In 2013, our founder created the first Shaa Festival to prevent disease and support women.
‘Shaa’ is a much-loved drink made with or without alcohol (‘strong’ or ‘sweet’) by women in the villages of Misaje Subdivision in NW Cameroon. Its main ingredient is local corn and it is traditionally drunk from a cup that is rinsed in a bucket of water and reused by the next person. A ritual that can easily spread cholera, typhoid, or tuberculosis.
Women compete for cash prizes and learn life-saving rules of hygiene.
Our founder, Elvis Ndansi, grew up in Misaje and was concerned about his community’s health. He created the first Shaa Festival, now an annual event, to celebrate the women Shaa-makers by awarding generous prizes while teaching basic hygiene. Every year, he donates buckets adapted with taps at the bottom so that cups can be rinsed in clean running water after each use.
A committee of men taste and grade the Shaa and announced the top three finalists from each zone. Elvis encourages the winners to invest their prize money in their children’s education.
The added bonus every year is free Shaa for everyone to share – without sharing diseases.
Motivated to win, women formed Shaa Women Unions.
The Shaa-making women’s boost in income galvanized them and gained them respect. In each village, they formed Shaa Women Unions where they collaborate to make production more efficient. The women have risen in social stature, become local leaders, as well as fierce allies of U4H.
They have also learned from Unite for Health about the importance of proper hygiene, prenatal care, nutrition and health-seeking habits during pregnancy. Now they act as our Community Health Workers.
In short, the Shaa Festivals have energized an entire, culturally rich, diverse community.
A more efficient way to grind corn.
Because one critical and costly element of Shaa production is grinding the corn, Elvis Ndansi generously donated a grinding mill to the Dumbo Shaa Women Union. One of the women donated a plot of land and they all got to work. They molded blocks out of local soil and with the help of a few men, they constructed a building and installed the mill.
After the corn has undergone its 4-day fermentation process, the women grind it themselves. It used to cost about 50 cents to grind enough corn for 20 liters of Shaa. Now each registered member pays 50% of that.
Nonmembers can grind their own corn for a fee. At the end of the year, the revenue generated is shared among union members to help pay for their medical bills or children’s school fees.
The union can also loan money to members in times of health challenges or other difficulties, a community insurance policy.
Shaa production has truly become a collaborative effort, launched by the desire to win the festival’s life-changing prizes.
Shaa Women Union Dumbo’s grinding mill building.
AUGUST 2024
Misaje Shaa Festival 2024 empowers women, children, transform lives
by THE HILLTOP MAIL - September 01, 2024
Leaving her village of Kamine on the morning of Saturday, August 31, 2024, little did Shey Stella imagine that she would return home as the champion of the Misaje Shaa Festival. As she made her way to Misaje town, the cool morning air carried the hopes and wishes of the day’s events. With the weight of her hopes and dreams on her shoulders as she carried a 20 litres jug on her head, Stella joined 14 other women who had also qualified for the grand finale after a series of rigorous zonal competitions.
The Misaje Shaa Festival, now in its twelfth year, has become much more than a celebration of the traditional locally brewed drink called Shaa. Supported by the Unite for Health Foundation, a
health institution dedicated to promoting maternal and child health, the festival was way bigger than previous years. For Stella and the other participants, the stakes were high; not just for the cash prizes but for the future of their families, Shaa unions and communities.
As the sun rose higher, Misaje town was filled with excitement…
Shey Stella, winner of the 2024 Shaa Festival. Photo courtesy of HilltopVoices.
Misaje Shaa Festival 2024 presented by CRTV.
MISAJE Shaa Festival 2023
In September, the Shaa Festival successfully concluded with cash prizes for the winners and back-to-school gifts for 20 orphan children.
“I will spend the money to pay for my children’s school fees, their books, everything for them.”
MISAJE Shaa Festival 2022
The 2022 Misaje Shaa Festival attracted 62 women producers who competed for the significant cash prizes. The winner and the runner up (who was pregnant) were thrilled with the unexpected income.
