A Presentation by Dr. Nick Ngwanyam
On the Occasion of the review of the book The
Modern Kom Society, by Joseph Nsom; on 1st July 2017, at the Blue Pearl
Hotel Bamenda.
It is my pleasure to be here with you and to talk about this book:
The Modern Kom Society- Culture, Customs and Traditions, by
Bobe Joseph Nsom.
I was given a specific task at this book launch. I was asked
specifically to come up with an idea or project that can promote the Kom
society in one way or the other after reading the book.
I felt uncomfortable because book reviews follow certain
rules, logic and style that I am not conversant with. However, in view of my
specific objective which seeks to bring out lessons that can be useful
for your development, I am very much at ease with this approach.
I am intimidated by the number of Professors from the Kom land and
I asked a couple of questions to understand why me? I did realize after reading
through the book that it was necessary for me to bell this cat because I am
an outsider and would tend to look at the Kom tradition objectively with no
bias nor hidden agendas.
It is very difficult to write a book and edit it yourself and hope
to be perfect. We all have blind spots and you need a total stranger to pick
the issues for you over which you will gloss for years on end without being
concrete. So an outsider needs to gloss over the Kom tradition and culture
to see the hidden areas of conflict and interest.
On a general note, I will like to congratulate Bobe Nsom Joseph
for writing this particular book. It is always a challenge to write. It costs
money and it is also more challenging when you deal with a community of people
(Cameroonians) who do not like to read except for examination purposes. One
expression from the book which needs to be elucidated or put in inverted commas
is ‘sipping mimbo’. That phrase would not make sense to many
people beyond our context and it has not been explained. So much for the
distractions.
‘A nous mouttons’ as they would say in French. Or put different,
let us go to our business of the day.
1) What are those things that are found in the Kom culture that
can bring development (promote) or impede same?
2) What is development? Who is responsible for development? Who
can contribute to it positively? Are some people excluded? What are the factors
that allow for proper development of an individual, a people, community and
nation? Are the Kom people through their culture aware of these issues?
To develop (promote), is to get better and to improve on many fronts. These
are personal growth which starts with the growth of the mind through formal and
informal education and training. It is linked to ones’ ability to think
critically through complex situations; with an open mind which allows one to
see both sides of every coin while making informed choices, providing
simple workable solutions to the complex issues, effectively and efficiently
for the benefit of common good.
The mind must be teachable, flexible, accommodating and can think out of the
box. Be ready to change your perspective and also listen to others because no
one knows it all. The person must be able to give and take, be proactive and
should take risks. Be responsible for the outcomes of your decisions and
actions. The person must be ready to invest (mind, spirit, souls, material,
education, friendships, networking, forgiving etc).
Development is a product of the mindset/habits/culture/tradition
which themselves, depend on education and training. If the mindset is
static, development is stifled. If the mind is dynamic and positively, then the
individual grows, there is economic growth, there are infrastructural changes
and many other things we call development. There is peace and satisfaction.
So what is the mindset of the Kom man?
What drives him? What motivates him? What does he look forward to
achieving? What makes him feel like a man? What gets him out of bed early in
the morning? What would give him sleepless nights? What is the crown he seeks
to achieve?
Generally, the human being no matter his color is motivated by needs. Maslow
has classified them into what is well known as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Kom people and Cameroonians as a whole need to understand this pyramid
otherwise they would spend their lives running in circles and would get nothing
out of life.
What are the challenges faced by a Kom man? Which are the common
pressures he has to live through daily? He has his culture/ tradition, his understanding
of the concept of God and the spirit world in general, his level of education,
his exposure to the outside world, his economic strength, his profession and
his marriage.
All these issues are very complex and when problems arise, culture
alone is not enough to help the troubled mind. Your culture was put in place
when you settled at Liakom and defined some ground rules. It was considered a
big self-sufficient kingdom with is government and laws. That became part of
the wider Cameroon embracing new religions, education and supreme laws so
nothing could stay fixed.
Kom people must bend reasonably with the tide and fit into a
bigger picture that respect the laws of nature.
What was very important then does not have the same weight today. If you killed
a lion with a spear it was worth something. If you killed a lion today in Kom
with a double barrel gun, it does not have the same weight. If you do not
understand that, then there would be no development as such in Kom.
This is the foundation of the truth. The value systems have to
give because nothing is static.
According to Maslow, there are five basic levels of human needs. There is a
sixth which is abstract yet very important. All human beings grow vertically
through this pyramid and get stuck where they chose to. The basic level for all
human needs is physiological (food, water, air, excretion, sex, sleep). The
second is security and safety (jobs, housing, economics, the absence of
violence of all sorts). The third is the need for love and association with
other human beings because we are social beings (agape, filial and Eros love).
The fourth is EGO. I am; self-pride, me, I and myself, it is about
me, what is in there for me, do you know who I am?
