06/05/2026
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNIQUÉ
From: The National Achu Festival Organizing Committee
To: The National Community and International Partners
Date: May 5, 2026
Ref: NAFOC/2026/05/COM/001
COMMUNIQUÉ ON THE BAN OF “ACHU SUNDAY” BY BASSA’A TRADITIONAL RULERS (MBOG LIAA)
The National Achu Festival Organizing Committee has learned with deep concern of the decision by certain traditional Bassa’a leaders to prohibit the celebration of “Achu Sunday” and to threaten sanctions against citizens who participate.
The Committee condemns in the strongest terms this act of cultural discrimination.
1. CAMEROON IS ONE AND INDIVISIBLE
As clearly instructed by the Head of State, H.E. Paul Biya, every Cameroonian has the full and inalienable right to live, work, and freely manifest his or her cultural and traditional identity anywhere on the national territory. There are no “cultural visas”required to eat Achu in Bassa’a land, Ndolé in Bafut, or Koki in Kousseri. To ban Achu in Bassa’a land is to ban the Republic in Bassa’a territory.
2. ACHU BELONGS TO CAMEROON, NOT TO A TRIBE
Achu, the royal cuisine of the Grassfields people of Cameroon – championed by the people of Bafut – has become a national and international dish. It is eaten in Presidencies, Ministries, Embassies, and homes across all 10 regions. It is Cameroon’s candidate for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. An element can not be endangered in its land of origin while we ask the world to protect it. The ban in Bassa’a territory is a direct attack on Cameroon’s UNESCO dossier.
3. TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY IS FOR PEACE, NOT DIVISION
We respectfully remind our revered traditional rulers that their mission, under the laws of the Republic, is to be auxiliaries of peace, development, and living together. Banning the food of fellow Cameroonians is not tradition. It is exclusion. Exclusion is the seed of conflict.
4. OUR APPEAL
To the Traditional Leaders of Bassa’a (Mbog Liaa):
We call for dialogue and wisdom. The Bassa’a people are known for hospitality and courage. Let the Bassa’a people be remembered for welcoming Cameroon, not for rejecting it. Lift the ban. Join us at the table.
To the Government of Cameroon:
We call on the Minister of Territorial Administration, the Minister of Arts & Culture, and the National Commission for UNESCO to reaffirm that no cultural practice of any Cameroonian community shall be banned anywhere in Cameroon, especially one that carries our national image abroad.
To the International Community & UNESCO:
Take note that the people of Cameroon stand for cultural diversity and inclusion. The Achu Festival and Achu Sunday are citizen initiatives to heal, unite, and promote our culinary heritage. We will not allow isolated acts of exclusion to derail Cameroon’s march towards promoting and supporting the Achu file at UNESCO.
5. OUR RESOLVE
Achu Sunday will be held in Bassa’a land, in Bafut, in Douala, in Paris. Because Achu is peace. Achu is unity. Achu is Cameroon.
We invite all Bassa’a brothers and sisters to come and taste Achu. The same hands that pound Achu are the same hands that build bridges for intercultural diplomacy.
The Republic is our village. The Constitution is our tradition. Unity is our culture.
Done in Bafut, May 5, 2026
For the National Achu Festival Organizing Committee
THE CHAIRMAN*
NATIONAL ACHU FESTIVAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
A. NGWA-SIAKA SHUNEH
Cc:
- Presidency of the Republic
- MINAT, MINAC, MINREX
National Commission for UNESCO
- Governor – North West Region
- SDO – Mezam
- HRM Fon of Bafut
- North West Regional Assembly (House of Chiefs)
- Diplomatic Missions & UNESCO Yaoundé
National & International Press
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