By Sally Oneke
The 15th University Games that brought about two thousands athletes from eight universities and eleven institutions of higher learning is winding down. The Games have brought spectators from surrounding towns and around the country to make business owners and vendors in the area proud. The entrance to the University of Buea in Molyko has been made to a multipurpose market. Temporal stalls and tents have been put in place to contain vendors.
Vendors at University of Buea, Molyko during the 15th University Games
To this effect, business in Molyko and Buea is booming. Some vendors are overwhelmed. Some have even increased prices for their products and services as a result of high demand. Taxi drivers, for example, have increased fares from the usual 150 frs to 250 frs CFA per drop.
Mrs. Catherine Lyonga sells roasted fish and plantain at the multipurpose market at the University entrance, and she says business is good during the games. Unlike normal days where she sells 7kg of fish per day, she sells at least 22 kg per day during the games. Mrs. Lyonga pays 15,000 frs CFA to the University of Buea for the space she occupies during the games.
Call box operators say sales favor them because many students are making phone calls. Some call box operators say that during this period, they could sell credits between 150,000 to 250000 frs CFA per day.
Bars stand to be one of the most lucrative businesses during the games. The bar with least sales can sell about 50 crates of beverages per day. For bars to operate for this one week period, each pay a sum of 50000 frs CFA to the University of Buea. The management of Da Crown bar says “business is booming even though there are so many competitors.”
Business is also booming for other venders too. Amed sells traditional beats and slippers made from Raffia and animal skin. He says business is good, yet when compares his sale to that the previous games in Dchang, he says the adult population in Buea is not active in the economic aspect of the games. Yet Amed says some adults are encouraging, so this gives hope to businesses.
While some vendors are encouraged by the events, some say business is slow. Dip Bienvenu is a sculpture artist, and his products are made from roots, coconut shells, and calabashes. He says business is slow because the local population is unaware of such work of art, yet he gets sales from tourists. Some of Dip’s piece of art sells for at least 3,0000frs CFA.
Article and photography by Sally Oneke in Buea, Cameroon.
Sally Oneke in Buea, Cameroon