The fifth is Self Actualization. Prof Nkwi had a dream to be a Professor. Prof
Akenji had a dream to become a Vice Chancellor. They have attained the high
goals they set for themselves. They have reached the summit. The motivation and
the drive have taken them to level five.
Level six comes to people who are motivated differently. They are not contented
with personal gains and titles nor the worship and praise from other mortals.
They ask the question; I wanted to be the Vice
Chancellor, now that I am the Vice Chancellor, so what? AND SO
WHAT; IS THE QUESTION EVERY KOM MAN AND WOMAN SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES.
This question is very revealing to a searching soul and brings one
face to face with the emptiness of our being if we are spiritually mature. How
many Kom people have reached this level?
Every human being who seeks to understand development and wants to bring
development while desiring to be a good manager and leader must grow and reach
the 6th level. This is the transcendental phase where you are led by
the spirit.
It is a spiritual phase at which we go beyond self-interest and greed.
We look beyond ourselves and our immediate families to the general society
at large.
We seek to work for the common good and we take the focus off our
being and place it on others. The only reward we seek is the true happiness
of having been useful to others in truth.
This is the only place that true happiness, giving, sacrifice,
agape and development reside. Our time, efforts and resources are poured out to
this cause. How many Kom people have reached this level? Are you part of them?
Where is the Kom man in this
narrative?
After reading through the book, I realized that the Kom man is
driven by ego. He wants the title of Bobe in all its forms and shades and
thinks it is the ultimate.
That is the first problem amongst the Kom people that will limit your
development or retard it. You must go beyond titles; reward those things
that contribute to the growth of common good. Titles by themselves do not
amount to very much.
Secondly, you cannot contribute much to common good nor can you help your
selves if your pockets are empty. Your good intentions are not good enough.
Wishes cannot become horses. You need money and logistics. ‘Affaire Nkap,
affaire tres seriuex’.
The Kom man must learn how to make money.
Development is about sound economics. On
this note I would say all Anglophones must learn the art of making money
genuinely by creating businesses and cottage factories to produce goods and
services. These tend to add value to systems for which we are paid. Learn to
solve community problems for which you are paid.
We can learn from the Ibos and the Bamilekes. We have to fight the
civil service and white collar job mentality, otherwise development would not
come. Learn to create your own businesses and learn to work with each other in
teams. Make agriculture a business.
A third and most disturbing area of conflict is the issue of inheritance in the
Kom land. I understand many are for the matrilineal inheritance while less than
20 percent are for patrilineal inheritance. This will be a perpetual source of
conflict but given time and other social pressures the patrilineal inheritance
will take over especially if you intermarry with other tribes who think
differently.
As the off springs become more educated and build their homes and businesses
out of the village, the matrilineal inheritance will become symbolic gestures
of simple houses built in the village to serve that purpose. The real
economic platforms of the families will be passed on through patrilineal
inheritance especially when these children are educated and can create
businesses of their own.
In concluding, please, let us look at the title of the book again; The
Modern Kom Society. It tells us there was an ancient Kom society that is
gone and there is a future Kom society on the way.
I will like us to understand what growth, development or success
should mean to us as adults. An Adult should be one who is between 25 and 30
years, is living a purposeful life, is productive, disciplined with creative,
managerial and leadership skills. He/she leaves in the fear of the Lord.
Success before 25 means making it at school and going on target. When we start
to accumulate wealth, talent, political positions, cars, businesses and
estates, we think these are indicators of success.
True success ( development) is when we use what God has given us in every shade
and colour including our talents and disposition to help those that are
lesser than us to rise through life and be better than what we are or
would ever be. That is my assignment for Kom people and all Cameroonians.
My job today has been in view of making a better future Kom society which is
only possible by changing intelligently and positively under the
influence of time and the world around us. This will happen because you
and I are ready and willing to change and go the extra mile before calling on
others to change. Change starts with me. Do not look on to
others; do not blame others, the government, the gods, the climate and the
geographical location. It is about me. No excuses.
If I must leave you with one word today, that would be, change starts with me
so I must be open minded and seek to change actively.
Remember the question you should always ask yourself.
I am so and so, AND SO WHAT?
Thanks.
Dr. Nick Ngwanyam, MD 677764674.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR KOM PEOPLE & ALL CAMEROONIANS TO READ
AND GROW:
1. Think and Grow Rich, by
Napoleon Hill
2. The Seven Habits of Highly
Effective, People by Steven Covey.
3. Why ‘A’ Students
Work for ‘C’ Students And ‘B’ Students Work for Government, by
Robert Kiyosaki
4. The Power of Self Disciple;
No Excuses, by Brian Tracy.
5. Developing the Leader
Within You; Developing the Leaders Around You, by John
C Maxwell.
DR NICK NGWANYAM, MD
CEO ST LOUIS GROUP
P.O. Box 661 BAMENDA
NORTH WEST REGION
REP OF CAMEROON
TEL( CELL) +237- 677 764 674
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
