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Author: La Vuelta al Mundo de Dan y David
We had to please Fidelia. we were fed up of hearing her say "You have to come with me to church", so we finally decided to go on Sunday.
There we were, in our Sunday best - new, African made to measure by the local tailor. The service was quite spectacular, rather than a Sunday morning sermon it was more like an African music and dance concert. Although it must be said that the 50 minute sermon was excruciatingly boring and made us think about making a run for it on several occasions.
African drums and rattles were acompanying a woman singing and the congregation were repeating her phrases together. People got up and began to dance while a line went down the aisle with offerings of corn and vegetables in baskets on their heads. Some even carried goats and chickens on their shoulders. This was the first offering.
The service continued with more singing and dancing, and finished with another offering which was to be sold afterwards at the church entrance as an auction.
There we were, in our Sunday best - new, African made to measure by the local tailor. The service was quite spectacular, rather than a Sunday morning sermon it was more like an African music and dance concert. Although it must be said that the 50 minute sermon was excruciatingly boring and made us think about making a run for it on several occasions.
African drums and rattles were acompanying a woman singing and the congregation were repeating her phrases together. People got up and began to dance while a line went down the aisle with offerings of corn and vegetables in baskets on their heads. Some even carried goats and chickens on their shoulders. This was the first offering.
The service continued with more singing and dancing, and finished with another offering which was to be sold afterwards at the church entrance as an auction.
We didn´t feel like we were in church. It was a mix of African tradition and christianism. In fact, a few days ago there was a special evening session that people attended to see exorcisms! Apparently people who supposedly have demons inside get up from their pew shouting and shaking before falling to the ground. Cristi, our cook told us about it, she being a firm believer.
Breaking of curses and deliverance from satanic powers
No one was able to tell us where the donated money and offering goes, something that is very negative seeing as these are poor people who don´t evn have enough to eat, and yet every Sunday they go to church with coins and food to donate.
We calculated that there were around 600 people attending the service, each giving 100 francs or basket of produce as a very minimum. So the church rakes in at least 120,000 francs every Sunday, an awful lot of money in Cameroonian terms. Now we know why the pastor is always seen with his sunglasses and impeccable suits.
In spite of the feeling of reject we have towards the illusions fed to these people, who see theiir donation as a sure way to heaven, while we were at the church we actually had a good time seeing the service and dancing!
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