At Public Presentation of Njap Fon: Fru Ndi Tells Wimbum People to Stay Off Political Divide

Ni John Fru Ndi and Hon Awudu performing the gun shooting culture

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front-SDF has urged the Wimbum people of Donga Mantung Division to be very careful with traditional rulers who want to destroy their tradition with political intrigues. Ni John Fru Ndi, SDF chieftain made the statement on January 12, 2013 during the public presentation of the newly enthroned fon of Njap village, HRH Chifu Stanley Tumi. Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi also told the traditional rulers that “we make you fons and you go to make others fons”. In the grass field tradition, “we did not make you fons to go and crown others fon”, he warned.  He lamented that some fons have allowed themselves to be manipulated by tradition and that it is pathetic that such a scenario is gradually taking roots in (wi) Mbum land. He added that he didn’t come to Njap to address a political rally but would not spare an inch of his efforts to congratulate the (wi) Mbum people for their steadfastness during the last Municipal/ Legislative Elections. “I am aware that the battle field during the last elections was Nkambe”, he continued. According to Ni John Fru Ndi, those who claim to have won the council did it obnoxiously”. He also promised that he would personally leave Bamenda to come and stay in Nkambe to see for himself how the same rigging machinery will operate for a minute. He mocked at the Prime Minister Yang Philemon for parading polling stations on polling day to corrupt voters in Donga Mantung Division. Fru Ndi disclosed that on polling day Prime Minister Philemon Yang was spotted in Nkambe and Misaje. “What was he doing in Nkambe and Misaje on polling day” he questioned. To Ni John Fru Ndi, the Prime Minister should be appointed base on competence and not on his capability to rig elections. Harping on the cultural aspect of the Njap people, chairman Ni John Fru Ndi said that he watched every step and said in his mind that anyone who ever thinks of destroying such a culture should be considered as being in a state of sin. “Njap” he said means a lot to him. “In the Baba I dialect Njap means the the black achu soup and this is the first food I tasted when I was young. I still eat it today. That is why I fell in love with the people of Njap. The departed fon was a great friend and I could not stay indifferent. I am here to shot my gun as North West tradition demands, gun shooting is part of our culture”, he concluded.

On the other hand, the former mayor of Nkambe council Mangoh Jones Tanko castigated the intention by some traditional rulers to politicize the (wi) Mbum culture. This he said could lead to the destruction of the tradition which remains the identity of the people. The Paramount Fon of Warr Clan, HRH Fon Mbunwe of Mbot warned that “a cry-die is like njangi and when you do not come to visit your brother when he is in trouble do not expect him to visit you when you are in a similar situation”. He re-echoed that some palaces may end up with empty seats if he is the one to enthrone their successors given that they boycotted him in the name of politics.

The traditional salute

Mother of Wimbum Culture Exhibited at the Public Presentation of HRH Chifu Stanley Tumi

The euphoria in Njap was splendid when the HRH Fon Chifu Stanley Tumi and the Ma-Yaah emerged from the palace to the palace court yard. Singing and dancing, masquerades display took the central stage. There was silence safe to the little bird who was making a mark from the near by forest. The signal was the announcement and the entry of the highest traditional authority of the land. The “Ye-nwarong” the lone masquerade that presents the new fon to the public. Even little children who are fun of crying could not. Everyone was up. No one could sit on the chair. The message from the ancestor was clear, that “The Fon is Back, Long Live the Tiger”. Every step of the fon as he moved round the court yard as approved by a gun-shot. Two distinctive personalities were charged with that responsibility, Hon. Awudu Mbaya and Mangoh Jones Tanko. The message from the Nwarong secret society warned the youth against societal ills, the widespread of HIV/AIDS, poor dressing and witchcraft. It was also a moment to sound the last warning that blackmail, backstabbing should stop. That it can sink people. At the end of the presentation, the gods were honoured with the slaughtering of a goat, which as prophesized, the ancestors have accepted and the gods are happy.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa