Skip to main content

Save the Crown: Mankon Kwifo confirms disappearance of Fon, announce suspension of farming activities

By Bakah Derick 

The traditional institution  vested with the powers to announce what is  tradtionally known as "the disappearance" of the Fon in the grasdfield of Cameroon has confirmed it will do so in the village of Mankon Mezam Division North West region in the coming days. 

In an unusual outing via a statement on Wednesday 25 May 2022, the Kwifo of Mankon admitted that the Fon has joined his ancestors but promise to make an official announcement on Sunday 29 May 22 at the palace plaza. The Kwifo's representative whose name we got only as Joseph didn't explain why the traditional procedure will not be followed or why the announcement is made via a press release and not the normal means." 

According to Cameroon Info Trend, the announced to be made at the Mankon Palace Plaza goes against the tradition of the village 
"In keeping with the customs and tradition of Mankon, the normal channel to disseminate information of the Fon's disappearance would entail the use of the talking drum to communicate the message to the 76 quarters of Mankon that something abnormal has happened. The Villagers assemble and the messenger of Kwifor comes and deliver what message he has for the villagers as directed by Kwifor with specific instructions on what has happened and a program to get prepared with the rites accompanying the Fon's disappearance." The online platform reports 


While still waiting for the announcement to be made and the accompanying instructions given, the Kwifo in the release has already indicated that farming activities in the land of Mankon shall be suspended. 


Though the stipulated period of no farming and related activities is  a month, the dreaded traditional cult says "considering that this is the farming season, Kwifo Mankon has decided that farming activities and other activities that entail digging of the soil in the entire Mankon fondom shall be suspended only for one week starting from 30/5/2022 to 5/6/2022."
 

Reports on the passing on of HRH Fon  Solomon Anyeghamotu Ndefru Angwafo III circulated on new and traditional media from May 21st, 2022 after regional government authorities circulated an announment relating to the subject. 


North West Governor Adolf Lele L'afrique has described the Fon as a great statesman and an encyclopaedia who advocated for peace and National Unity. 


The statement on the disappearance of the Fon from what can be considered the right institution vested with the powers to do so, confirms the end of a slightly above six decades reign of the 20th Fon of the Mankon people. 
The Monarch was an agricultural engineer and politician. He is credited for spending time in his rural royal home Nto Mankon at the times many traditional rulers moved out of their palaces and Fondoms as a result of the ongoing armed conflict in the region. 



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Neh Sandra Fongeh Defends Degree with Unlikely Innovation: Beans Peeling Machine

By Bakah Derick  In a groundbreaking display of creative innovation, Neh Sandra Fongeh, a student of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, National Higher Polytechnic Institute of the University of Bamenda defended her Bachelor's degree on Saturday, September 9, 2023, using a remarkable beans peeling machine. The unconventional approach caught the attention of faculty members,  fellow students and family members alike, turning Neh's defense into a memorable event. Neh Sandra Fongeh presenting her machine to the Jury Neh Sandra, known for her out-of-the-box thinking and passion for engineering, mesmerized the audience with her extraordinary project during the thesis defense titled: design and realization of a manually and motorized beans shelling machine. While most students opt for a traditional presentation or experiment demonstration, Neh's choice to showcase a beans peeling machine highlighted her unique perspective on problem-solving.

North West Cameroon: Remarkable Cultures I- The Nso People

They own, and with pride, use Lamnso (language of Nso) anywhere they are found. They are from the grassfields of Cameroon, with capital being Kimbo (or today known as Kumbo), the Nso People have a rare structured traditional administrative setup, with the Fon at the summit; then there are the   Vibai, aShufai, aYaa, aFai, aShey, etc.  Yeeh Ngwerong  The very religious people give uncommon value to their traditional beliefs, yet are so attached to Christianity and Islam, the two main religions apart from the traditional practices. Even the most learned of them all would always go back home to identify with their roots, either to pay allegiance to the throne of the tribe, occupied by an "immortal" being, called the Fon; according to the cultural belief, the never dies.    Many would also return home just to be and identify with the people during cultural events. Ngam-Ngonnso’ is the melting pot of Nso culture and traditions. It is a week during which the peoole communinion with