The poem "Rest thee Well," written by Christmas Ebini after the death of singer Bebe Manga, was recently turned into song by the self-described Cameroonian folklore artist, Bate Nico. Listen to the song and read the poem below.
Rest thee well
Queen of melody
Producer of joy and entertainment
Daughter of the mighty tiger
As we celebrate you great life
And see you off your final journey
Now you join Elisa Agbor
Behind the grave yard
Owure nsem enem nkwo
And the many more long departed
Knowing you sang their departure
Engraved their memory
In our souls and thinking
Through you artistic genius
As you go to meet them
Greet them for us
Tell them going ahead is good
Remaining behind is also good
But the roads still do not go
Through Eyang-Atem-Ako to Bakebe
The bridges are not built
Through the mamfe river
And the politicking is fierce and violent
Amongst the sons and daughters
You so hopefully left behind.
Talk to Emmanuel
Talk to Mengot
Whisper to Arrey
Shout out to Mbiwan
Tell Hans Ekor-Tah
Remind Samson George
Ask Enonchong and Ebai
Uplift pa Messack Enow
Give thumps up to Inframan
Salute Tony my friend
And his sister Grace
Read my poem to BB
To Prof and Ako-Aya
Sing to all of them
All all of them
Bankem, banken ankem
Embrace Carlet for us
Tell him the story of humpty dumpty
How he still curses at his grave
How he is still fighting his ghost
How he is still the town gossiper
Plotting against righteousness
Refusing the path of justice
And shredding the flesh of indignity
Disturb their sleep
Irritate their tranquility
Tell them what you saw
Tell them what you lived through
Discuss what you left behind
Let them feel our pains
Make them share our desperation
Help them drop a tear
For what we have become
We know very well our precious queen
They will receive you well
As they await the messages
And the stories you will bring
Knowing you will present them
In sweet and flavored tunes.
Go thee well queen of melody
Sleep thee well daughter of our pride
You have engraved yourself in us
In our memory, our thinking our posterity
Your candle may have been blown out
But your legend remains for ever
For yesterday, today and for always
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