On the streets of Douala, Valentin Ngang's rickshaw makes an unusual sight. It contains a huge plastic container. Inside is a precious drink. At the front of the rickshaw is a large green palm leaf which waves around in the wind. This means that palm wine or "matango" is his featured product; it is a symbol from "the village". To grab the attention of bypassers, Valentin shows off a sign which reads: "All-Natural White Wine. Ice Cold." He puts his marketing know-how to good use.

The first itinerant salesman of matango in Douala

Franky, an IT specialist from the Akwa area, knows that Valentin is a credible palm wine maker. A true matango enthusiast, Franky says, "Every day at noon, I get a half-litre of wine." Valentin explains his pricing system: "A 1.5-litre bottle costs 300 CFA francs but sometimes we sell them for 400 francs. One litre costs 200 francs. One glass, 100 francs." Valentin will only go home once all the wine is sold. "I don't sell wine which has been sitting overnight. Otherwise, I'd lose business," he says.

This 27-year-old businessman will likely become an urban legend -  as the first-ever travelling matango salesman in Douala. He has held this interesting occupation for the past six years. It is September and the rainy season does not compel his potential clients to stop and buy a drink. "That's fine," says Valentin, "because it will get hot soon."

The village's brother

In 2003, this Bamenda native quit his job in Douala as a bag porter in the Sandaga market. "I helped my boss Mr. Andrew sell his palm wine and he paid me between 700 and 1000 CFA francs (1 to 1.5O euros) at the end of each day." Then in 2004, his mentor left the business. Right away, Valentin contacted one of his "brothers from the village" who was working for a Limbé palm tree garden. Palm trees equal palm wine. Dennis was to become Valentin's main supplier.

To distribute his product, Valentin rented a rickshaw. He has a big sign on it and makes daily rounds. His life has never been the same. He is up at five o'clock every morning. He gets the Sandaga market to get the 30-litre containers from Dennis. He washes the plastic blottles and fills them with matango. Once the bottles are arranged properly in the huge container, he puts his store-bought ice on it. Next stop: downtown.

Matango's boss

Five years after Valentin launched his palm wine business, the trend started to catch on. Jo, his little brother, has since joined forces with Valentin and works his own rickshaw. The circle of matango fans is getting bigger. Locals and office workers hit the streets to get a drink in the Douala heat.

Today, this former bag porter is making a healthy profit. "My brother in Limbé used to sell me one single 30-litre container of palm wine. Nowadays my little brother and I buy a total of 10 of these containers. I buy one for 2 500 CFA francs (four euros) and make a profit of 3 000 francs (4.50 euros). At the end of the day, my profit reaches between 12 000 and 14 000 francs (12.50 euros)."

Valentin earns the equivalent of 12.50 euros per day. He says, "I dropped out of school after the BEPC because my parents could not afford my schooling. Today, my business helps me support my seven little brothers and I send them to school." Valentin is proud of his rags-to-riches story.

His success has inspired others to take part in the palm wine trade. This blue-jeaned entrepreneur does not approve of some of his competitors, the ones who want to "make too much profit"; they "mix wine with water" and then "add sugar" to their products, he claims.

To distinguish between good matango and bad matango, Valentin the "boss" at the Sandaga market, says, "Bad wine which has been mixed with bark or which has sat overnight will be acidic because of the fermentation. It won't be very sweet. When you shake the bottle, there won't be any bubbles. Also, it will be as clear as water."