Recently, His Majesty the Fon of Bafut Abumbi II and the Bafut community welcomed U.S. Embassy officials for a program to celebrate a $61,400 grant under the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) to conserve the early 20th-Century Achum House in the Bafut Palace.
The U.S. Embassy team was composed of Public Affairs Officer Roberto Quiroz II, Cultural Affairs Specialist Gladys Viban, Cultural Affairs Assistant Olivia Mukam, and Education USA Advisor Richard Ewane.
During the ceremony, the Fon of Bafut expressed his appreciation towards the American people for AFCP’s support, and Bafut members presented the agricultural crops cultivated in the region, exemplifying their community motto: “Let Us Feed the Nation.”
The ceremony also welcomed the distinguished presence of Member of Parliament, the Honorable Fusi Naamukong Wilfred, Bafut Council Mayor Ngwasoh Abel Langsi, and Ministry of Arts and Culture Delegate for the Northwest Region Enerstine Lukom.
Mr. Quiroz thanked the Fon of Bafut and his community for the welcome, and noted: “As Ambassador Michael S. Hoza has said, Cameroon is rightfully known as Africa in miniature because it is repository for all African culture, and cultural heritage treasures which must be protected and preserved for future generations.
We are honored to partner with you on these efforts, and note that recently the Bafut community in Washington, D.C. celebrated this AFCP grant with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Robert P. Jackson and former Cultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon Dr. Jonathan Koehler. That event, held thousands of miles away from here, underscore the lasting pride shared with you by the Bafut community in America to honor and preserve their cultural heritage.”
The program included an interview of His Majesty the Fon of Bafut and Mr. Quiroz by CRTV, where Mr. Quiroz noted: "as Ambassador Michael S. Hoza has said, the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation sponsored by the U.S. Department of State enables the United States to show respect to Cameroon's cultural heritage. As such, it is an honor to partner with Cameroonians in their efforts to preserve their unique cultural treasures for future generations."
