For Somié - Nggamdu.org

FOR SOMIÉ

Somié is one of the main Mambila villages in Cameroon, with a population upwards of 5,000 people. Located within the northern borderlands that connect Cameroon with Nigeria, the people of Somié speak Jù Bà, a local dialect of the Mambila language. The village has several schools, churches and mosques, and a busy weekly market. Most of the Somié population are farmers, growing crops to sell at the market as well as for their own consumption; many grow coffee on the forest peripheries that cover the hillsides across the region. Dances and rituals form an integral part of Mambila tradition, likewise do Suàgà oath taking and the practice of nggàm dù divination.

Since the Nggamdu.org web portal was launched in 2021, funding from consultations has been distributed to locally-initiated projects based on the community's needs in the village of Somié, and the remuneration for spider diviners’ work.

Supporting a local reforestation initiative

REFCOASO is a registered co-operative group in Somié and has been planting trees in the area of the village’s water catchment to ensure a supply is maintained throughout the dry season. They have also planted trees outside local dispensaries and the secondary school, as well as in their two pilot fields. With the support of Nggamdu.org, the project has funded the support of the group for several years, where a wider educational program in neighbouring villages has been undertaken.

Reconstruction of the Somie Palace

The palace of Somié was reconstructed after facing severe damage to its roof during the rain season. After work took place in the dry season in the early months of this year, the newly built palace was inaugurated by the Vice President of ADECANSO on June 12, 2024.

Arts and cultural programming

A number of workshops have been facilitated within the village to promote and encourage arts and cultural activity across schools and local groups. In January 2022, students and other people in Somié were given a photography workshop to assist in their interest to document village life whilst learning more advanced skills in photography.

La Danse Mgbe die à Somie (2024)
Directed by Iréné Nguea

"The Mgbe Die when we went to dance it: if those from below came out first, they called the dance, if they, if those from up there came out [first], when they were all out, being all assembled at the Palace square, they chose those who will start to dance, those who went out first to be called first and dance first. They dance first.

Sometimes we skipped a week before going out again, We went out again, today the dance is in their hands, you enter once again, you dance again. It's not like a simple game but a great game: Mgbe Die was a great dance.

The young people came out of Gumbé and from Ndjirip. You all arrived to gather at the Palace square, you danced Mgbe Die, then you danced with the boys in couples. And that's it."

FOR SOMIÉ