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Hi, dear Dominique: Really assertive your description. Very interesting and "serious" the blog and very nice the photos. Can you give some information about them? I think that we all from different regions, cultures, etc. have the three "groups" you mention in our communities. May be what is different is the percentage (more or less in each group), but in my opinion the tendency is to accept and respect the differencies. At least something to rescue from the globalization. Do you agree? Best whishes. Beatriz.

Dear Dommi,
from your description your country should be a cradle of cultural and linguistic diversity! As Beatriz already pointed out the mixture of tradition and modernity is present in many other countries, but of course at a differnt level. Could you please give us some explanation concerning the photos? It seems some special occasion, maybe a party...or do people wear those cloths in ordinary days to? And what about these albino children? Are they really murdered because of their complextion?
I wait for some more details...
meanwhile good night
Elisa

Hi dear Dominique!

Despite the fact that there was only one smiley in the end of your entry I liked it tremendously. I welcome every piece of information which may help me to lessen my frightening ignorance of other peoples' cultures. And of course your point of view is important and significant.

Actually, I've heard about the witch phenomenon and shamanism in some African regions. And I wouldn't apply the word "rudimentary" to any traditions or cultures though your mentioning of albino children's killings made my hair stand on end. It's really horrible.

Once again I liked your photos. Could you explain what's in the last two pictures?

I hope you don't mind my digression from the topic to answer Svetlana's questions, do you? (^_*) I study English at University and it's a little embarrassing for me to admit that my main subject is translation (I really doubt I can be a translator). Of course I try to work as much as I can on my own to improve my English but frankly speaking I'm stll struggling through the language barrier.

Your second question was about what kind of audiobooks I prefer listening to. Well, I don't really care but of course it's better to listen to something you like. The last two audiobooks were "The Host" and "Interview with the vampire". I like classical literature though but modern literature has one advantage over it - it's written in modern language. Some time ago I discovered a very interesting site - ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4. There are a lot of different sections but I usually listen to the programmes from the section "Readings" (by the way, there's a section called "History":)). Recently I've been substituting this site's programmes for audiobooks.

And what about you, Svetlana? Your knowledge of English is impressive. How have you achieved it?

Best wishes,
Nastya, Russia, Lubertsy

Hi Dominique and all dear friends; I consider this post is an effective way to think on something deeply.You tell about us some murder events or assimilation of cultures,they are great sorrow things but all of these are a part of real life.'Sad but true'.Unfourtanetly; world still behaves to people according to their skin's colour or their beliefs and religions.This situation really bothers me.As for the cultures in Africa,I think differences are dynamism so people in Africa protects their cultures against every danger of assimilation don't you think so?
finally Dominique I want to ask a question.I wonder your education level.You seem very well educating person,don't you? where do you get educated?

Hi Dominique,

I really enjoy your blog. This is my first comment on this side because of my huge interrest on this topic.I have been only once in Afrika, therefore everything what you wrote is new for me.
I am so curious about customs in your country, especially the witchery phenomenon, beliefs and treatment of ill people. I think it is so fascinating to know new points of view
I can not imagine how is to grow up in the such great diversity of cultures. That must be a wonderful experience. Are people from your country very tolerant towards foreigners?
I am an emigrant. I come from Poland but i am living in Germany. I must say it is sometimes really difficult to live abroad among other nationalities. Unfortunatly not all people are broadminded.-(

Best wishes
Karolina

Dear Dommi,

Amazing... very beautiful.

Natanael

hello, dommi :)
truly, i never heard the Cameroon before, but your blog makes me know it :D
for the first time when i see yours, i'm search the Cameroon on google map, and i found it, in Africa. haha!

by the way, i'm a student of international relations but my english is not good. and i just have a few knowledge about 'international', :( i'm so thankful that i found this site, really!

keep on going with the writing, dommi. i'll be waiting for your next writing.

p.s do you have your own blog? may i know it? :)
p.p.s let's talking much, anyone :) i really want to improve my english, don't mind to send me an e-mail: [Personal details removed by Moderator]
p.p.p.s hear from you soon...

Nicea Gunawan

Hi everybody!
Dear Dominique! You've described the three types of people (in terms of their beliefs) in your country. But what about you? What type do you think you belong to? What are your beliefs? And I really like gulumse's question about education.

