Irine Epie's Reflections On Being African

By Walter Wilson Nana

"I'll want my readers to grasp spirituality, the essence of being an African," says Irine Epie on her upcoming book entitled Reflections.
The Painter cum Writer said the new book she is working on has special orientations. "I'm talking of Reflections as an artist, the things that influence my work in terms of tradition, culture, spirituality, in the typical African sense, as an African artist, as a Cameroonian artist.

My work is based on traditional arts, the cultural aspects of our lives as Cameroonians, the things that were pertinent in our lifestyles as Africans before Christianity and colonisation came in," she said.
Epie said in Reflections, she is giving a tri-dimensional feeling (painter, sculptor and writer) to what she has seen, read about and have been told.

According to her, no matter how Westernised we (Africans) become, we must not lose sight of the things that continue to make us African. "Which make us different from other people, other races," she said.
Epie's message in Reflections is not different from what comes out of a drum.

Hear her: "It's a message understood, by every black person, even those in the Diaspora. It's a message that's inbuilt in our latent memories. It is something that you don't learn, you feel and immediately you hear, you understand it.

You may not be able to interpret it, but you connect with it immediately," she explained.She also thinks that there are spirituality and identity crises in the African continent. "Many Africans have been losing the essence of being African. And they think that it will make them something better.

I don't believe it does," she argued. "It makes you an imitation of something that you are not. It is important to be proud of and to be able to identify yourself with who you are first before trying to copy what somebody else is. There must be pride in being an African and that pride goes deep," she added.

Epie discards the notion of African art being regarded as primitive. "Primitive as regards to what," she retorts.The writer saw a fundamental difference in European and African arts. "They are two different kinds of arts, influenced by two different ways of life. In Africa, arts were not for arts sake.

Arts was arts as it represented something; a deity, symbol of power, position and more. European art has always been art that represented beauty. It is absolutely wrong to say African art is primitive. I want to erase from the minds of Africans this idea of being primitive. We are not. We are only different," she asserts.

A product of the Diaspora, Epie argued that her sojourn in the West gave her an opportunity to better appreciate her being African. "I have no pretensions. Being in the West and knowing who you are and having an identity is extremely important and gives you much respect," she states.

Epie points out that Africans are not accepted in the West. They are tolerated. "Black people deceive themselves that they are accepted in the West. They are only tolerated, they're not accepted."

The author of Reflections says her book will be published in the middle of 2006. "I have worked very hard on it. Reflections will give a go ahead to a lot of artists. Most Cameroonian artists base their works on and copy European arts. That is what people may want to buy. But why don't you show people who you're and make them appreciate it?" she questions.

The Writer is not frightened that Cameroon is described as not having a reading culture. "The few who are going to read and understand, will be influenced by what I've written," she says.

Epie says there is more to arts than just drawing. "Talent, a lot of meditation, research, hard work. Art is not some game or leisure. It is indeed work. It is a career. It has some meaning and impact," she says.

Comments

[Kumba]

Bakossi woman please how can I get a copy of your book?
You are one in a million

[Harry]

You're a substance that matters.

[NjifenztB.D.(U.K)]

I am intrigued by 'tit-bits'.Good work! Irine Epie.

[Jose]

Mukete eat your words, here is one very progressive Bakossi woman and may your offsprings, mam, reflect your intellectual maturity and wealth. I have'nt read your book ( I hope to lay my hands on one when it is available on amazon.com) but I already relish the prospect of delving into some culturally rich piece of literature which would enliven every yearning soul for solace in an over-tortured continent.
Goodluck mam,
Niclay-Jose.

[Henriette]

Please tell us when the Epie's book is published.

[mukete]

Hi Irine!

Congratulations for the great job, and especially for telling us what life looks like abroad. I hope the many others living abroad copy your excellent example and return home to join in the development of our cultures and country. Your excellent work is to tell us that there are many opportunities here in Cameroon and that all is NOT lost as others want the world to belive.

In Cameroon, Irene, you have a bright future - whether in government offices or as a private initiative. God bless you and more to your elbows. You are not only defending the feminine sex, but you are clearly demonstrating that we can, at least count on some of our brothers and sisters who are out of the country. The first step for them, however, is to pack.

Thank God and fortunately for you, you thought fast and took the right decision to return home. You are a free woman.

Please kindly tell the world when and where you will be launching your work. I will be there!

... and to those people, have you seen what someone can return home to do? Pack quick, it is never too late. Returning is not a sign of failure. It will be sign of patriotism and courage.

MUKETE

[drdann]

Mukete

You are not exactly casting light yourself. It is not clear at all what you stand for, except that you hate bushy fellows or whatever. You must have a high speed connection somewhere. Concordia or McGill?

drdann

[excel]

Mr. Mukete's high speed connection is courtesy of Bell Canada in the city of Hamilton in Ontario Canada. Mukete wonders why his location is an issue. It is because his whole internet persona is based on the lie that he "patriotically" resides on Cameroon when he is just another miserable bushfaller. In this regard, he is nothing but a fraud

[Flavia]

Thanks Irene for the good work.

