Skip to main content


Ngarum Culture exhibited: Leinyuy is fed with staple diet during perpetual vows into convent


By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum

The culture of the people of Ngarum has been portrayed at festivities marking the final profession of a candidate for the religious sisterhood.

 Immaculte Leinyuy made perpet
ual vows into the congregation of the Holy Union Sisters on October 19, 2019 during a pontifical Holy Mass presided by Bishop Michael Bibi, the auxiliary Bishop of Bamenda Archdiocese Cameroon. The culture was exhibited at St Paul Catholic Church Nkwen during outdoor meriments that added colour to the event. A group of five women dressed in blouses over loinclothes processed in traditional song and dance to the foot of the rostrum in a hall where Sister Immaculte and other religious were sitting ready to receive them.


Sisters eating cocoyam mash and cow pea soup from leaves. Right:Sr Rosemary, left:Sr Immaculate

One of the women were carrying a basket on the head. As they danced up, they spoke a few words in the mother tongue and then opened the basket, washed their hands, took out mash and some vegetable soup which was in the basket.

They served the food in cut pieces of plantain leaves to Leinyuy and all the religious women who were sitting with her. It looked like drama but it was real.

All guests were cranning to the scene. I saw  a guest smiled and then murtered something like " this is the custom of our culture being done here".

After feeding the jubilarian, the women danced back to their sitting positions

"I was feeding my daughter as I used to feed her when she was a child.  The food was cow pea soup and pounded cocoyams. It is the food she cherishes. In our culture when someone has a ceremony like being marreid off or during the coronation of a fon, we feed the person in the same fashion we always feed a child. We give water to drink and we give the food liked most. That's our culture.   In Ngarum culture when a woman gives birth, she is fed too" Iata Nieh, grandmother of Elizabeth told Info Trends.

By feeding somebody who is going on a journey or an adventure, we feel that the person won't feel hungry no matter the situation out there. "He/she would always remember this and never feel bad" added another lady

The basket that was used to carry the food was a source of attraction and a point of culture. The basket is important. We put food in it and cover it. In the past there were no pans. We used traditional bowls carved from wood and we used leaves to hold food or to serve food. Mostly baskets were available in the past. The basket is weaved from fibres gotten from the raffia. We also used calabashes. You wash your hands with water from a Calabash and you eat" Angelica Maujuh mother of Immaculate said.

Many onlookers gazed the showcased culture with awe. The aspect of feeding one of theirs was a thriller and a demonstration of a united spiritedness for a family member.

This culture is just one of many rewarding cultural practices in Ngarum.

To fulfil this culture cocoyam leaves and corn fufu, corn fufu and huckleberry are other alternative diets.

 Ngarum is a village in Ndu Sub division, Donga Mantung Division of the North West region Cameroon.

Comments

Post a Comment

Editor's Picks

UBa opens doors for a Hate free Institution   By Mbuh Stella Hate Speech is a potential source of conflict, contributing to thousands of lives lost around the globe, experts have warned. In Cameroon, Hate speech is practiced both online and offline. The phenomenon is a call for concern. It is against this back drop that Defyhatenow  a Non Governmental Organization is working towards raising awareness and combating Hate speech. Recently, a team from the organization led by Laure Nganlay Nadege, Communication Associate at Defyhatenow visited the University of Bamenda, UBa to initiate a program which will in the days ahead engage students  in the fight against Hate speech and other forms of information manipulation. During the discussion, delegation member, Derick Kinnang, who is also Research and Administrative Officer at Defyhatenow said 'hate speech is a can of worms that should not be allowed to take roots in the communities" Defyhatenow Delegation presented their missio...
1 comment
Read more
TO BAR COVID19 BAMENDA II COUNCIL DISINFECTS SCHOOLS Photo: Disinfecting GBHS Down Town Four schools have been disinfected by the Bamenda II Council in an effort to fight coronavirus. Using decontaminated solution, Chenwi Peter - Bamenda II Mayor together with other councillors and staff sprayed PSS Mankon, GBHS Down Town, Government Bilingual School Old Town and Government Practicing School Old Town on Saturday March 13, 2021. "Following high instructions from the Prime Minister head of government, following instructions from the minister of Higher Education, Secondary Education, Basic Education and considering the fact that the Northwest Region does not have industries, our lone industry is education and with the proliferation of COVID in the Bamenda II municipality, the council is there to respect state instructions. That is why all the councillors are out to disinfect schools to make sure we protect lives of our children" the mayor told pressmen during the disinfection ex...
Post a Comment
Read more
MEJU HONOURS ELITES, RESOLVES ON RELAUNCH OF MENCHUM VOICE NEWSPAPER. By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum   Menchum Journalist Union MEJU, which is a union, grouping together journalists of Menchum descent has embarked on a journey to bring back Menchum Voice Newspaper. The Union has also paid tributes to elites of Menchum Division. This was the main activity that featured during it's 2022 general convention under the leadership of it's president Victor Bama Cham. MEJU handed notes of recognition to the elites for strides made in development in varried fields. Those recognized include Senator Buh Sule Tegha, Mih Bibiana Mbei Dinghambong, Fon Ndecham Chefon II, Professor Kelly Mua Kingsly, Prince Divine Kwansuh and Late Fon Kum-A-Chuo II Kawzu Albert.  Professor Kelly Mua Kingsly was honoured as "Most forensic expert of financial forensics" Mih Bibiana Mbei Dinghambong was honoured as "most committed, consistent iconic woman peace crusader" Prince Divine Kwansuh was hon...
Post a Comment
Read more