At the centre of the gathering stood Dr Isidore Ghane, holistic health practitioner and founder of Dr Isidore's Modern Holistic Herbal Clinic, who had just been formally installed as Fai Wu Nsem of the Kinengti Djottin Palace, one of the most sacred traditional offices within the Djottin Fondom of Noni Subdivision, Bui Division, North West Region of Cameroon.
The coronation took place on Saturday, May 30, 2026, within the palace tradition, before the new title holder was publicly presented on Sunday, May 31, during a grand cultural celebration in Bamenda attended by Fons, notables, municipal authorities, elites from Noni and beyond, family members, friends and well-wishers.
Within the traditional governance structure of Djottin, the Fai Wu Nsem occupies a role comparable to that of a minister entrusted with a specialised and sacred portfolio.
The office oversees the Nsem, a revered enclosure within the palace where libations are offered, prayers conducted, healing rites performed and ancestral intercession sought on behalf of the community.
The Nsem serves as a bridge between generations, preserving the covenant between the living and those who came before them.
Explaining the significance of the office, Dr Isidore Ghane described the Fai Wu Nsem as the custodian of the palace's sacred space.
"Fai Wu Nsem is the head of the traditional sacred place in the palace, a sacred place where all the libations are being done with all the forgiveness. We are there to make sure that we serve the public," he said.
The position also comes with strict traditional obligations. In a post-coronation interview with Hilltopvoices, the newly installed Fai Wu Nsem acknowledged that his public interactions would inevitably change as he assumes responsibilities associated with the sacred institution.
Although the announcement of his appointment surprised many, Dr Isidore Ghane says he had long felt a connection to the responsibility.
"The news came to me as a surprise, though it's not really a surprise because I've always had that feeling in me," he explained adding "I knew that one day I would go back and begin to discuss with my ancestors."
His acceptance was immediate.
As someone already engaged in public service through healthcare, Dr Isidore Ghane viewed the appointment as an opportunity to deepen his contribution to society rather than retreat from it.
"When you are really leading people and an opportunity comes to intensify your leading more people, I don't think it is a call for you to disappear or run away from it," he said. "I don't run away from responsibilities."
His selection appears to reflect a convergence between personal vocation and traditional expectation.
For years, the holistic healthcare practitioner has built a reputation around holistic and herbal medicine, promoting healthcare solutions rooted in natural remedies and indigenous knowledge. That philosophy closely aligns with the worldview underpinning the Nsem.
According to him, the palace notables recognised this connection.
"What I do is so much connected to nature," he said emphasing that "Nature is our ancestors, and our ancestors are nature. So I am glad and I am very happy."
Assuming the title brings prestige, but also responsibility.
Asked whether the office adds pressure to an already demanding professional life, Dr Isidore acknowledged the burden while expressing confidence in his ability to carry it.
"The weight is heavy, but at the same time I find it very light," he said. "I am ready and responsible. I'm ready to carry the load."
He compared the honour to a father rewarding a child who has already demonstrated commitment and dedication.
"This is like a red feather," he remarked. "It is like when your father sees a child doing something and decides to upgrade the child again."
Yet even amid celebration, the new title holder used the occasion to champion a message that has long defined his work insisting that the importance of reconnecting with ancestral knowledge, particularly in matters of health and nutrition.
"As a holistic doctor, as a naturopathic doctor, I will always encourage the population to go back to their roots," he said.
"Go back and begin to consume their ancestral food. Do not let anyone tell you your ancestral food is evil. It is where you are coming from."
Sunday's public celebration transformed Upstation Bamenda into a showcase of Noni cultural heritage.
Traditional dance groups including Mfuh, Njang and the celebrated Boom Ye Rota animated the occasion with performances that reflected generations of cultural continuity.
The event also served as a platform for the Fon of Kinengti Djottin to strengthen the palace administration. During his address, the Fon announced the conferment of the title of Shey on three additional individuals, expanding the pool of traditional leaders supporting palace affairs.
Beyond the music, colour and ceremony, the gathering reflected a broader effort to preserve traditional institutions at a time when many communities are navigating rapid social change.
Quizzed on whether the sacred office would reduce his availability at his clinic, he dismissed such fears.
"I will always be in the clinic... People should not be afraid that they will come to consult and Doctor Isidore will not be there." He assured
The statement highlights a balance increasingly evident across many traditional societies involving the coexistence of ancestral authority with contemporary professional life.
Found in the highlands of Noni near Mount Oku, the Djottin Fondom remains deeply attached to its ancestral traditions. While the public celebration unfolded in Bamenda, the significance of the occasion reached far beyond the city.
The people of Djottin used the coronation to reaffirmed a belief that leadership is not merely inherited or appointed. It is recognised in those whose lives already reflect the values they are called upon to defend.
As the celebration came to a close, the new Fai Wu Nsem stepped into an office entrusted with protecting one of the fondom's most sacred spaces, carrying with him both the expectations of the living and the enduring memory of the ancestors.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web
Tel: +237 694 71 85 77
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.png)
.jpeg)
0 Comments