Africans (bush fallers) must accept the truth and be very realistic about the West.
Help the younger generation by informing them of the realities of the West,all wrong images aside.Call a spade,spade.

Epie points out that Africans are not accepted in the West. They are tolerated. "Black people deceive themselves that they are accepted in the West. They are only tolerated, they're not accepted."
Perfect,I agree,100% with you Irene.

[dango tumma]

west or east all things are connected.
afica is really to the east than the west.
but what matters is the ability of africans to be free, to takeon their lifes on their own hands, to think for themselves
and to buildtheir lifes their way, such as
the independence of southerncameroons, this is the first step towards fulfilling our african destiny.
west or east, only we are our selves nothing makes amy senses worldwide, no body accept us, no body respects us.

[dango tumma]

west or east all things are connected.
afica is really to the east than the west.
but what matters is the ability of africans to be free, to takeon their lifes on their own hands, to think for themselves
and to buildtheir lifes their way, such as
the independence of southerncameroons, this is the first step towards fulfilling our african destiny.
west or east, only we are our selves nothing makes amy senses worldwide, no body accept us, no body respects us.

[Mukete]

Bush FAILERS,

I am preparing what reasonable readers will want to digest. You will vomit it for your peril or swallow it for your transformation into free and patriotic Cameroonians like some of us.

Stay tuned.

Mukete
(Cameroon)

[Ambe Johnson]

To Mr Mukete (Ontario Canada);

Read what President Biya had to tell members of the diplomatic corps last friday about Immigration to the West by Africans:
*****************************************
Memory’s Lesson
"I could not overlook a problem which touches the relations between African countries and the external world, and mainly Europe. I want to speak about what is commonly called "clandestine immigration". In fact, thousands of Africans try each year, by their own means, often with the danger of their life, to go to Europe. Some reach that point. The majority fail, with the human drama that that comprises, as we saw recently.

It is advisable to raise the question: why these Africans, young people for the most part, leave their families, their fatherland? Obviously, in the hope of a better life. In this respect, it should be recalled that in second half of the 19th century, million of Europeans, pushed by misery and the famine, moved by the conflicts, crossed the Atlantic to build a new life.

I want simply to say that this spontaneous emigration of thousands of Africans is of comparable nature. We understand that Europe, itself is prey to unemployment, is not able any more to accommodate masses of immigrants. But we also think that it is an illusion to believe that these migratory movements will end by themselves. It is only while creating in our countries the conditions which will give the candidates of emigration the hope to escape from unemployment and poverty that temptation to leave will disappear. As you know it, it is what we try to do in Cameroon with our own resources but also thanks to international assistance. As I said in connection with the objectives of the Millennium, I am not sure that, from this point of view, international solidarity is up to the task."

French original available at: http://www.cameroon-tribune.net/article.php?lang=Fr&oled=j11012006&idart=31830&olarch=&ph=y
************************************
Sans commentaire as we say in Mbanga:-)

[mukete]

Even the devil can quote biblical verses to defend its satanic ambitions.

It is only brainless cowards who would want to read Biya's ways of seeing things and even go as far as quoting it to an important forum like this one. I better dive into the Mungo river and scatter my brains than read shit from a man who has destroyed a whole nation.

I think some people actually have something to lose whenever the ugly sides of Bush Fallers are brought to light. Some of these Bush Failers who have been planning to get wives from Cameroon are afraid that Mukete can make the young girls know of the nasty reality abroad. Some who have been using big talks to dupe and exploit our poor parents here in Cameroon are afraid that Mukete may bring down their devilish business. Still, others who have been fabricating lies about the situation in Cameroon so as to obtain refugee status are afraid that their cases may not go through.

We are seeing how confused this frustrated group of Bush Fallers are trying to wage a war against Mukete - the small Mukete they had minimized and under-rated before. Some are even writing me mails through my private e-mail address and actually threathening my life. They are promising me with the prospect of evil, which will NEVER happen. Some of those writing to me have actually identified themselves as originating from Manyu Division and from the Bakossi tribe. Five of them have warned me never to write about Bush Fallers. All of them, now fifteen in number, have threathened that they will meet me where I reside and teach me a lesson. Come on!

Unfortunately for these shit no clean lasses, I am immuned against such primitive and outdated methods of intimidation. When it concerns the defence of Cameroon and Anglophones, I am ready to be for years without closing my eyes and without sleeping. I want to assure them that they have not seen anything yet. Much more honest and frank contributions will, SURELY, be coming from me. The way events are unfolding in this forum bare testimony to the fact that I am writing sense - I MEAN REAL SENSE. I never doubted this before. I do not need the approval of ALL BUsh Fallers to understand that my message is going through the right way. It is!

