The North-West Regional Assembly (NWRA) is intensifying preparations for the North-West Festival of Peace, Unity, Social Cohesion, and Culture, scheduled for December 2026. Meeting on November 7 in Bamenda, the steering committee reviewed activities, budgets, and logistical requirements with a clear ambition: to make this event a platform for reconciliation, cultural promotion, and economic opportunities.
In Bamenda, peace is not built through speeches alone. It is forged through encounters, cultural projects, economic opportunities, and the involvement of all communities. It is in this spirit that the North-West Regional Assembly (NWRA) has stepped up preparations for the North-West Festival of Peace, Unity, Social Cohesion, and Culture, slated for December 2026. The stated objective is to transform this event into a platform for regional reconciliation, cultural preservation, and the promotion of economic opportunities.
The second preparatory meeting was held on Saturday, November 7, at the Assembly Auditorium in Bamenda. It was chaired by the President of the North-West Regional Executive Council, Prof. Fru Fobuzshi Angwafo III, accompanied by the Commissioner for Health and Social Development, Dr. Yaa Sakah Fondufe Lydia, and the Director of General Affairs, Alombah Anderson Akondi.
The agenda featured the examination of progress reports from the festival’s sub-committees, the analysis of proposed activities and budgets, and the identification of outstanding logistical and financial needs. The organizers reviewed the main program highlights, notably football and traditional sports competitions, cultural performances, community theater, indigenous food exhibitions, academic contests, arts and crafts displays, and a peace concert featuring local artists.
The committees also presented their arrangements regarding accommodation, transportation, security, medical services, volunteer mobilization, registration, accreditation, and publicity. These are all essential parameters for the success of a major event, whose preliminary attendance projections range between 10,000 and 15,000 people.
Beyond the celebrations, the festival aims to serve as an economic engine. Prof. Angwafo urged organizers to move beyond a purely ceremonial framework to create genuine opportunities for local artisans, traders, food vendors, tourism operators, women, and young entrepreneurs. He advocated for greater participation from traditional craftsmen—such as sculptors, carpenters, and blacksmiths—while emphasizing inclusion across all seven divisions and among persons with disabilities.
The meeting also underscored the importance of involving religious and traditional institutions in strengthening community relations, ensuring that peacebuilding becomes a permanent dimension of the festival. To accelerate implementation, the President instructed all sub-committees to finalize their activity plans, budgets, timelines, and measurable targets, adopt alternative implementation scenarios, and strengthen accountability and resource mobilization. Outstanding financial contributions are expected by Tuesday.
Driven by this dynamic, the 2026 North-West Festival aims to establish itself as a space for rebuilding trust, promoting regional heritage, and stimulating economic activity. This ambition extends far beyond the festive framework: it seeks to make peace a collective project driven by the communities themselves.
