The Profile of the Main Opposition Candidate Is Issa Tchiroma Bakary a Distractor or a Liberator? By The Afrisocrat Political Desk | 2025 Presidential Election Special Early Life & Education Born on 10 September 1949 in Garoua, northern Cameroon, Issa Tchiroma Bakary grew up in a respected family where his father served as an advisor to the Lamido. This upbringing instilled in him deep values of responsibility, discipline, and service to the community. After early schooling in Douala, he pursued technical training in transport and materials engineering before traveling to Paris. At the University of Paris (Jussieu), he prepared for a PhD in mathematics before redirecting his focus to mechanical engineering at ISMCM, graduating as a railway engineer. Returning home, he worked at Regifercam in Douala, embodying the discipline and pragmatism of a technocrat committed to service. Imprisonment & Political Rise In...
TRADITIONAL AFRICAN WEDDING CUSTOMS EXPLAINED In Africa, marriage is more than a bond between two individuals—it is the union of families, clans, and communities. Traditional wedding customs vary across cultures, but they share a common thread: they emphasize respect, responsibility, identity, and heritage. Unlike Western-style ceremonies that focus on the couple alone, African weddings serve as community events that honor ancestors, affirm cultural values, and strengthen social ties. COMMON TRADITIONS 1. Bride Price / Dowry (Lobola) Known as lobola in Southern Africa, bride price in East Africa, and ikong nko among some West African groups, this is a payment made by the groom’s family to the bride’s family. It is not about “buying” a wife—it is a symbol of respect, responsibility, and appreciation. It acknowledges the role of the bride’s family in raising her and strengthens ties between both families. 2. Libation & Ancestral Blessings Before the union, elders often pour libation—...