Joyful Celebration Despite Timid Start in Yaounde

Young men and women could be seen dancing at the Roga Roga VIP Snack-bar, situated in the Essomba neighbourhood of the nation's capital, around 4:00 am yesterday. The New Year Eve merry-making had reached its climax as tables full of emptied beer bottles gave a clue as to why almost everybody was on his or feet wishing "Happy New Year" to all and sundry.

The scene depicted enjoyment seen in most bars, cabarets and night clubs to celebrate New Year's Eve that started timidly, but gathered momentum after midnight when the popular trade fair, Ya-Fe, churches as well as massively-attended evangelism crusades emptied crowds that had gathered to welcome the New Year, 2014.

Major streets in some parts of the city swelled demographically as the year 2014's first hours went by. In the Essos neighbourhood, known for its extraordinary number of enjoyment spots, entries increased in popular bars such as "Le Boucan", "Complexe Universel", "Emergence", and "Le Printemps" which attracted most crowds. At the Mini-Ferme neighbourhood, there was even more frenzy as music oozed out from spots such as "Haute Tension", "Vieux Manoir" and "Complexe Maison Mère", amongst others. At 3:00 am, these spots proved too small to contain celebrants streaming in for booze and a good dance. Tables extended to sidewalks.

Away from the classical enjoyment arenas, some popular neighbourhoods such as Ekounou, Nkolndongo and Nsam, amongst others, also had clusters of heavy drinking and dancing. Loud music could still be heard till 7:00 am in some neighbourhoods as die-hard merry-makers persisted in the drinking spree that was often punctuated by brawls when alcohol took its effect.