I have no personal problems with individuals, and it would be madness having problems with unknown people. My maxim is to let the plain naked truth speak for itself and if people want to vomit shit and eat it, then it is their funeral. My missions in this forum are not far to seek:

1) Let the world know that the MAJORITY of Bush Fallers (more than 95%) are actually telling us that black is white. They make empty noises and encourage others in Cameroon to enter the mess and slavery they, unfortunately, find themselves abroad. While slaves from other countries living in Europe and North America are telling their countrymen of the sad realities they find themselves abroad, Cameroonian Bush Fallers are shamelessly giving us the impression that they are in HEAVEN. Who born dog? It is my christian duty - and I am God fearing - to prevent young people here in Cameroon from joining the game of slavery that these Bush Fallers find themselves abroad. I can't fold my arms and watch these Bush Fallers use cheap and empty talks to pull my young brothers and sisters into the shit and EVERLASTING STRESS they find themselves abroad;

2) To drop my pen and see Bush Fallers tell the world that it is only they who hold the KEYS to Cameroon's many problems would be a betrayal on my part. To allow Bush Fallers give the naive and false impression that they are superior to those living here in Cameroon would be actually pulling my beloved country into mud. To allow Bush Fallers dictate to those living in Cameroon would be auctioning my country. I have to use all my strength, mind, and energy to tell them that they are wrong. Thank God, The Post is there to carry the LIGHT I bring;

3) It is my fervent desire to make Bush Fallers recall that they, too, contribute to the problems in Cameroon. They play an important role in "PUNISHING" the common man in Cameroon. They have not only used our capital and resources to fall BUSH by all means, but the fabrications they manufacture abroad is preventing investors from coming to invest HERE in Cameroon. No investor would want to do business in a country whose own citizens are describing and presenting as hell. No reasonable international body would want the services of a person coming from a country whose own citizens are presenting as lacking all the skills needed of a nation. Do Bush Fallers know the atmospheric pollution their tenth-generation cars, refigirators, 1oth century frying pan and pots, etc brought to Cameroon. Thank God they are now unable to ship even a pin to Cameroon ;

4) If some Bush Fallers can not understand simple and clear messages, then it remains my patriotic duty to force them to reason by listening to what they wouldn't want to consume. When I expose the weakenesses of the Banyangi, the Bafaws, the Bakossis and the rest, I am doing good to these tribes and their future generations. Not only that. I am also trying to raise some awareness in Bush Fallers of these tribes, who are busy eating genetically made food (with little or no nutritive values) abroad while their tribes and villages are experiencing daily vices.

For example, if the Banyangi people can be able to encourage their dead young girls who have been buried to actually germinate and prostitute around in places like Equatorial Guinea, Fernando po, Gabon, Nigeria and even nereby Douala, then why can Bayangi people not encourage their germinated girls to stop capital flight? Why can they not encourage their dead but germinating girls to induce our unpatriotic ministers, directors, etc. and collect huge sums of money from them? Are the Banyangi people contented with the little CFA francs that their germinated dead women bring to them out of road-side prostitution?

The Banyangi men are fed with satanic leaves to give them the power to transform into ELEPHANTS during crisis. Is this enough only when the Banyangi man has problems with his neigbour? If Anglophones truly believe that they are slaves to our francophone brothers, then why can the Banyangi people not use their "ELEPHANT TRANSFORMING JAZZ" to become thousands of elephants that can actually destroy their enemies? Why can the Banyangi people not use this power of transforing into elephants to chase Nigerian Army out of Bakassi? Why can they not transform into elephants and clear off the bushy ares in Manyu division? Why must they wait for the government to do this for them?

And if a Bakossi village can send an invisible missile from Bangem for example to bring down a relative living right in Atlanta (USA), then why can the Bakossi people not use this secret missile to tract down those who want to colonize our country? If the Bakossi man can transform into a big black snake carrying ear and waist rings, only to go and feed on a neighbour's chickens, then why can the Bakossi people not produce many such snakes to go and chase those foreign tribesmen who have taken SONARA hostage? If a Bakossi man in the village can end the life of a relative just be looking at him, then why can they not do the same by merrely using the TV to look at their many enemies in Yaounde? If the Bakossi man can make a corpse to cry and bleed through the ears, mouth and anus, then why could not have used the same method to chase away those who made Africans slaves in their own land?

5) Mine is an invitation to Bush Fallers to help educate their tribes people in the villages. By doing this, they wouldn't only be eliminating witchcraft from their villages, but they would be opening the doors for genuine development in their villages. It is NOT Paul Biya who has taken the Bakossi area one thousand years backward. It is the Bakossi people themselves, of course through their mastery of witchcraft. It is not for nothing that Mamfe (the only pride to the Banyangi man) is nothing more than an elaborated miniature village. When I hear Banyangi Bush faller called the tiny Bakebe "Small London", I feel as to cry.

6) Finally I am telling Bush Fallers that Cameroon can not be built through big empty words and pious wishes. Not only that. If those who have abandoned the country think that they can do anything genuinely good for the country, then they will have to do it only INSIDE Cameroon. Bush Fallers have been boring us with big talk that will take Cameroon NOWHERE - even in ten thousand years. The battle field to effect change in Cameroon is in Cameroon itself. Either escapees join us here in Cameroon to fight the real fight or they remain in the slavery they find themselves and watch us act here in Cameroon. There can be no other alternatives to this.

