MINI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL TO RAISE FUNDS TO REBUILD THE NSO CUMMUNITY HALL

IN BUEA SURVEY SCHOOL, 8 DECEMBER 2012

A C U L T U R A L M E L A N G E F O R D E V E L O P M E N T

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SHUI NSO BUEA.SHUI NSO BUEA.SHUI NSO BUEA. The settlement of elements of the Nso people in Buea and environs can be traced to the historical realities of Cameroon. The first group of Nso people to settle in Buea are said to have been Chris-tians who travelled to coast to learn about the word of God when Christianity found its way into the Nso hinterland. Such people were catechumen and their families who came to Buea as the church and colonial headquarters of this part of the country. Some settled while some went back to Nso to tell their people about Buea and its awesome Moun-tain. Others came in search of the golden fleece ( education) given that there were available schools in the Buea area. When the Germans were defeated in Cameroon in 1916 Buea which hitherto was the Capital of German Cameroon was ceded to Britain and administered with the rest of the present North West and South West regions a mandatory territory via Nigeria. Thus all sons and daughters of this territory including the Nso were governed through Buea. They began traveling to Buea for all kinds of reasons including religion, education, civil service work, business, politics, military engagement, employment etc. By the end of the Second World War many Nso people were already living in Buea for various rea-sons. The existence of the lone secondary school in British Southern Cameroon St. Joseph College, Sasse (1939), was one off such reasons. There were teachers like Bernard Nsokika Fonlon and stu-dents like Paul Verdzekov, Yurika, Sylvester Kindzeka , Prof. Daniel Noni Lantumetc who came for education in Sasse. Others like V.T Lainjo, Joseph Lafon, Lawrence Fonka, Boniface Sakah and Fon Sehm III. were already in the Southern Cameroons political bandwagon first in Nigeria and then in Southern Came-roons with headquarters in Buea. These people formed the nucleus of pioneer Nso people in Buea. After independence more Nso people trouped into Buea for divers reasons and some choose to set-tle, attracting many more of their kith while others came as civil servants or like Pa. John Vega, S. S. Shang, Mama Olive Shang, Commisioners Edmond Ngong and William Shiytum, Pa Joseph Langeh, Pa Pascal Nyuyse, etc. The growing number of Nso people in Buea led to the formation of a cultural association of Nso people known as Shui Nso” or the Sun of Nso in reference to the Fon of Nso who is also known as the “ Sun of Nso.” The early meetings were in personal houses but with the growing numbers the Nso people decide to buy a plot and build a commendable meeting place for their meetings and activities. Under the lead-ership of Papa Joseph Langeh, Shuifai Buea (Fai Napoleon) and host of others they thus taxed them-selves to raise funds to accomplish this feat. Down the road , many more people from various areas of Nso have chosen to settle in Buea as the years have passed up to the time when Shui Nso discovered that they needed a more accommodat-ing community hall.. The creation of the University of Buea which brought more people of Nso origin to Buea also made it obvious that the hall was inadequate and outgrown for various activities, necessitating rental of more accommodating venues for socio-cultural manifestations. The idea of building a completely new hall was mooted but the majority agreed that the old hall be rebuild with more space and amenities to take care of the needs of the association that has grown from initially a men's group to include women, youth and children. The step forward was thus taken for the members of the group to start contributions to at least build a solid foundation before coming out to the public for goodwill support in this venture that will strengthen the co-existence and persistence of Nso people in Buea. This hall will also be a beacon to national integration and unity given that other people may be able to use it for their own social as well as cultural activities. Your widow’s mite can make the difference in this noble venture!!!.

