In an unassuming building in Bafoussam, the main town in Cameroon’s West Region, Therese Yommo carefully decorates a fabric with patterns.
The 64-year-old is a specialist in the fabrication of Ndop, a remarkable Cameroonian cloth that embodies fashion, heritage, and national pride.
Growing up, Yommo didn’t think she would amount to much. She spent her days doing household chores – collecting water from the borehole, making meals, cleaning, and looking after younger siblings. But that changed when her mother taught her how to embroider Ndop fabric.
“We didn’t have much. (But today) I take care of my children and grandchildren and send them to school. I also take care of myself (thanks to Ndop),” said the widower and mother of six.
“In Cameroon, crafts such as sewing, quilting, embroidery, and…