7. Until at least 10% (10 per cent) of Bush Fallers are free, my heart will know NO rest. I have a divine role to play here. Even if Bush Fallers enjoy eating shit, it my christian responsibility to pull the shit away from their mouth, and there is nothing wrong in me using any means to do this. It is not because Bush Fallers are naturally mad people that I, Mukete, should allow them to move around NAKED - with their "things hanging out". It is not because a woman is walking naked that Bush Fallers should rape her. I can not close my eyes while Bush Fallers disgrace my color, tribe, race, country and my country. I would rather sign my own death warant.

CONCLUSION:

I have not yet written anything on Bush Fallers. The Banyangis, the Bakossis and many other tribes have not seen anything yet. I have to X-ray the vices that are reality in their communities. I will demonstrate to those Banyangi and Bakossi people writing to me and threathening my life, that I came to this world so that they, and their tribes see the light. I have to accomplish this mission. Than God, I have The Post to do this.

I have promised readers a "SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS" of some of the ugly vices that make Bush Falling, the Banyangi tribe and the Bakossi tribe, a mockery of our country. My research is already at an advanced stage. When that time comes, "Man No Run."

Stay tuned.

MUKETE

[Reader1]

WHY ARE AFRICANS LAZY?

[mukete]

“Eh-chee-nah”

The above phrase means, “How are you?” in Kenyang, a Banyangi language. I have decided to start as such to indicate that I am no less Banyangi than others.

And before reading my simple FACTS, I advise readers to please ask any Banyangi man to translate the following Kenyang proverb:

“Ekirikak abhiki rop ebhe ndem.”

The Kenyang people generally call any person who does not behave well following the standards of the society “ekirikak”.

Those who cannot learn the RIGHT way should not interrupt those who want to teach others. And those who have problems learning the right way can reject what they are being taught without disturbing those who are ACTUALLY learning. It is only the “Ekirikak” who would tell FREE people the way they MUST present their facts. Even if some "fake researchers" have been hoping to use my facts and data to polish the sham they called research, they should not be exposing their absolute stupidity and myopic reasoning in this forum. If these "behind the door researchers" think that they can tell me how and when to present my facts, data and photographs, then they should know that I never use this forum to demand cheap popularity from people who want to hide evil. I am using this forum so that their great great grand children should not inherit genes of stupidity, darkness and witchcraft. I have never doubted the fact that these vices exist; I only wonder why they can not be transformed and rightfully used to effect positive things like fighting our enemies.

I would have expected “Ekirikak” to dispute what I have written rather than trying to divert attention from realities. I would also like to remind them that in a civilized village and tribe, the Bakossi religious leader who confessed openly of having eaten relatives through witchcraft, would have been banned from entering the village. Instead the Bakossi people were angered by the fact that their "Sango Pastor" was washing their dirty linen in public. It is only in the Bakossi land that women, men and children openly walked naked along their tiny streets just to protest and request the dismissal of a hardworking Ghanian Medical Doctor who was serving in a church hospital in their area. The only crime the little Emmanu committed was that he was exposing their witchcraft practices to the public and even warning Bakossi Chiefs NOT to bring such practices into his hospital. They succeeded to kick the doctor out of their land and today the hospital is a sham. Is there any Bakossi researcher who would want to dispute this? Is there any of them who would dispute the fact that in Bakossi villages people actually transform into PIGS just to destroy the roads that simple secondary school students have struggled to repair? Can they dispute the fact that in Bakossi land people transform into black snakes only to feed on the poultry of others? Can they dispute the fact that it is common to see corpse declared medically dead having red hot and fresh blood coming out of their mouth, nose, anus and even eyes? Do I need to take a Bible into a scientific laboratory to demonstrate how Jesus turned water into wine? Do I need to demonstrate in a laboratory that Jesus walked on top of the sea?

Many times I have taken part, as an observer, in the dressing of DEAD Banyangi girls and women (The Kenyang, Ejagham, Boki and the Ayang). In most all of the cases, before the dressing proper begins, people not related to the deceased are asked to leave the dressing room. Then the doors and windows are closed. In the presence of a rotating fan, the hair of the deceased is well plated and the face well decorated, with attractive lipsticks, pencil-eyes, nice smelling powder and earrings. A shinning chain is placed around the neck and breast wears are put in place to make the breasts pointing. The fingernails are well cut and painted, a shinny ring on the finger and a chain on the wrest. As the dresser was moving towards the “central hemisphere” of the corpse, I closed my eyes, but the sound of a shaving machine and the smell from a nice perfume indicated that the “central hemisphere” was actually shaved and sprayed with perfume. A befitting pair of shoes was put in place, and a handbag placed by her side. As this preparation was taking place, I started wondering if for the Banyangi there is a beauty contest after death.

