The Lebialem Community resident in Yaounde have been called upon to remain united and committed to the values of peace, social cohesion and national unity.

The call was made by the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Paul Tasong, on Saturday February 29 while presiding over the Lebialem Cultural Festival.

Representing the Prime Minister, Head of Government at the event, Paul Tasong called on the Lebialem community to stand as one man in the face of adversity and work for peace to reign not only in the division but in the nation as a whole.

« For us to fit into the national challenge of promoting peace and national unity, promoting the one and indivisibility of Cameroon, is to start by being one and indivisible amongst ourselves, » Paul Tasong told the Lebialem community gathered at the Yaounde Multipurpose Sports Complex last Saturday for the festival.

The festival organised by the Lebialem Confederation of Lebialem Cultural and Development Association, CONLECUDA was held under the theme ‘one mami, one papa’ and saw the participation of all 17 fondoms, dance groups and musical performances from artists of Lebialem origin.

Opening the festival, the Minister of Arts and Culture praised the organisers for the initiative which to him reinforces the bond between sons and daughters of the community as well as with other Cameroonians.

« Through culture, we learn how to be better people in the society ; living as brothers and sisters. In culture, you find no barriers between the Beti and the Sawa, no barriers between the Sahelian and the grassfield , no barriers between the Francophones and the Anglophone, » the Minister of Culture said.

The main promoter of the Lebialem Cultural Festival, Chief Justice Joseph Fonkwe Fongang said the festival is an avenue to harness all positive energy aimed at developing Lebialem.

He went further to stress that the achievements of the CONLECUDA notably partnering CABTAL to build a glossary of ‘Nweh’ words and terms in view of translating the Bible into ‘Nweh’ as it has been dine in ‘Melabe’.

The CONLECUDA has also succeeded to bring the Lebialem sons and daughters together through sports with the maiden edition of the Lebialem Unity Football tournament in December 2009, he added.