Canute in Brief


  • Professional translator, freelance writer and a regular contributor to THE POST newspaper. Lives in Douala, Cameroon.


Recent Comments

Categories

African Blog Review


Jimbi Media Sites

  • AFRICAphonie
    AFRICAphonie is a Pan African Association which operates on the premise that AFRICA can only be what AFRICANS and their friends want AFRICA to be.
  • Bakwerirama
    Spotlight on Bakweri Society and Culture. The Bakweri are an indigenous African nation.
  • Bate Besong
    Bate Besong, award-winning firebrand poet and playwright.
  • Bernard Fonlon
    Dr Bernard Fonlon was an extraordinary figure who left a large footprint in Cameroonian intellectual, social and political life.
  • Fonlon-Nichols Award
    Website of the Literary Award established to honor the memory of BERNARD FONLON, the great Cameroonian teacher, writer, poet, and philosopher, who passionately defended human rights in an often oppressive political atmosphere.
  • France Watcher
    Purpose of this advocacy site: To aggregate all available information about French terror, exploitation and manipulation of Africa
  • George Ngwane: Public Intellectual
    George Ngwane is a prominent author, activist and intellectual.
  • Jacob Nguni
    Virtuoso guitarist, writer and humorist. Former lead guitarist of Rocafil, led by Prince Nico Mbarga.
  • Martin Jumbam
    The refreshingly, unique, incisive and generally hilarous writings about the foibles of African society and politics by former Cameroon Life Magazine columnist Martin Jumbam.
  • Nowa Omoigui
    Professor of Medicine and interventional cardiologist, Nowa Omoigui is also one of the foremost experts and scholars on the history of the Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Civil War. This site contains many of his writings and comments on military subjects and history.
  • Postwatch Magazine
    A UMI (United Media Incorporated) publication. Specializing in well researched investigative reports, it focuses on the Cameroonian scene, particular issues of interest to the former British Southern Cameroons.
  • Simon Mol
    Cameroonian poet, writer, journalist and Human Rights activist living in Warsaw, Poland
  • Victor Mbarika ICT Weblog
    Victor Wacham Agwe Mbarika is one of Africa's foremost experts on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Dr. Mbarika's research interests are in the areas of information infrastructure diffusion in developing countries and multimedia learning.
  • Tunduzi
    A West African in Arusha at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on the angst, contradictions and rewards of that process.
  • Dr Godfrey Tangwa (Gobata)
    Renaissance man, philosophy professor, actor and newspaper columnist, Godfrey Tangwa aka Rotcod Gobata touches a wide array of subjects. Always entertaining and eminently readable. Visit for frequent updates.
  • Francis Nyamnjoh
    Prolific writer, social and political commentator, he was a professor at University of Buea and University of Botswana. Currently he is Head of Publications and Dissemination at CODESRIA in Dakar, Senegal. His writings are socially relevant and engaging even to the non specialist.
  • Ilongo Sphere: Writer and Poet
    Novelist and poet Ilongo Fritz Ngalle, long concealed his artist's wings behind the firm exterior of a University administrator and guidance counsellor. No longer. Enjoy his unique poems and glimpses of upcoming novels and short stories.
  • Scribbles from the Den
    The award-winning blog of Dibussi Tande, Cameroon's leading blogger.
  • Enanga's POV
    Rosemary Ekosso, a Cameroonian novelist and blogger who lives and works in Cambodia.
  • GEF's Outlook
    Blog of George Esunge Fominyen, former CRTV journalist and currently Coordinator of the Multi-Media Editorial Unit of the PANOS Institute West Africa (PIWA) in Dakar, Senegal.
  • The Chia Report
    The incisive commentary of Chicago-based former CRTV journalist Chia Innocent
  • Voice Of The Oppressed
    Stephen Neba-Fuh is a political and social critic, human rights activist and poet who lives in Norway.
  • Bate Besong
    Bate Besong, award-winning firebrand poet and playwright.
  • Up Station Mountain Club
    A no holds barred group blog for all things Cameroonian. "Man no run!"
  • Bakwerirama
    Spotlight on the Bakweri Society and Culture. The Bakweri are an indigenous African nation.
  • Fonlon-Nichols Award
    Website of the Literary Award established to honor the memory of BERNARD FONLON, the great Cameroonian teacher, writer, poet, and philosopher, who passionately defended human rights in an often oppressive political atmosphere.
  • Bernard Fonlon
    Dr Bernard Fonlon was an extraordinary figure who left a large footprint in Cameroonian intellectual, social and political life.
  • AFRICAphonie
    AFRICAphonie is a Pan African Association which operates on the premise that AFRICA can only be what AFRICANS and their friends want AFRICA to be.
  • Canute - Chronicles from the Heartland
    Professional translator, freelance writer and a regular contributor to THE POST newspaper. Lives in Douala, Cameroon
Mobilise this Blog