The next phase of the preparation is what actually increased my heartbeat. Additional dresses, pairs of shoes, pants, waist slips, breast wears, tooth brush, tooth paste, hand mirror, rubbing oil, perfumes, powder, soaps, etc. were put inside the coffins. I actually saw birth certificates, and traveling documents (National Identity card, passport), address books with telephone numbers, pens and pencils, maps, money, etc. been added inside the coffins. In some cases, a touch light loaded with new batteries was included, as if to light the narrow path to heaven!

My discussion with those who matter among the Banyangi people (especially the Ejagham), is that 95% of dead Banyangi women actually germinate from their graves after burial. When they germinate, the things in the coffins make them understand that they have to leave the area that they can be identified. Thus it is not uncommon to see some of these germinated women using the money and traveling documents placed at their disposal to pay transportation to different cities, countries and even continents. Most of them take on roadside prostitutions to generate the money that they bring back to family members at night. Some, however, attend nightclubs and get money from men. In return, family members place food and other items like drinks, dresses, etc. around their graves for them to collect when they bring money. When it is realized that neighbors or non-relatives have observed the presence of these dead but germinated women around the area, family members do everything to urge them to leave for other destinations. There are also some stubborn germinated women who would not want to leave a particular area, because they have loved ones (young children especially) in that area. There are cases where some of these germinated women actually visit the village (Besongabang, Ossing, Tinto, Bakebe, etc.) when people had gone to the farm, so as to wash, dress and feed the little children they left behind. There was a case in Besongabang where a germinated woman actually moved in the street of the village at night, warning people who were maltreating her children and threatening revenge.

The only moment these dead but germinated women disappear is when they realize that someone has identified them. This is another reason for them to use their traveling documents to change location. People arriving places like Douala, Garoua, and especially Malabo and other cities in Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Fernando Po, etc. have seen many germinated Banyangi women that they knew before they died. Here, they do mostly prostitution and petty trading like selling cooked food or running “circuits” and chicken parlours. This germination of Banyangi women and the prolific degree of prostitution among Banyanyi women make most Banyangi families to prefer baby girls to baby boys. This explains why among the Banyangis there is much celebration when a girl is born than when a boy is born. For the Banyangi, woman is money! These are NOT just stories and NO Banyangi person would dispute this.

Even if Banyangi people can form a congragation of all their DEAD BUT GERMINATED Prostitutes in Gabon, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Fernand do Po, Douala, etc., I will tell them that dying to merely practice cheap road-side prostituntion is not helping Manyu people in any way. And if all Manyu men having the "witch" to transform into elephants should meet me in any village in Manyu Division, I will tell them that it does not help transforming into an elephant only when you have a small dispute with your neighbors. I would like to hear from them why they did not use this their JAZZ to transform into elephants to help their black brothers in South Africa when they were fighting against the white racists. I once visited a village almost inside Manyu division (BAKWA SUPE) where nobody (I repeat NOBODY) is complete. Either a person is having only one nose, or one hand, or one leg, or one face, or one finger, or one buttock, or one ear, or one leg, or one scrotal sac, or half penis, or circumcised before birth. In fact no one person is complete in BAKWA SUPE, except the few strangers living there. Just watch them dance, and you will wonder if Cameroon habours another human species.

Careless witchcraft (to the pleasure of the Bakossi), and disgraceful germination and in-born prostitution (to the pleasure of the Banyangi) are not the only VICES that distinguish these two lazy (physically) tribes. Although they both share the characteristics of cowardice, the Banyangi man demonstrates his highest degree of courage only when he commits adultery with another man’s wife. A Banyangi man will take the courage to move hand-in-hand with your wife, kissing her in her husband’s face, touching her “thing” in public and even doing the “thing” in the open. The Banyangi women only demonstrate their own courage when it comes to changing men just like changing dresses. It fact, some people actually go for “country-fashion” in their villages - to be washed- if their love request is turned down or rejected by a Banyangi woman. Even a mad man – excuse me- is confident going to “brain” a Banyangi women. Once, when a man from Mbouda presented his Banyangi fiancée to his relatives, one old man stood up and asked him, “c’est une Nyangi que tu prends?” Everything ended there! Whether in Cameroon or abroad, Banyangi men are so proud that their Banyangi wives are NOT different from slaves. Their wives do all the cleaning, ironing, cooking, washing, sweeping, fetching water, even when they are pregnant. And the Banyangi husbands merely sit and eat like “Master.” Few Banyangi men can boil simple rice. It is also a fact that, without the people from Lebialem Division (99.9 senses), the whole Manyu Division will be feeding only on garri and coconut.

