The maiden edition of the South West Cultural Festival has officially opened in Kumba, announced the chief town of the Meme Division.

The epic cultural showdown comes after over 11 months of preparation.

The cultural jamboree which brings together elite of all divisions of the South West region including Fako, Ndian, Meme, Kupe-Muanenguba, Lebialem and Manyu and all other communities represented in the region, will run from December 5 through December 12, 2015.

According to the South West Regional Delegate of Arts and Culture, Ngoh Grace Ewang, the festival will showcase the luxury and cultural diversity of the region.

She howled at the fact that there has been nothing so far in the form of events to showcase the rich culture of the people of the South West, one of the finest in the nation. Hear here; “this Cultural Festival is like our National Identity Card. It tells who we are. We don’t speak but simply show those things that make us unique. The South West Cultural Festival is, therefore, a forum to explain who we are”.

The regional delegate also revealed that work ahead of this grand cultural festival started some eleven months ago, during which the organizing committee met and worked with all the relevant administrative authorities, actors, participants, elites and even sponsors.

Thanks to the early preparation, Divisional Steering committees were created with the chiefs serving as focal points.

The fact that this festival is the first of its kind, ever organized in the region, the regional delegate for Arts and Culture has pointed out that much work is in store against the next edition.

According to her, many things went wrong because many participants delayed in registration, others didn’t comply on time, just to name but these. “We will right the wrongs of this edition and promise a better organization for the next edition”, she stressed.

This 8-day event will have as activity; a sport walk led by the venerated queen of the mountain, SerahEtonde, traditional dances, gastronomic displays, arts and craft exhibitions, theater, amongst others.