Why do Women Bathe in Public?

Outrageous is the word that best describes the scene of women taking their bath in public. Nowadays, it is common to see or read media reports on women, mostly young girls, who have created unimpressive moments around popular junctions in Douala and Yaounde having their bath in public despite the presence of curious onlookers who although astonished, however find fun in watching the scene.

In less than a month, there has been over three of such cases relayed by the media in the economic and political capital cities in the country. This has left many wondering over what the society is becoming, with nudity no longer considered as shameful.

On Monday, September 29, 2014 at the Madagascar junction in Douala III neighbourhood, a young girl in her thirties was seen as early as 8:30 a.m. taking her bath along the road. Reports indicate that the lady, whose names Cameroon Tribune got as Mirabelle D, was on a three-day mission to take her bath in front of a gas station in the locality. Just next to her was a bag of clothes, toilet equipment, a small kerosene stove and a bucket.

Shortly after she began having her bath, a crowd gathered around her to follow the scene. Observers said the lady could not be taken for a mentally deranged person because; she took over 45 minutes to wash her body and carefully applied oil on it. When the Police attempted to stop Mirabelle, she resisted, stating that she was in possession of a National Identity Card. After negotiations, the lady agreed to get dressed up and asked the police to take her to Eséka.

Three weeks ago, at the Nkolmesseng neighbourhood in Yaounde, a similar scenario was witnessed by inhabitants of that part of the town. A lady in her mid-thirties on September 11, 2014, alighted from her car around the Nkolmesseng junction while covering her body with a towel.

Eyewitness accounts said she first mixed some concoctions into water, then removed the towel around her and started bathing while chanting incantations. Shocked by her actions, the crowd that had gathered around the scene shouted and alerted the police who arrived minutes later. The lady was arrested and taken to the Nkolmesseng police station alongside her car.

The incident of a woman who was seen having her bath some years back at a popular place in Douala called "douche municipale" is still fresh in the memory of many inhabitants in the economic capital. On Monday August 30, 2010, the lady stepped out of her car, stark naked and went straight into a small pool of water in the area that had just been rehabilitated by the authorities in the town into a veritable park for recreation for the millions of inhabitants in the economic capital.

The question many people are asking is what has come upon certain people to candidly take their bath in public. Pundits consider such acts as "ritual baths". Accusing fingers are pointed at the get-rich-quick syndrome that has gripped society pushing many into shameful acts in the name of having money.