The East Wing of Unity Palace was swarmed early in the morning by groups of ladies all dressed in ceremonial attire befitting the occasion. The wife of the Ambassador of Gabon to Cameroon, Madam Rachel MADOUNGOU led the wives of the Diplomatic Corps to say Happy New Year to the First Lady, who took pictures with each of them and shared a glass of wine with her invitees.
The wife of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Madam Fadimatou CAVAYE, led the first national delegation, the wives of the members of the bureau of the National Assembly. Then came Madam Linda YANG at the head of the wives of members of Government, Madam Catherine ESSO at the head of the wives of the staff of the Presidency of the Republic. Other notable delegations were those of the WCPDM, the ECOSOC, female parliamentarians, female mayors female journalists, business women etc.
The 23 delegations included one constituted of Baka pygmies, a social group at the centre of the humanitarian activities of the First Lady.
The ceremony reached fever pitch when Madam Chantal BIYA danced to melody produced by AMA Pierrot and Lady Ponce, to the joy and acclamation of the more than 1 200 women who came out for the occasion. “Happy New Year to the First Lady” was the rallying call at the end of the day.
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