Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Our Icon of the Month:Meet Fon Kavin Shomitang II NOWEFU SG A Model Amongst North West Fons ; An Astute, Dexterous and Charismatic King

A lot of hard work is necessary before somebody becomes a genius, an enlightened despot. In fact there are people who have achieved as much for their society in terms of fighting for the welfare of their people. One of such is persons is World Echoes Newspaper’s 2018 “Model Icon of the Month” that is his Majesty Fon Kavin II of Bambalang Kingdom.
Part of Fon Kavin’s greatness comes from birth which is royal, and self acquisition of Knowledge and wit through conscious efforts which makes him morally and financially strong amongst class and kind rates.   
While others only made it because they inherited great wealth or were appointed to high places, of responsibility, our Man of the Month personally and self seeking bulldozed his way through.
This he did by burning the mid night candle even after his coronation while as a student in the University of Buea and later a student in the National school of Administration and Magistracy. Thanks to his search for knowledge even after ancestral wit, he is refined and define, why not dynamic in all he thinks, do or say because of the wisdom in him. This knowledge is also responsible for his sense of belonging and direction, why not right thinking reasons why he is loved and cherished by his people. His kingdom without mixing words is the only kingdom in the grass fields not facing chieftaincy crisis.
He is a Fon, an administrator, an economist and why not jurist by extension from ENAM. Amongst Fons he is the Sectary General of North West Fon’s Union.
Our idol and icon of the month, simple and unassuming, down to earth and God fearing has succeeded in giving the “Sha'atang cultural festival running for its 85 Edition world recognition. Not only that, the Mbaw-Yakum multipurpose museum has gained national and international recognition through UNESCO thanks to his lobbying power.
Bambalang is blessed today and witnessing fast face up lift infrastructural wise and development wise thanks to the God send king of Bambalang. The people today can heave a great sigh of relief as there is total and complete synergy between the village Administration and the Bambalang cultural and Development association.
Our man of the month has indeed done so much for his region and the nation, yet, more is still to be rolled out of his sleeves which this our special edition cannot contain,
A general over view of Bambalang Village;
 Bambalang is a village located in the NorthWest Region of Cameroon. The village of Bambalang is one of the four villages that make up Ndop Central Sub Division and one of the thirteen villages that make up Ngoketunjia Division. Bambalang village saw most of its fertile land flooded upon the completion of the Bamendjin Dam in 1974 giving rise to some Islands like Mbissa, Nkeshie, Mbefekhu, Mishie and Mpayah. The Bamendjin Dam was constructed mainly to serve as a reservoir to feed the hydroelectric plant at Edéa. It was constructed across the Noun River, a tributary of the Sanaga River that operates the hydroelectric plant at Edea. The construction of this dam has served as a source of mixed feelings for Bambalang people because while those whose fertile land were flooded look at it as a mishap, it is beneficial to a cross section of the population given that it is contributing enormously to the economy of the village with thousands of fishermen whose lives and that of their families depend on fish (Bambalang fish) gotten from the water. The vegetation is Guinea Savanna as farming has destroyed most forests with the exception of the "Pa’ah Ngwong" Forest at the heart of the village (about 3.5 km2). Bambalang village is mainly a hillock stretching in a North West, South-East direction. It is narrow at the North-West and broadens towards the South East, appearing as a semi-Island or a promontory. Bambalang has a length of about 21 km and a width of about 8 km giving an area of about 168 km2 supporting a population of 20.863 people.History Myth holds that the Mbaw-Yakum people (known as Bambalang upon the arrival of the Germans) sprung out of a lake in a forest “Pa’ah Ngwong” at the heart of the village. It is believed that the original founders were nine in number referred to as “Ngwandipuh” i.e the “Big Nine”.[2] Ethnological studies trace the origin of the Mbaw-Yakum people from Ndobo in the Adamawa Region of Cameroon as well as other Tikari Villages in Ndop Plain. The Tikars migrated from Bornu in Northern Nigeria through Ndobo, Bafia and the Western Region to the North Western Region in the late 17th and early 18th Centuries A.D. The first settlement of the Mbaw-Yakum people must have been at Pa’ah Ngwong where a mysterious lake exist. It is in this small lake at the heart of the forest where myth holds that the founders of the village sprung out covering their heads with leaves of a herb “mbimboroh” (piper umbellatum). At that time tribal wars were rampant leading to frequent migrations. This explains the movement of small groups of people usually under a leader seeking refuge. The present Mbaw-Yakum village originated from a number of small villages led by chiefs who arrived and settled at different periods. Pa’ah Ngwong was the site where Yakum-Ntaw I had settled with his people. These groups were frequently attacked by enemies and at times the others united with enemies to fight against each other. It was to avoid this continuous fighting that a number of small villages were united by Yakum-Ntaw I to form one village under one leader known as Yakum. They decided to call themselves the Mbaw people under the leadership of Yakum hence the name Mbaw-Yakum. Mbaw-Yakum is related to other villages because they hold that Ngwafuongmbie, wife of Mangwa (leader of the “Big Nine”) had two sons and a daughter. The two sons were Tining and his elder brother Chungpikuh. Chungpikuh was a hunter while Tining remained at home and succeeded their father. Chungpikuh led a group of people who settled at the present land of Bamunka and became the Fon of Bamunka. However, other Mangeh villages belief that Mangeh had five children, two sons (Tuningmungwa and Chengfong) and three daughters (Byiae, Vhenji and Mekheng). The eldest Tunigmungwa succeeded their father and formed Bambalang while his brother Chengfonf established the Bamunka village whereas Byiae formed Bamali, Vhenji forned Bafanji and Mekheng the Bamunkumbit village. Bambalang and Bamunka were descendants of the males (sons of Mangeh) while Bafanji, Bamunkumbit and Bamali are the descendants of the daughters. These five villages, have formed the Mangeh Family Association to maintain peace and unity among themselves to ensure progress of all. These villages have no defined boundary between them because they know that they are one.Sha'atang (Annual Cultural Festival The Sha’atang epitomizes the Mbaw-Yakum people because it is a period of communion and reunion. Before the coming of the Christmas, villagers knew that they had to buy new dresses for their children during Sha’atang. Before the reign of Fon Ghogomu, death celebrations of late Fons were frequent often provoked by problems that threatened the welfare and health of the Fondom. In such situations, the gods of the land were always consulted. A common answer was that one of the late Fons was angry that the villagers have neglected him for long. An eleven days of ceremonies (to usher peace) was then observed and the celebration carried out. If after this a similar revelation was made of another Fon, another death celebration was carried out immediately, so that a lot of time for farming and other gainful activities were lost this way. Because of this Fon Ghogomu suggested to the Kwifon that the celebration of all late Fons could be jointly done, once a year. i.e an Annual Cultural Festival. This period is a week of peace (retreat) when there should be no quarreling, fighting, shouting and farming. The rest of the period could therefore be used for farming and other gainful activities since this is done once a year.

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