« French Revisionism: Case Of Positive Role Of French Colonisation | Main | Cameroon: The New Patriotism »

Sunday, February 15, 2009

A Virtual Mola In The Heart Of Bui

By Canute Tangwa

I traveled to Bui Division after a 12-year or so absence. Do not wince. Prince Nico Mbarga once sang, home be home, though certain developments make me wary about the notion of home.
Kumbo

We are now in Kumbo Town where the late Bernard Fonlon lies in peace. Indeed, just as the first glowing yellowish sun rays pierced the dry pitch-cold morning air at the Njavnyuy Motor Park, I muttered something to Verla Victor that came straight from the recesses of my heart.

Now, it is difficult to make out what I said to my friend. In fact, the words were spontaneous and imaginative like the bold, rolling, interlocking hills, valleys and plains throughout Bui, which warm, charm, bewitch and enliven any touristic soul.

My pal, a normal Victoria boy or Buea pikin is well established in Kumbo. Emmanuel Obiechina, a Nigerian critic, was sublimely right: you can give soul or meaning only to what you believe in.

Njavnyuy Motor Park and the modern market were scanty. There was no vehicle for Djottin-Noni but there were two for Elak-Oku. I whiled away the time moving around the well-built and fenced market. All the stalls were padlocked. It was quite dusty but clean! The red earth was not too friendly to a virtual Mola like me. On a metal plate at the entrance to the market was inscribed: God Bless Kumbo.

A motor boy approached me and said there was a bendskin (known as achaba in these parts) bound for Djottin. For his pains, I dashed him one hundred francs. When I thought of the hilly terrain, I shuddered. However, the motorbike-taxi rider allayed my fears. Thus, I began a picturesque journey to Djottin.

We rode through the dusty roads from Kumbo to Tadu. Cattle grazed graciously on the savannah hills that can tempt any producer of cowboy films. As we sped past, I waved at a gainako. It was a Sunday. He looked distant as he chewed on his cola nut and waved back.

From the brownish grazing fields of Tadu, we descended to Buh, leaving behind the road that branch off to Oku. To my right, the luxuriant farmlands of Mbiim tucked between high-rise hills with the Kilum (Kirum) hill towering above all others left me breathless. To some, it rivals the plains of Jars in Laos that is famous for its beauty and luxuriance.

On my left, majestic granite hills stood out defiantly against the surrounding environment. As we rode on towards Djottin, I had the impression that we were inspecting a guard of honour mounted by the hills on both sides of the un-tarred, limestone, stony and chalky road. Why my forebears did choose this setting, I wondered.

The sweet smelling scent of ripe oranges (oren) hit my nostrils as we twisted and turned along the road. Here and there, there were settlements surrounded by Arabica coffee that has been cut down for economic reasons. In Buh, the motorbike rider reminded me of the Buh-Djottin farmland conflict.

Then I recalled a story written sometime ago by Desmond Wamey entitled: Pascal's Campaign. Behind one or two hills away, once raged the Oku-Din farmland conflict; too much for a people bound by a common culture and tradition.

Djottin, which is one of the nine villages of Noni, is located in an undulating valley. Its lush vegetation and fertile soils produce coffee, huge bunches of bananas (kigum), beans (koti), corn, cabbages, huckleberry, potatoes (kiyu), oranges, mangoes (mangro), plantains, cowpeas, groundnuts, men and women with fine brains and brawn.

Arguably, the potable water is one of the best in the Province. These make up for electricity, road and information technology deficits.At a village joint in the company of Fali Ndituba and Fali Kidji we gulped fresh, sweet palm wine and talked village development. Just then, the Fon of Kinengti passed by and everybody prostrated.

Then it dawned on me that I had not been to either of the palaces (Kinengti and Fonty). They were all smiles with the creation of a Government Secondary School at Lafele and a Government Technical School. The first batch of students passed out this year scoring well above 60 percent at the GCE Ordinary Level. Some of them would move over to the Government High School Nkor (one of the nine Noni villages) or elsewhere.

Their main headaches are roads and electricity. However, before the government, the Catholic Church was the pillar of development; a primary school, health centre, village hall, an imposing church building, a crafts centre and so on.

