By Ignatius Nji
The 2022 editon of the Shaa Festival in Misaje subdivision in Dunga Mantung division aimed at celebrating the resilience and efforts of local women in the promotion of the economy and education in particular has ended.
Ten selected zonal champions of the Shaa Festival converged in Misaje for the grand final on September 8, 2022. Three winners drawn from the three Clans that make up the subdivision took home cash prizes ranging 100 000frs for the first, 75000frs for the second and 50000frs for the third place. The rest seven had conciliatory prizes of tap buckets and cups.
Elvis Ndansi Founder and President of Unite for Health Foundation, the initiator and founder of the Shaa festival from faraway United States of America spoke to the Shaa women via a video call application encouraging them not to relent in their activity for it is the economic backbone of the subdivision.
For what motivated him to start the festival he explained that his grandmother use to be a Shaa producer and he sold and consumed it and it is with proceeds from Shaa that he went to school. The timing of the festival is first of all to encourage women to use the proceeds to send children to school. He assured the women that that Shaa festival which was halted when he travelled abroad for further studies shall hence be annually.
"As a son of Misaje I shall continue to support you in every little way I can and this Shaa festival is indicative that I have not forgotten you. I am here in America but my heart is with you in Misaje for I think of you the mother every day." He said.
Happening in a political active environment where everything is tagged to politics, Ndansi told the huge crowd that he is no longer in to politics and Shaa festival is a non partisan activity. He has called on the people to support Minister Prof Calistus Fuh who is doing alot for his people back in Misaje and that they should be praying God to give him more strength to continue doing what he is doing.
Angelina Manjuh who lifted the first trophy with an award thanked the funding body Unite For Health Foundation and the founder Ndansi for putting smiles on their faces at this particular difficult times. The cash prize shall enable her buy books and other school needs for her kids. Second prize winner whose name we got only as Mispa from Bebekette almost in tears said she will buy all her needs in preparation for her new baby. She said God should continue to bless Ndansi who is a blessing to them back home.
The juju's were not left out as one masquerade graced the occasion as it displayed it's acrobatic skills in climbing on rooftops. The general Shaa feasting was the order of the day with exhibits of participants.