The three-day cultural encounter featured a painting exhibition, talks and musical display.

"Sounds and Colours of Africa." Theme retained for the first-ever edition of a newly created cultural concept known as Africa Originality, abbreviated Afric'Or. In line with the United Nations celebration of African Industrialisation Day commemorated every November 30, a host of artistes converged in the economic capital for a three-day cultural jamboree from Wednesday November 20 to Friday 22.

The African continent erstwhile dubbed Mother of civilisation, since time immemorial has gained undisputable fame thanks to her rich cultural and historical heritage. This quickly brings to mind the Egyptian hieroglyph, which was the very first expression of human writings. Another invaluable asset the "mother" possessed was her oral tradition which guaranteed the safeguard and transmission of know-how from one epoch to another.

However, due to changing times and tides, a good number of these values which formerly characterised livelihood, have become obsolete. Gone are the days when parents used to gather their offspring by a fireside for evening stories. Lost are the times when communal solidarity was the order of the day in every society. Past are the days when each person was his brother's keeper; where there was a place for everything and everything in its place.

Aimed at promoting development in Africa through arts and culture, Afric'Or comes in at a time when Cameroon's socio-cultural and linguistic values can be harnessed in view of attaining emergence by 2035, explained Dr. Annie Smith, the event's organiser.

Thus, artistes, both from home and abroad, exhibited over 30 contemporary paintings at Galerie Mam in Bonanjo, expressing the aforementioned theme. Guests present included Dr. Lorenzo Pace (USA), Shiri Achu (UK), Blaise Ndjeho Ya and Dr. Dou Kaya (France), alongside locally based painters.

With themes ranging from tracing black origins and evolution, communal life, liberty deforestation, daily hurdles and hope; the painters successfully blended bright colours and other objects in order to fully transmit their messages.

The session was equally marked by a series of talks, musical animation and a gala night, to revive lost memories. The Minister of Arts and Culture was represented at the opening ceremony by the Littoral Regional Delegate, Michel Edouard Ndoye Messi.