On the other hand, the Bakossi man will shout, hit his hand and fist on the table, hit his chest, but in doing this, when a little millipede touches his leg, he will run away. The Bakossis are the equivalent of the Yerubas in Nigeria. They are true cowards and this explains why they would never allow a Banyangi man or a man from places like Limbe and Kumba pass near their girl friends or even wives. They are never sure of themselves. The only place you see a Bakossi man demonstrating courage is when he is addressing his tribeswomen not to date people from other areas. And during all BASU (Bakossi Student Union) meetings, whether in Cameroon or abroad, top on the agenda is how to discourage Bakossi girls from dating other tribesmen. While the Banyangi man is proud of Fufu and Eru, which is sold all over the world, the Bakossi has his “ESUBANG” and “NZABENGEN” (unsalted) and “KWANKWALANG” only in the Bakossi villages. There is NO restaurant in the world (even the tiny and dirty eating houses in Bakossi land) that serves these Bakossi traditional foods. While other villages and cities are vibrating from noise coming from industries and business activities, Bakossi villages (NOT even Tombel and Bangem are cities) only vibrate from the sound of mortar and Pestle during the pounding of cocoyam to prepare ESUBANG. While people are living in ventilated houses in other parts of the country, in the Bakossi villages people still live inside unventilated “Ndabechum” – a tradional round house with a conical thatched roof with a narrow door and NO windows. A journey from Tombel to Bangem requires that one goes round through Melong in the littoral province. Although snakes have no neck, ears and waist, it is only in the Bakossi land that snakes are found carrying rings and chains, with wrapper round the necks and waists. The Bakossi man will boost of the twin Lake Maunenguba and Kupe Mountain, which serve no economic or tourist interests.

I am NOT interested in what others may think about what I write. This is not a scientific experiment. It is a tangible FACT and a REALITY. My duty here is to let the plain naked truth speak for itself and if those who have something to hide wouldn’t agree with me, then they have my permission to vomit it. I will let people rub me with shit, but I will never spare those aspects of our society that hinder development. Mine is a call to the elites of tribes still experiencing darkness to urge their tribesmen to think like civilized, enlightened and free people. Not only that. They should educate their tribesmen on the fact that the vices they practice (witchcraft, human germination or prostitution) will take their tribes and villages NOWHERE. It is not acceptable that while other tribes and villages in Cameroon are moving forward, others are still in nocturnal darkness. Instead of vomiting bile and swallowing it because I am washing our dirty linens in public, they should join me help bring light to their villages and tribes. This will be doing good service to future generations.

The Holy Bible tells us that " ... and you will know the truth; and the truth will set you free." (John 8: 32). Thank God, The POST and its management are there to help me bring the truth to those, who by nature, are used to lies and darkness – excuse me.

"SAMA" (Thank you - in Ejagham, Banyangi)

Your Brother,

MUKETE
(Cameroon)

[mukete]

During the week (Monday to Friday) most Bush Fallers are working, sometimes very long hours or even three jobs – to make ends meet - and they have very little time to go to their computers only during the week – when they are told that there is NO overtime at their job places. I am, therefore, reposting a contribution I had written during the week. Take patience and FISH out the NO less important FACTS it carries. Send the messages to the villages, people, ministers, chiefs, witches, wizards, and Bush Fallers concerned. By doing this, you will be contributing in the development of tribes and people who have refused to grow and become civilized. HAPPY READING.
____________________________________________

“Eh-chee-nah”

The above phrase means, “How are you?” in Kenyang, a Banyangi language. I have decided to start as such to indicate that I am no less Banyangi than others.

And before reading my simple FACTS, I advise readers to please ask any Banyangi man to translate the following Kenyang proverb:

“Ekirikak abhiki rop ebhe ndem.”

The Kenyang people generally call any person who does not behave well following the standards of the society “ekirikak”.

Those who cannot learn the RIGHT way should not interrupt those who want to teach others. And those who have problems learning the right way can reject what they are being taught without disturbing those who are ACTUALLY learning. It is only the “Ekirikak” who would tell FREE people the way they MUST present their facts. Even if some "fake researchers" have been hoping to use my facts and data to polish the sham they called research, they should not be exposing their absolute stupidity and myopic reasoning in this forum. If these "behind the door researchers" think that they can tell me how and when to present my facts, data and photographs, then they should know that I never use this forum to demand cheap popularity from people who want to hide evil. I am using this forum so that their great great grand children should not inherit genes of stupidity, darkness and witchcraft. I have never doubted the fact that these vices exist; I only wonder why they cannot be transformed and rightfully used to effect positive things like fighting our enemies.

I would have expected “Ekirikak” to dispute what I have written rather than trying to divert attention from realities. I would also like to remind them that in a civilized village and tribe, the Bakossi religious leader who confessed openly of having eaten relatives through witchcraft, would have been banned from entering the village. Instead the Bakossi people were angered by the fact that their "Sango Pastor" was washing their dirty linen in public. It is only in the Bakossi land that women, men and children openly walked naked along their tiny streets just to protest and request the dismissal of a hardworking Ghanian Medical Doctor who was serving in a church hospital in their area. The only crime the little Emmanu committed was that he was exposing their witchcraft practices to the public and even warning Bakossi Chiefs NOT to bring such practices into his hospital. They succeeded to kick the doctor out of their land and today the hospital is a sham. Is there any Bakossi researcher who would want to dispute this? Is there any of them who would dispute the fact that in Bakossi villages people actually transform into PIGS just to destroy the roads that simple secondary school students have struggled to repair? Can they dispute the fact that in Bakossi land people transform into black snakes only to feed on the poultry of others? Can they dispute the fact that it is common to see corpse declared medically dead having red hot and fresh blood coming out of their mouth, nose, anus and even eyes? Do I need to take a Bible into a scientific laboratory to demonstrate how Jesus turned water into wine? Do I need to demonstrate in a laboratory that Jesus walked on top of the sea?

