The family of Mama Muma Marry gathered in grand style on Saturday, December 6, 2025, to celebrate a remarkable milestone: her 75th birthday. The joyful event brought together children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, neighbors, and well-wishers from across Cameroon and the diaspora, transforming the day into a powerful reminder of the importance of celebrating people while they are still alive.
Held in a warm and festive atmosphere, the celebration radiated love, unity, and gratitude. From emotional tributes to vibrant musical performances, every moment highlighted the extraordinary impact Mama Marry has had on her family and community.
A Grandmother Loved Deeply
Mama Marry’s grandchildren took turns expressing affection for their grandmother, describing her as a loving, protective, and dependable figure —a woman who never hesitates to stand by them, especially in moments when their parents are absent. Their words painted a portrait of a grandmother whose influence goes far beyond everyday care, shaping their character and strengthening family bonds.
A Daughter’s Emotional Testimony
One of the most touching moments of the celebration came from Mama Marry’s daughter, Awa Florence, who traveled from the United States with her family to honor her mother.
Speaking with deep emotion, Awa reflected on her childhood and the cultural challenges she faced growing up as a girl child. In a society where educating girls was often considered unnecessary, her mother fought fiercely to ensure she remained in school.
“My family believed educating a girl child was a waste because she would eventually get married,” Awa recalled. “But my mother stood by me. With her strength and support, I was able to complete secondary school and become the woman I am today.”
Awa, now a successful woman living in the USA for over 25 years, credits her achievements to her mother’s courage and defiance of limiting cultural norms. As the first daughter, she endured pressure to abandon school, but Mama Marry refused to let her dreams die.
Her testimony served not only as a tribute but also as a lesson on the transformative power of parental sacrifice, especially in communities where girls’ education still struggles for recognition.
Loss, Resilience, and Gratitude
Awa also shared the painful reality that Mama Marry has buried six of her eight children, leaving only two still alive. Yet, in spite of heartbreak and hardship, her mother’s spirit remains unbroken.
“She has impacted our lives in so many ways,” Awa said. “The only way to pay her back is to celebrate her while she is alive. I wish God gives me long life so I can continue celebrating her.”
She traveled with her extended family, including her daughter, son-in-law Kevin, and four grandchildren, all determined to honor the matriarch who continues to inspire them.
Celebrating Life While It Still Shines
Awa used the occasion to echo a powerful message: celebrate people now, not when they are gone. Drawing from her professional experience as a nurse in the U.S., she recounted how many elderly people spend years in nursing homes without receiving visits from family members. Yet upon their death, relatives show up with expensive coffins, large receptions, and elaborate ceremonies.
“If you want to celebrate someone, do it when they are alive and can see it,” she stressed. “All the tears and big ceremonies after death don’t matter to the person anymore.”
Her words resonated deeply with the crowd, offering a meaningful reflection on African family values and the need to cherish loved ones today, not tomorrow.
A Night of Music, Culture, and Joy
The celebration was equally marked by lively performances from top Cameroonian artists, including Asaba, Elizabeth Teke, and a traditional Bottle Dance group. Their music and choreography energized the evening, blending modern rhythms with cultural heritage to honor Mama Marry in true Cameroonian fashion.
Good Health, Long Life, and Unending Love
As the festivities drew to a close, Awa shared her heartfelt wish for her mother:
“Mom is 75 and takes no medication. She is as healthy as a 16-year-old. My greatest wish is for God to continue to bless her with long life and good health so that her children’s children can keep enjoying her love.”
The celebration of Mama Muma Marry was more than a birthday—it was a tribute to resilience, motherhood, culture, and the enduring strength of African family bonds. It served as a reminder that honoring loved ones is not an event reserved for funerals, but a continuous act of gratitude and love.
And on this memorable day in Douala, Mama Marry witnessed that love in full bloom.
