By Sah Terence Animbom
FoAngwafo IV, the 21st king of the Mankon people is set to uphold the legacy of his missing father Fo Angwafo III. He used the opening ceremony of the “Nukwi” of his late father on Thursday, December 15, 2022 to decry the irrational disposal of waste in his kingdom which has grown into a metropolis.
About half of the city of Bamenda lies within the Mankon kingdom thus necessitating traditional and administrative leadership to work in synergy to better manage the city. Tens of tons of waste are produced in the city of Bamenda daily, exposing the city to impending environmental hazards due to poor waste disposal and management.
Plastic waste and other forms of non-biodegradable waste are dumped indiscriminately along the streets of Bamenda, sometimes causing the blockage of some major streets and water ways leading to floods.
Welcoming a cream of administrative officials, ranging from ministers of government to directors of civil cabinets, as well as over 10,000 sons and daughters of Mankon and well wishers at the Mankon palace last Thursday, for the celebration of the “Nukwi” of his late father Fo Angwafo III, Fo Angwafo IV through the voice of the family; Professor Tsi Angwafo decried the irrational disposal of waste in Mankon.
According to him, “We need to live in clean, green cities and this can be achieved through the education of various households especially children on waste management.” He continues to fear that air and water pollution perpetrated by indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste in streams and farmlands will lead to the destruction of water sources and eventually cause food scarcity if urgent action is not taken now.
Fo Angwafor IV used the ceremony to evoke the need for a return to coordinated community work in other to foster sanitation and development work within the community.
The SUN spoke to Ashu Vanessa King, an environmental enthusiast who seemed very impressed with the initiative of the fon to use a traditional celebration of this magnitude to highlight the need for environmental protection.
According to her, “the fon is very brilliant to use such an occasion to send across a message like this. He is aware that the persons that matter in government are present and are aware of the threat posed on our environment by waste disposal today. He is sure that they will take the message back to their offices and act on it. Traditional setups must be empowered to actively take part in environmental conservation and protection. I am very impressed by the focus of the fon on the wellbeing of our environment.” She said.
Waste disposal in Bamendahas been handed to a local contractor due to insecurity faced by the waste management company Hysacam. Several of their workers were kidnapped and some killed while some of their equipment were set ablaze by armed groups who are against French run or government companies operating within the region.
The people of Mankon, are celebrating the legacy of their “missing” king, FoAngwafo III who served as the twentieth king of the kingdom from 1959 to 2022, becoming one of the longest serving kings of Mankon. The kingdom is one of four paramount kingdoms in the region with very strong traditional institutions.
While Nukwi celebrates growth and uplifting of a person, it is strictly associated to fons (kings). A king in Mankon is likely to witness two nukwis in his lifetime. Nukwi ne Abubte, celebrated on behalf of the late or missing king after the enthronement of a new king. This event signifies the rising of a new sun and celebrates the values of the departed king. It is a rare occasion that many sons and daughters of Mankon die without witnessing it in their entire lifetime since kings are meant to rule forever or until death snatches them (until they are missing)
The Second Nukwi is Nukwi ne Tsohne, a festival celebrated by the new king, still in memory of the late king but only celebrated when his son born on the leopard skin (son born wile on the throne) has come of age and is able to carry and fire a gun as well as get married and start a family. It symbolizes maturity.