In Cameroon, before the scroll, there was the dance floor

In Ebolowa, Cameroon, seasonal community dance gatherings called bals dansants draw young people from surrounding villages during the holidays, most recently one held in Olem on July 26.

The events have no official program, festival committee, or fixed venue, relying instead on a small group of organizers who negotiate space with village chiefs each year. Vendors like Jacqueline Mendomo set up temporary drink stands to serve the crowds, while attendees like Dylan Akono and Alice Ateba travel from Ebolowa and Yaounde to take part.

Getting home afterward is its own ordeal: night transport is scarce, motorcycle taxis sometimes carry three or four riders at once, and fares can double after dark.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.