Women’s Day 2025: debate sparks, over use of fabric in Cameroon
By Synthia Lateu
The usefulness of the fabric for celebrating International Women’s Day in Cameroon has recently sparked debate. As with previous years, the fabric for the 2025 edition has been unveiled, priced at 10,000 FCFA. However, many women feel this price is too high, especially in light of the country’s ongoing economic challenges. Some consider this expenditure a misplaced priority.
Retailer, Fridegarte expressed that she would prefer to invest the 10,000 Frs in her business, stating that she no longer sees the importance of this day in her life. “It is a day like any other,” she told CNA, adding that even when gifted the fabric, she wears it as a regular dress. Fridegarte highlighted her concerns about how some women celebrate the day, which she perceives as irresponsible.
Another woman, Mary, echoed this perception, saying, “The day is not important to me. After witnessing how women celebrate the day irresponsibly, ” she lamented that many women engage in excessive partying and drinking, stating, “It seems like some women go mad that day, doing abnormal things.”
Meanwhile, some women place significant importance on acquiring the fabric. Small business owner Abiba mentioned she waits for the price to drop at the last minute before purchasing. “I always buy the fabric,” she said.
Other women in Douala interested in acquiring the fabric are resorting go different strategies to raise the necessary funds. A group of women has created a WhatsApp group to plan a ‘Njangi,’ aiming to save enough money to buy the fabric. This material is often chosen as a symbol of solidarity and a call to action for the promotion of women’s rights.
The Cameroon Industrial Cotton Company (CiCam) produces different designs of fabric each year and distributes it throughout the market.
Blandine expressed her dissatisfaction with the pricing, stating, “I think it is a wastage because it is a dress you wear only on that day, and it should not have such exorbitant prices.” Other women suggested that if the fabric is to be produced for this occasion, it should not be limited to just one design per year. “It is better to use two to three years at least,” Gael added.
Last year, CICAM reportedly imported 2.2 million linear meters of loincloth from India to supply the national market for the 2024 edition of International Women’s Day. The 59-year-old state enterprise had been resorting to importing loincloths since 2023 to compensate for its production deficit due to the dilapidated state of its production facilities.