Dear Nastya. Thank you for your appraisal of my English. But it made me blush. I re-read my previous comments and realized I'd made a few really stupid mistakes I could have done without. It's embarrassing!
To cut a long story short I started learning English by myself almost two years ago. I began with reading books in English. I've been struggling through my first book (Harry Potter -7) for about four months, but then the process of reading sped up. I've read a great amount of books since then, I'm afraid I got addicted. But reading gave me a lot. Now I can read nearly without using a dictionary. Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means showing off. I just want to say to everybody: Dear friends! Reading is a really good thing, read more! But I guess I carried away a bit, so let's get back to the point. Listening to audiobooks is a very useful thing as well. And I've listened to audio version almost every book I've read in print. By the way, "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer was the first book I've listened to. Can you believe it?
So I've been working hard on my English by myself for a year, but still I couldn't speak or write and it was getting on my nerves. So one day I made up my mind to study it in earnest. Now I'm studying English at University, I'm going to be a translator too. To be honest I doubt I can find a job as a translator in our town, but it doesn't matter (my current job has nothing to do with my first speciality either, as you know I'm a historian). Regardless I set my mind on learning English, I like it, and I do it for myself, for my nine-year old son who studies the language at school and is going to need some help with it. That's all.

Dominique please don't get mad at me for being too talkative and for sidetracking from your topic.

See you all around
Svetlana, Russia, Ivanovo

Heeello Dominique
Thank you for your topic.
I reckon it's a controversial debate everywhere after all. As far as I can see in most of developed countries, often some pepole think that the preservation of their culture and values are a valuable asset to their countries and to their national identity. Unfortunately since when the world financial crises exploded this feeling has been rising because pepole are basically scared about their future and they think foreing pepole are to blame for it. Overall I personally believe that the advantages of mixing culture is a priceless and added value because it lets us examine our differences and similarities. Or at least this is how it should work...
Look forward to sharing next topic

Hi dear Dommi, and friends!

You know, Dommi, the African continent is always quite a mystery for me. I'm looking at these pictures you've posted here and thinking how amazing that globalization haven't touched yet those regions and cultures. By no means the "witchery phenomenon" and "murder of albino children" sounds odd, at least for me. But it's a piece of your culture and I appreciate it. I think it'd be boring if every person and every culture looked similar.

I really liked the colours of these costumes wearing by people on your photos. There is something wild and beautiful at the same time.

Well, Dommi, what's your attitude to globalization? Would you like to change anything in your country and in people may be?

Thank you,

Pocahontas

Hi Dear Dommi,
It is really nice to read your post. I am from Nepal and we have also similar culture here. One of the picture you posted is same like "Lama dance" the dace of Himalayan Buddhist monks'practice. I am really touched by your post because there are numberless people in world. All are same by wish to be happy and work hard in different way to achieve it. What a amazing world.
Hope I would get to know more interesting information from you.
thanks
Karma DM sherpa

Dominique I can share the same experience of globalization both positively and negatively affecting my home country, in particular our culture. I am a girl for the Arts and appreciate any discussion on culture and people’s lifestyle. You made mention to a kind of Culture Loss being experienced in Cameroon by some citizens because of elements of Globalization Although the phenomenon has its merits there are a lot of shortcomings for countries that are not ranked high on the HDI. I speak to those areas of the world referred to as periphery such as Sub- Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. I beseech you to saddle up on that cultural horse and seek to introduce creative practices of cultural retention right across Cameroon and hopefully other areas of the continent Don’t allow the elements of Globalization to have precedence in such a culturally rich country.

I want to shed some light the continued practice of murdering albinos that you noted in this blog It is sad to know that there are still persons out there who are racist to the point of executing evil and criminal activities such as taking the life of a human being in the name of tradition. Frankly, I don’t care about culture in such instances Murder is downright wrong! And offenders should be prosecuted. I was terribly disturbed to read of such phenomenon especially in Africa which is verified to be the continent on which life civilization started. This barbaric act definitely sheds a bad light on Cameroon and is bad for its Tourism. I myself am sometimes confused to be an albino therefore this news makes me quiver.