Discover the heartwarming joy of the children of Rhumsiki, a remote village in Cameroon, and learn why their spontaneous happiness reveals a profound truth about life, community, and Ubuntu.
Keywords: Rhumsiki Cameroon, African traditions, Ubuntu philosophy, happiness in Africa, African village life, cultural heritage Cameroon, African storytelling, community life in Africa, joy and simplicity, travel in Cameroon.
Beyond the Famous Seer: The True Highlight of Rhumsiki
In my previous blog post, I wrote about the famous Crab Sorcerer of Rhumsiki. You might think that was the most important encounter of our trip. Wrong! What touched me most in Rhumsiki was the visible joy of the children.
Throughout the village, we met many children in small groups here and there. Spontaneously, one group began following us all the way to the seer’s home, and others joined along the way. While we were inside for the consultation, the children gathered under the shade of a large tree, secretly preparing a surprise.
A Song from the Heart
Just as we were about to leave, the children approached us with their surprise: a song to express their joy at having visitors in their village. We were amazed at how, in such a short time, these young boys and girls organized themselves to prepare a song in their mother tongue for complete strangers.
Their melodious voices carried a joy that came from deep within—a natural, contagious happiness. At first glance, a visitor might be distracted by the physical appearance of the village during the dry season or by the simple clothing of the children. But when you hear the purity of their voices, something shifts. It challenges the usual criteria for happiness.
How can these children be so happy in such a context? How do they prepare a song for unknown visitors without expecting payment? I don’t have a definitive answer, but remembering my own childhood in the village, I believe their joy proves that happiness is not about what we have—it’s about how we live together in the world.
The Secret of Happiness : Living Together
What I observed among the children of Rhumsiki was simple yet profound:
- They played together.
- The older ones cared for the younger ones.
- They planned a good deed together—a song for visitors.
- They laughed together.
Watching them reminded me of my childhood in Bandjoun: hunting in groups, picking guavas, playing together, and gathering around the fire in the evening to share stories and riddles. It was a childhood full of happiness in a close-knit community.
I believe the miracle of happiness happens when these small elements of daily life combine harmoniously. Happiness can be created anywhere people—children or adults—choose to come together and build a space where life feels good for everyone, respecting nature, those who came before us, and those who will come after.
Ultimately, the key to happiness lies in living according to the principle of Ubuntu, which means:
“I am because we are.”
Your Turn
What does happiness look like in your culture? Do you have similar experiences of joy in simplicity? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
Did I tell you how the rooster of the visitor is prepared? There is a whole ritual around it. That’s the topic of my next post. Stay tuned!