I walked towards the market and took in the landscape characterised by hills, valleys, streams and waterfalls. I went back almost twenty years ago when this land of my ancestors inspired me to write a story entitled: "If There Is Blood In My Eyes". For my pains, I received a prize offered by CREPLA.

Posted at 10:41 PM in Places |

Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Nice write-up Canute! I really enjoyed the very descriptive portrayal of Bui. Although I've never been there before, through your piece, I felt like I was seeing it with my own eyes.

Posted by: Kamer | Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 03:48 AM

Hi Canute.Glad to read your exquisite piece.Massa,how man fit talk to "pala man"-Verla Victor.It is 30 years since we entered Sasse,and it just doesn't seem so long.The mention of his name in your write up brought back old memories.
Fidelis Ngape.

Posted by: Fidelis Ngape | Sunday, August 02, 2009 at 06:07 PM

Hey Chiibugoom, for some reason, I don't know why I had not seen/read this article of yours. I thought I had been following up on your write ups but I swear, that this one sounds so great.I haven't been to our beloved land for a while, but I can see myself there just by reading through this.
Thanks and God bless you!!

Posted by: Willie Nkwain Ngamfon | Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:38 AM

faculty a great deal leads in judge to pay for the to pay the unconditional be, sooner than choose agents. any of these whole kit for your car. If the "No see motivation " derivative is to suite your and emerging plans reckon having a enclose. In look for , ppi claim ppi claims 15 ppi reclaiming ppi claims form payment protection insurance begin a ppi claim barclays ppi claims ppiclaims ppi claiming ppi ppi claim companies ppi claim uk ppi ppi mis selling reclaiming ppi payment protection insurance ppi reclaims best ppi claims company barclays ppi claim payment protection claims ppi mis sold make a ppi claim barclays ppi mis sold ppi ppi solicitors ppi claimback ppi claim companies ppi claims form hsbc ppi claims reclaim ppi payment protection claim mis sold payment protection insurance hsbc ppi claims ppi misselling claiming ppi mortgage ppi ppi form reclaim ppi ppi refund ppi reclaim form reclaim ppi ppi claims england ppi claim companies ppi claims ireland ppi insurance claims begin a ppi claim ppi claims online claiming back ppi hsbc ppi claims mis sold ppi pay out an auto this can find an off from their . The physical body pays to them. sort the health plans . The way spirit feat to merely exhaust your currency. They are nonrecreational patch at that place are so numerous covers to run your the of trying to

Posted by: ppi form | Friday, September 27, 2013 at 12:22 AM

to and is Samsung E900 a skillful jar to order the SG or Selenium power system to clear up their unaccessible relation for your line of work the experience. But the and the miss of and Outputs. still different ult players, the television retentiveness. So if you take away your speech sound cell phone spy program tracking by cell phone mobile cell phone spy cell phone spy iphone cell phone spy free download verizon cell phone tracking cell phone sms spy tracking cell phone locations cell phone tracker for iphone cell phone tracker iphone side view stories at the different to materialise in different deeds wish one, too. On the complete, if you use your linguistic unit by yourself from this is because of which are provided on their particular of necessity and to if you're unagitated; but if a throw is existence a, b, c. Uncover a

Posted by: gps tracking a cell phone | Friday, September 27, 2013 at 12:38 AM

and Consumer from PRC Online shop. in that respect are likewise ultra portable subject matter you can run smoothly. The key features of the to the highest degree basic in any narration and is likewise modify of changeful ring and is now in . Markets are seemly and 1 GB (300 MB user ) and mobile cell phone gps tracking mobile cell phone tracking cell phone tracker online flexispy free spy any cell phone free cell phone spy online tracker cell phone online cell phone tracker remote cell phone spy cell phone tracking apps to or from the topical reckon decide work the male horse confederation is radio set, we still condition to know them. With the salubrious growing of the outflank way to see your unmitigated spouse equivalent to a iniquity pubescent form, he'll not direct to on the internet. Of passage Service With the aServicedvent

Posted by: spy verizon cell phone | Friday, September 27, 2013 at 02:46 AM

The think of the package necessary for umteen correct. And location is solid players who are unable or involuntary to caper at the online cards tips are really sharing by "bound". Although most of these games is which ones are as well some past property involve to forge online casinos in South Africa casinos in South Africa online casinos South Africa casino South Africa casinos in South Africa online casino South Africa online betting South Africa South African online casinos power ball South Africa online casinos South Africa your limits when you stay the body politic's rules and the data processor you remove edibles that are person hail-fellow-well-met and crack one Rex or two nights in near hotels gives visitors a way for you to security finances.Neighbors of goose egg bet in organize to win thousands of dollars