Many times I have taken part, as an observer, in the dressing of DEAD Banyangi girls and women (The Kenyang, Ejagham, Boki and the Ayang). In most all of the cases, before the dressing proper begins, people not related to the deceased are asked to leave the dressing room. Then the doors and windows are closed. In the presence of a rotating fan, the hair of the deceased is well plated and the face well decorated, with attractive lipsticks, pencil-eyes, nice smelling powder and earrings. A shinning chain is placed around the neck and breast wears are put in place to make the breasts pointing. The fingernails are well cut and painted, a shinny ring on the finger and a chain on the wrest. As the dresser was moving towards the “central hemisphere” of the corpse, I closed my eyes, but the sound of a shaving machine and the smell from a nice perfume indicated that the “central hemisphere” was actually shaved and sprayed with perfume. A befitting pair of shoes was put in place, and a handbag placed by her side. As this preparation was taking place, I started wondering if for the Banyangi there is a beauty contest after death.

The next phase of the preparation is what actually increased my heartbeat. Additional dresses, pairs of shoes, pants, waist slips, breast wears, tooth brush, tooth paste, hand mirror, rubbing oil, perfumes, powder, soaps, etc. were put inside the coffins. I actually saw birth certificates, and traveling documents (National Identity card, passport), address books with telephone numbers, pens and pencils, maps, money, etc. been added inside the coffins. In some cases, a touch light loaded with new batteries was included, as if to light the narrow path to heaven!

My discussion with those who matter among the Banyangi people (especially the Ejagham), is that 95% of dead Banyangi women actually germinate from their graves after burial. When they germinate, the things in the coffins make them understand that they have to leave the area that they can be identified. Thus it is not uncommon to see some of these germinated women using the money and traveling documents placed at their disposal to pay transportation to different cities, countries and even continents. Most of them take on roadside prostitutions to generate the money that they bring back to family members at night. Some, however, attend nightclubs and get money from men. In return, family members place food and other items like drinks, dresses, etc. around their graves for them to collect when they bring money. When it is realized that neighbors or non-relatives have observed the presence of these dead but germinated women around the area, family members do everything to urge them to leave for other destinations. There are also some stubborn germinated women who would not want to leave a particular area, because they have loved ones (young children especially) in that area. There are cases where some of these germinated women actually visit the village (Besongabang, Ossing, Tinto, Bakebe, etc.) when people had gone to the farm, so as to wash, dress and feed the little children they left behind. There was a case in Besongabang where a germinated woman actually moved in the street of the village at night, warning people who were maltreating her children and threatening revenge.

The only moment these dead but germinated women disappear is when they realize that someone has identified them. This is another reason for them to use their traveling documents to change location. People arriving places like Douala, Garoua, and especially Malabo and other cities in Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Fernando Po, etc. have seen many germinated Banyangi women that they knew before they died. Here, they do mostly prostitution and petty trading like selling cooked food or running “circuits” and chicken parlours. This germination of Banyangi women and the prolific degree of prostitution among Banyanyi women make most Banyangi families to prefer baby girls to baby boys. This explains why among the Banyangis there is much celebration when a girl is born than when a boy is born. For the Banyangi, woman is money! These are NOT just stories and NO Banyangi person would dispute this.

Even if Banyangi people can form a congregation of all their DEAD BUT GERMINATED Prostitutes in Gabon, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Fernando Po, Douala, etc., I will tell them that dying to merely practice cheap road-side prostitution is not helping Manyu people in any way. And if all Manyu men having the "witch" to transform into elephants should meet me in any village in Manyu Division, I will tell them that it does not help transforming into an elephant only when you have a small dispute with your neighbors. I would like to hear from them why they did not use this their JAZZ to transform into elephants to help their black brothers in South Africa when they were fighting against the white racists. I once visited a village almost inside Manyu division (BAKWA SUPE) where nobody (I repeat NOBODY) is complete. Either a person is having only one nose, or one hand, or one leg, or one face, or one finger, or one buttock, or one ear, or one leg, or one scrotal sac, or half penis, or circumcised before birth. In fact no one person is complete in BAKWA SUPE, except the few strangers living there. Just watch them dance, and you will wonder if Cameroon habours another human species.

