Bali Convention

May 23 through 26 ~ Bali Convention.

Please click here to see videos of some of the performances. When you are directed to the website, scroll down and put your cursor on one of the small football pictures. You will be able to see the other pictures of the dances. Each one of them is a video. Just click on either one to listen to the music and see the dance. I am featured in the gala night video. When you are done, click on the "back" button at the top left hand corner of your screen to return to my blog.

The Bali Convention holds annually, usually on the Memorial Day weekend. This was my first one. The Oklahoma chapter hosted the event this year. It is a very big affair... I can tell you that much. There are over 300 people from all over the USA and a good number from without. The Fon of Bali Nyonga sometimes graces the occasion with his presence, all the way from his palace in Cameroon.

You might wonder how all this concerns me.. Bali Nyonga is my mother's tribe, and my aunts' as well. At these conventions, we celebrate each other, our culture, and our heritage. We raise funds for worthy projects back home in Cameroon, elect new executive and report on our progress over the past year. The event starts on Friday and goes through Monday. Everyone is there...that is the fun part....and of course, there's all the food, drink, dance, tribal dance, ritual demonstrations, and the like. It was fun. I saw friends I hadn't seen in several years. We really have to thank the Oklahoma group for putting together a great event that served to bring us all together in one big celebration.

Aaron was also able to attend, so that made it doubly special. As you will see in the pictures, on the appropriate days, he too donned the traditional attire and made himself very much a part of the festivities. I loved it!!! Aaron is that way...very easy going and accepting, and he feels very much at home almost anywhere. You know, he is from the Southwest part of Cameroon, where the culture is totally different. But he blended right in with the Bali people all the same!! You go, Aaron!!:-)

Our visit to Ma Angeline's house 2 weeks before the convention.
Dearest cousin Feh
Aaron is very good at cutting cabbage!
Ba Georgie looks on...
Day 1 - Friday. There was a gala and fundraising event. We didn't attend and so I don't have pictures of it.

Day 2 - Saturday. The afternoon was for meetings and introductions. Everyone dressed in Africtudes.Doesn't he look good? ["And you look fabulous", says Aaron.] My dearest cousins Samgwa and Samgella chat together at the convention site.
I say, they look like malams!!:-)
Aaron tests the width of his 'agwada'. Auntie Jane and Aaron chat. You can see some of the guests in the background.
With my dear friend, Luma (Lumis). We went to the University of Buea about the same time.
With grandma and cousin Frank. They are wearing the OK Chapter uniform.
Here we are again
My good friend, Lora

Cute baby...just had to take his picture
Eva...looking quite business-like:-)


Ba and family...and my hubby playing rapper!!:-)

See how cute Feh looks standing there.
Dear Aunt Angeline
Dear Aunt Kona. Oklahoma hosted the event so Ma Kona was very busy. I barely ever saw her!! With dear Divine
Saturday evening - dance party

See how good Ba George Fombe and his boys look standing there together!

And mom...and sister
With dear Auntie Jane Mary

My aunt was looking really goooood!!!!

With my hot hubby!!
Best bos!!
Mother and daughter...
With Ba Georgie himself
My cousins

Childhood friend, Antoinette (Coco). It was so good to see her.

Day 3 - Sunday. We hosted a lunch at the Fombes (my Aunt Angeline's home). There were over 100 people who came. It was busy and very interesting. We cooked a whole lot and friends just kept coming in droves.

Later that afternoon, there was a football match. Oklahoma people versus the outsiders. It was a strong match and ended 3-2 in favor of the Okies.:-) Unfortunately, we were so tired we couldn't make it to see the match. But Ba Georgie went to play.

That evening was dedicated to the cultural event. Everyone dressed in varied forms of the typical Bali traditional costume.

With my cousins

With Auntie Jane and her son, Fred
With my cute cousin, Feh.
With dear Ma Evelyn

With Izie, her cute girls, and Sabina
With my pretty cousin, Sharon
With Aunties Angeline, Kona, and Ba Georgie
Ma Angeline...is blinking!!:-)
With Eva and her niece, Didi ...and Auntie Jane's baby, Fred.

Didi smiled this time
With Evelyn, Martha, and Auntie Jane

Auntie Janemary's son, Fred, was cuddling!
Ba Fombe and Mrs. Fombe!!

Ah... what else can I say?

With Ma Jessica and her beautiful daughters...
With Ma Angeline
With my grandma in the middle of the back row

Dancing to Bali songs

The drummers in action
More dancing
With Lema and her sister. They came from Dallas.

Day 4 - Monday.

Having a quiet lunch at home. We did not go to the bbq later on that day because Aaron and I had to travel back to Arkansas.

Just before we took off to Arkansas