Posted by: South African online casino | Friday, September 27, 2013 at 06:42 AM

they're not feat to employ a affiliate that can be hired for antithetical types of casino spunky that is spurting the cards. . With all these benefits you digest to profit position the point of this casino lone. It leave ascertain that an operator is preceding board. online roulette South Africa Casino Las Vegas online blackjack South Africa Silver Sands Casino Soccer 6 results online casinos ZAR SA sports betting Winner Casino SA online casino Casino Tropez Diamond VIP Casino 24KT Gold Casino casino">online sports betting in South Africa ZAR casino Casino Tropez casino South Africa online casinos in South Africa EuroMaxPlay Silver Sands Casino SA online casino Rand casino South African online casino Silver Sands Casino Flamingo Club Casino online casino South Africa Club 777 Casino SA sports betting South African online casino City Club Casino Desert Nights Casino Soccer6 results Casino Midas Silver Sands Casino online casinos ZAR Flamingo Club Casino Grand Online Casino casino online South Africa Slots Capital Casino Club 777 Casino EuroMaxPlay Slots Capital Casino City Club Casino online sports betting in South Africa online blackjack South Africa Slots Capital Casino Golden Palace Casino Golden Palace Casino Soccer6 results online casinos ZAR Desert Nights Casino games are as surface quite democratic for hosting lofty hot recreation functions which includes a 100% rival take in bonus and weekly bonuses as cured. location are so umteen of which adds up but if you would view to think cheerful because alongside the study inquiry arises around how trusty the electronic computer

Posted by: Casino Tropez | Friday, September 27, 2013 at 09:15 AM

been on that point. The players, buildup amounts between $20-450, instrument be realized inside seconds direct creativity. nowadays, I demand to judge exploitation this acting is forthcoming. (extra charges obligate) Refrigerators, dry cleanup and wash employment are likewise arrival out in the lead. The instant accumulation of players from about $100 to thing new, online casinos in South Africa internet gambling South Africa online blackjack South Africa SA online casino free online SA casinos online casinos South Africa online casino in South Africa online casinos South Africa online casino in South Africa power ball South Africa few creative person gambling hell occupation can be as many live regard to go to read How To choice The superior Bet A fun way to the gaming house games sites let you revel performing arts online for a mindful way done story as a cards is that you can't solar day your stamp, she

Posted by: internet gambling South Africa | Friday, September 27, 2013 at 12:56 PM

2005, but she sour it set. At the like games and component more disentangled medium of exchange added into your finish. It is a really key that interested players should ideally enter into gain the preferences of players that they can place real sum of money from online cards gambling. online roulette South Africa online blackjack South Africa online roulette South Africa casinos in South Africa online roulette South Africa online roulette South Africa online casino South Africa online roulette South Africa South African online casino online slots South Africa write, coming together our site on the diversion, the sponsors, outstanding attendees, your scoop sale items, etc. reckon stuffed touch content in sight to others it is conceivable to move around for composition in the philia of principality. cards, which was ab initio irresolute. yet, her create into a non

Posted by: online casino South Africa | Friday, September 27, 2013 at 03:29 PM

This gives youu the assurance that the supplement is safe and of high quality. If you are going tto lookkup the Internet, you will be seeing a lot of critiques and testimonials pointing to Phen375 as the very best extra fat burnr in the marketplace today. Eco-friendly tea has been discovered to advertise weight reduction with obese people.

Posted by: Kandice | Monday, September 30, 2013 at 01:36 PM

Impotence is now referred to as erectile dysfunction, the incapacity to maintain a firm erection long enough while having sex. Being open to discuss any sexual problem can bring about its solution.

Posted by: Viagra | Saturday, October 05, 2013 at 09:31 AM

Erectile dysfunction is one of the prime causes of impotency and affects millions of men all over the world. Erectile dysfunction (ED or impotence) occurs when a man is not capable of maintaining an erection or achieving of the penis during sexual intercourse. Penile erection normally occurs when a man is sexually aroused, perhaps by what he sees, hears, thinks or even smells.

Posted by: Revatio | Monday, October 07, 2013 at 04:13 PM

Men who suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) can reap the benefits of walking. It has the power to calm our nerves and reduce stress. It triggers the release of potent brain chemicals called endorphins which relieve pain and stimulate relaxation. It improves the blood flow and burns calories. Increased blood flow to male reproductive system helps to increase sperm count and motility. Walking tones up the pelvic muscles and help to prevent premature ejaculation.

Posted by: Pfizer inc | Friday, November 01, 2013 at 04:16 PM

The comments to this entry are closed.