Ndobo “Soya’ traders optimistic despite upheavals

Barbecue owners in the onetime hotspot in Bonaberi, Douala, still make ends meet despite the ongoing road construction.

Barbecue or “soya” is the mainstay of some Cameroonians in the Ndobo neighbourhood of Bonaberi, Douala.

The area in Ndobo known as “Ministère des soya” is telling of the number of barbecue traders that make ends meet from the multitude of clients that stream into the corner to have a taste of roast beef, mutton and chicken.

The atmosphere in the area during the day and at night is the same - with couples, friends, colleagues and families having fun during break or after work.

A regular customer, who preferred sealed lips, said the rate at which people now visit the “Soya Ministry” as it is fondly called, has reduced since the start of the road widening project in Bonaberi some months back.

“The area used to be as populated as nearby bars where customers ate and quenched their thirst with bottles of alcoholic and soft drinks.

Business discussions were held in the area while others used the site as reconciliation grounds where they ate, drank and forgave each other,” he explained.

Barbecue sellers admit that they still make ends meet despite the disruption of the business due to road construction.

To them, it is just a matter of time for them to bounce back once the project is over. “We expect to sell more with the construction of gutters which is our main obstacle.

The lack of gutters for the moment does not only breed mosquitoes, but creates pools of dirty water when it rains, causing discomfort to customers. The road widening project is praiseworthy.

We are hopeful it will bring us more customers because where a road passes, development follows,” Bouba Salifu, a barbecue trader who has been in the business for over 25 years, explained.On good weather days, Joël Arabo says they return home with FCFA 150,000 and on rainy days, at most FCFA 100,000.

Though business is slow, “soya” traders hope that things will soon be better as the “Soya Ministry” bounces back with time.