'Under the Volcano' music festival at finish line of Africa Rally

By Dan Wedgwood
Limbe rocked on Saturday as "Under the Volcano", a festival organised by Global Music Exchange, The Adventurists and Limbe City Council, took place at The Jungle Village inside The Botanical Gardens in Limbe.
 
Festivities began on Friday afternoon with a triumphant parade of the rally vehicles through Limbe town. Rally teams waved regally at the slightly bemused local population as they cruised through town in their mean machines, packed with pygmies all advertising the festival the next day.
 
The festival was organised to welcome those intrepid teams who made it through their deserty, jungly adventure to Cameroon. Over 1500 people attended, with traditional song and dance groups representing 7 out of the 10 regions of Cameroon. Local Government delegate Mr Motanga made a heartfelt speech to welcome our daring adventurers to Limbe.
 
Around 14 teams managed to make it for the festival, with another 8 still to arrive. The beer arrived late, but when it did, the teams certainly made the most of the free drinks on offer. This may have also helped them to comprehend the many amazing acts presented at the festival: stilt-walkers, dancing dwarves, mask dances, drummers, pygmies and a woman who picks men up... literally... by the belt on their trousers. With her teeth.
 
After the cultural festivities of the day, the evening brought more modern live music as bands from around Cameroon entertained our triumphant teams and the brave members of the local population who chose to spend their evening gallavanting with The Adventurists. The Baka pygmies played a triumphant set and whipped the crowd into a frenzy of dusty, sweaty bodies.
 
It was then left to our Welsh contingent, The Sheep Chasers to top the evening of culture off by plugging in their phone to the PA and playing "I've got a brand new combine harvester" by The Wurzels. The sight of our teams, local Cameroonians and Baka Pygmies all dancing a jig to this great example of western musical genius will live in our hearts forever.