29 employees from the solar energy company took a journey into Cameroon’s maritime and cultural history on Friday 18 September.

Upon arrival, the visitors were welcomed by Museum staff. The first highlight of their visit was a short presentation on the legendary dugout canoe on display at the museum's lobby. A one-of-a-kind vessel, imbued with sacred powers through rituals performed by Sawa chiefs. A symbol so powerful that it is said to have survived a raging fire that ravaged the museum in 2015, barely two years after its opening.

The tour then continued in French and English, conducted by Miss Aïcha Djonga. In an engaging and informative manner, she led the delegation through the first part of the exhibition, dedicated to the cultural heritage of coastal peoples and part of Cameroon's contemporary history: spanning from the discovery of prawns, whence the country derives its name, through the painful period of slavery, to the signing of colonial treaties.

Next was the second part of the exhibition where the visitors discovered the maritime world. They learnt about the different parts of a ship and their functions, and were shown various ship models, including one owned by the Cameroon Shipping Line (CAMSHIP), the country’s then leading shipping company. The visitors were also able to try out the museum’s star attraction; the navigation simulator, and saw some marine rescue equipment.

The visit concluded with a screening of a documentary film chronicling the construction of the sacred dugout canoe, a cultural and heritage treasure donated to the museum by Sawa chiefs.
This informative visit is part of the Douala Maritime Museum’s commitment to engaging more closely with the business world.