (french cheek to cheek to cheek). The presentation is quite theatrical as people dance to you and hold the gift in front of them. I was a little apprehensive about it when I heard about the tradition, but it was really charming at the reception.
May 5th, 2007 at 10:44 am
I am an American and I am engaged to a Cameroonian who is also a French citizen. He is here in the United States and we are engaged to be married sometime this summer, perhaps July 2007. I would like to know more about Cameroonian wedding traditions and be able to incorporate as much as possible into our ceremony. I would like to have a wedding weekend starting with the rehearsal dinner on Friday with a theme of Paris fashions followed by the wedding ceremony the next day. We both would like a traditional formal wedding and this is where I am having some questions. How do I incorporate both our cultures and traditions on this day. Finally, the marriage Sunday will be a celebration starting with church services for our guests and a reception with the theme of celebrating Africa. My pastors are from Ghana and several of my church sisters are from Zimbawe and I have uncles from Ivory Coast and Nigeria who will be in attendance. I really want to honor my husband to be and his family as well as my other African family members. Any suggestions on how I can go about this?
October 17th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I found this page while I was looking for Cameroonian engagement traditions.
Could anyone help me out, I am looking to get engaged to my girlfriend who is from Cameroon. She still lives with her parents (I know the tradition has something to do with asking her parents, but I’m not sure of the details) any help would be greatly appreciated.
August 16th, 2009 at 3:41 am
Wishing my wedding is so good.:)
September 17th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I find this quite interesting. I’m a white American going to marry in Cameroon. My soon to be husband is in Cyprus in school and we plan to marry in Cameroon. NOw I’m trying to learn all these different things and what to expect. I’m not much of a dancer but sitting in the chair dancing…lol. He told me I have to dance because it will show that I have the love for him. If this the case then I want to be able to go there and be good at it. So I really need to learn this. He told me its called the new wife dance (Anko) does anyone have suggestions where I can go to get more info on anything so I know where to start so I have some type of clue when I get there because I have not met any of the family or nothing. First impression is the best and its the wedding so I want to be able to make it the best. Any help is needed. Thanks for the help
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
GR8 Info, what are other good sites to confirm this info?
December 24th, 2009 at 12:16 am
There are Youtube videos with Cameroonian music that show the type of dancing that is done. My favourite while I was there in 2005 was Demandez a Dieu. It was very catchy and there is a lot of dancing in the video to give you ideas of what to do. Good Luck!!
December 24th, 2009 at 12:21 am
This information is from my own experience so I don’t have any separate research for you to review.
January 10th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
What happened is that I encountered this web site by chance while searching my favorite topic on Google. Great information and I love the theme! I will be back in a day or two.
Thanks for a great site.
Mother Son Wedding Songs
January 11th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Hey mate, I really like your site. With the abundance of misinformation about weddings on the web, it’s great to see some refreshing content. Keep up the great work!
May 16th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Already I’m ready for tomorrows update. Thanks for making your blog free to the public!
March 12th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Oh autumn! I actually got a little misty reading this! Thank u again for helping to make our day so memorable, and for the super great posts. Love YOU!!
August 8th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
We’re no longer together, but it was more regular relationship stuff and nothing to do with being Cameroonian. My sister-in-law is now in Canada as well and I’m still on very good terms with his family. We have a son, so we are in regular contact and are cooperative and civil for the most part.
Hope things are going well for you.
All the best!