NSO PEOPLE IN BRIEF

The Nso people are a tribe in Bui Division of the North west Region. Folklore tells us that the Nso tribe was founded by Ngonso , a Princess of Rifem in the Bankim area of the present Adamawa Region of Cameroon. The story goes that the ruler of Rifem, Kimi had many wives and had chosen the son of one of his wives, Nchare to succeed him upon his death but his instructions were bypassed when a step brother forcefully sat on the throne. Nchare and his junior brother, Mfoobam decided to leave their birth place looking for where to found their own kingdom(s) . They told their eldest sister Ngonso also called “Fongshu” about their intentions . When they left, Ngonso also gathered her own follow-ers with her husband and followed suit. The two brothers a re said to have reached a bridge across the Mbam River and settled down to rest when they saw their sister and her retinue coming. They hurriedly crossed the river and destroyed the bridge after them since they did not want their sister to follow. While Mfoombam went southerly to found the present Mbam people on the Tikar plains of Bafia, Nchare went easterly to found the present day Bamoun Kingdom in Foumban. The strong-willed Ngonso decided to follow the river upstream where she and her fol-lowers discovered a point where they could wade accross the wide river. It is said that it was a kind of mouse (Kai) that showed her and her people how to cross the river. She and her people found themselves in the wide Mboh plain which at the time was in-fested by mosquitoes. The toll of disease on the group forced them to seek higher ground and that is how they arrived Koovifem an expanse of virgin forest where they sought refuge. At Koovifem they meet another group of people called the Visaales (aborigines). There were 30 male family heads thus they were subsequently called Mtar Nso or Nso 30. Being a royal group and thanks to diplomacy, Ngonso and her followers convinced the Visaale to allow them settle with them and form a more powerful group that could easily defend themselves from the marauding tribes on horseback who constantly attacked at the at the time. They thus agreed on the terms of coexistence which is respected till date. The Son of Ngonso called Jay was agreed to become the first leader of the combined fol-lowers of Ngonso and the Visaale people thus founding the Nso Fondom as it is known today. Despite many raids from the marauding “Barah Nyam”, the Nso people succeeded in re-sisting the raiders and other vicissitudes, like diseases, slave traders and inter-tribal wars and the Germans to forge a contiguous kingdom (Nso Fondom) that has stood the test of time. Other groups came to join the Nso for strength and that is why Nso has people from di-vers origins living together to forge a common destiny. Presently Nso has the following fondoms: Nso, Nkar, Nseh, Mbiame, Ndzeen, Kiluun, Ndzerem Nyam, Ndzerem Mbo-kam and host of other smaller fondoms that still bear allegiance to the Fon of Nso the nat-ural descendant of Ngonso Nso. All sons and daughters of the Nso tribe know that they are one people and that all their fons are their leaders.

Locating Nso in Cameroon

Nso is found in the Bui Division of the North West Region of Cameroon. It covers four sub-divisions of the five that Bui is made of, including Kumbo Sub-Division with Kumbo as the capital, Dzekwa Sub-Division with Jakiri as the capital, Nkum Sub- division with Tatum as the capital, Mven Sub-division with the capital at Mbiame. The area occupied by the Nso people shares bounderies with the Okus and the Nonis within Bui and the Kom and Bum in Boyo Division on the North west, the Bamoun in the South and South east, the Babessi and Ba-bungo of Ngoketunjia in the South west as well as the Winmbum of Donga Mantung in the North. Thus the area occupied by the Nso people is virtually Cameroon in minia-ture given that Nso has ties both to the Grand South and the Grand North by its history and natural location.

GROUPS INVITED FOR MINICULTURAL FESTIVAL OKU

NCHII NONI

KOM

KEDJOM KEKU

BABUNGO

NKWEN

WIMBUM (MBAYA)

NGEMBA ( AKUM /MANKON/CHOMBA/MBATU)

(MBAKILUM)

BALI

WUM: (WEH, BEFANG, AGHEM, ESU) (NJANG)

METTA (MEKONGE)

MANDJARA (BAFIA/BAMOUN)

BAKWERI

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

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BUI DIVISION

Shufai Ntoodzev

Pa joseph Langeh

president

Some Prominent Nso Leaders in Buea Nso People and the Cameroon Historical Heritage

Mgr. Immanuel Bushu Bishop Buea Diocese

Mgr. Paul Mbiybe Verdzeko (RIP)

Emeritus Archbishop Bamenda Archdiocese

Christian Cardinal Tumi Emeritus Archbishop Douala Archdiocese

Prof. Bernard N. Fonlon (Shufai Ntoodzev)

(Rip) Educator/Minister

Hon. Vincent Taawonle Lainjo (RIP)

Minister/Civil Servant

Shey Francis Jaff (RIP

Shey C. Kongnso

Fon Sehmbum III Taa Mbinkar Mbinglo (RIP) Member of House of Chiefs

Papa Joseph Langeh (Rip)

Shey Emmanuel Tume

Mama Emma Mentsemeyuf

Yaah Baati Yaah Ngonso

Shey Jopseph Tandze

Mr. Thaddeus Ntani President Shuinso

Shey Jane Frances Gobina

President Bongsiysi

Hon. Boniface T. Sakah (RIP)

Minister /Politician/Educationist

Mr. Sylvester Kindzeka Kilo (RIP)

Civil Servant/Politician/ Businessman

Mr.s Judith Ngoran Shey Emmanuel Bah

Shey Emmauel Tume Shufai Liiwong

Shufai Buea

King of Youths Gilbert Sunjo (RIP)

Joseph Berinyuy President of Youths

Shey Tomntoh Benjamin Serkfem

2012 2012

Mr. Bame Collins Fai Liiwong Joseph Lafon RIP

Minister /Politician/Educator Mzn of Culture