Careless witchcraft (to the pleasure of the Bakossi), and disgraceful germination and in-born prostitution (to the pleasure of the Banyangi) are not the only VICES that distinguish these two lazy (physically) tribes. Although they both share the characteristics of cowardice, the Banyangi man demonstrates his highest degree of courage only when he commits adultery with another man’s wife. A Banyangi man will take the courage to move hand-in-hand with your wife, kissing her in her husband’s face, touching her “thing” in public and even doing the “thing” in the open. The Banyangi women only demonstrate their own courage when it comes to changing men just like changing dresses. It fact, some people actually go for “country-fashion” in their villages - to be washed- if their love request is turned down or rejected by a Banyangi woman. Even a mad man – excuse me- is confident going to “brain” a Banyangi women. Once, when a man from Mbouda presented his Banyangi fiancée to his relatives, one old man stood up and asked him, “c’est une Nyangi que tu prends?” Everything ended there! Whether in Cameroon or abroad, Banyangi men are so proud that their Banyangi wives are NOT different from slaves. Their wives do all the cleaning, ironing, cooking, washing, sweeping, fetching water, even when they are pregnant. And the Banyangi husbands merely sit and eat like “Master.” Few Banyangi men can boil simple rice. It is also a fact that, without the people from Lebialem Division (99.9 senses), the whole Manyu Division will be feeding only on garri and coconut.

On the other hand, the Bakossi man will shout, hit his hand and fist on the table, hit his chest, but in doing this, when a little millipede touches his leg, he will run away. The Bakossis are the equivalent of the Yerubas in Nigeria. They are true cowards and this explains why they would never allow a Banyangi man or a man from places like Limbe and Kumba pass near their girl friends or even wives. They are never sure of themselves. The only place you see a Bakossi man demonstrating courage is when he is addressing his tribeswomen not to date people from other areas. And during all BASU (Bakossi Student Union) meetings, whether in Cameroon or abroad, top on the agenda is how to discourage Bakossi girls from dating other tribesmen. While the Banyangi man is proud of Fufu and Eru, which is sold all over the world, the Bakossi has his “ESUBANG” and “NZABENGEN” (unsalted) and “KWANKWALANG” only in the Bakossi villages. There is NO restaurant in the world (even the tiny and dirty eating houses in Bakossi land) that serves these Bakossi traditional foods. While other villages and cities are vibrating from noise coming from industries and business activities, Bakossi villages (NOT even Tombel and Bangem are cities) only vibrate from the sound of mortar and Pestle during the pounding of cocoyam to prepare ESUBANG. While people are living in ventilated houses in other parts of the country, in the Bakossi villages people still live inside unventilated “Ndabechum” – a traditional round house with a conical thatched roof with a narrow door and NO windows. A journey from Tombel to Bangem requires that one goes round through Melong in the littoral province. Although snakes have no neck, ears and waist, it is only in the Bakossi land that snakes are found carrying rings and chains, with wrapper round the necks and waists. The Bakossi man will boost of the twin Lake Maunenguba and Kupe Mountain, which serve no economic or tourist interests.

I am NOT interested in what others may think about what I write. This is not a scientific experiment. It is a tangible FACT and a REALITY. My duty here is to let the plain naked truth speak for itself and if those who have something to hide wouldn’t agree with me, then they have my permission to vomit it. I will let people rub me with shit, but I will never spare those aspects of our society that hinder development. Mine is a call to the elites of tribes still experiencing darkness to urge their tribesmen to think like civilized, enlightened and free people. Not only that. They should educate their tribesmen on the fact that the vices they practice (witchcraft, human germination or prostitution) will take their tribes and villages NOWHERE. It is not acceptable that while other tribes and villages in Cameroon are moving forward, others are still in nocturnal darkness. Instead of vomiting bile and swallowing it because I am washing our dirty linens in public, they should join me help bring light to their villages and tribes. This will be doing good service to future generations.

The Holy Bible tells us that "and you will know the truth; and the truth will set you free." (John 8: 32). Thank God, The POST and its management are there to help me bring the truth to those, who by nature, are used to lies and darkness – excuse me.

MUKETE
(Cameroon)

[dango tumma]

mukete is what americans call asshole.
just no connection to the subject.

[fearless]

It puzzles me to here you say people should pack and come back home when you have been a member or if my record is not all that cedable ,you have been one of the Aborigin of this Bush fallen syndrome.After haven received your own share either through education which ofcourse made you what you are today,or through the ought jobs which you equally went through in order to meet up with what you are today and your family,why not allow others to use the opportunity which you have equally used to built up their own status like yours.From what i have read, yuo are stingy and you merely wants to descourage from greener pasture just like you did and became what you are today.
Let me ask you this,what is wrong for some one to travel to another country?Did these people tell you they will never come back home?Today we are proud of the most beautiful hotels in Kumba,who owns it is it not a Bush Faller?He that is for you is not against you.I a friend who is taking care of five of his junior ones in Universities in Cameroon because he is a Bush faller.Now tell me is that a good venture towards the development of our territry?.Infact i am so dismayed With the bias nature of the so called articles.This peice of work lacks objectivity and thus can not be consider as an academic material.There is the need for you to go back to school if you want to become an academician
THE FEARLESS