Skip to main content


Has Mankon Fon Disappeared?

SOURCES CLOSE TO PALACE DEBUNK


By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum


Photo: Fon Angwafo III


The social media has been awash with a post indicating that the traditional leader of the Mankon Fondom has Departed to the world beyond. The post carrying address as Butabu Kwifor reads " we can confirm that Anye Solomon is no more... Mankon warriors are done with his burial. We gave him a successful burial to honor our culture as the foundation of the land"


The information which began circulating on  Sunday drowned people in doubts with everyone waiting for an authentic source to either confirm or debunk. Inhabitants rushed to their quarter heads for clarification.


In some contrary information sent to heads of neighbourhoods in Mankon, the Secretary General of the Mankon Traditional Council Ntomnifor Richard Fru labels the news of the Fon's departure as fake news. Read him "Good morning Quarter Heads. Following several calls from our dear ones relating to the message circulating on social media about our father, His Royal Highness the Fon of Mankon, l wish to officially inform all of us that it is FAKE NEWS. You should therefore NOT take it serious. Just like any human being at his age, the Fon presently has health challenges. We should therefore be praying for His speedy recovery" 


Concerning the information that went viral, Julius Mishumbu Assistant Secretary of the Mankon Traditional Council condemned the social media source "The news is fake, pure fake because if the Fon of Mankon is no more, that is not the channel that would inform people. The Kwifor would summon and inform people on what has occurred in the Mankon palace not the social media. As usual, the social media has killed the Fon of Mankon several times but he is there. Even though he has health challenges he is there. Each and everyone of us would go at God's appointed time. There is nothing in Mankon called Butabu Kwifor. Butabu Kwifor means the father of Kwifor but Kwifor doesn't have fathers. So all those who are claiming to post on behalf of Mankon called Butabu Kwifor is just part of the social media creation" 


In an interview granted to Cameroon Infotrend by Tangye Nju Spartan, the quarter Head of Nitop Six Mankon, he reacted thus "If it is true, then that is not the channel. There are seventy six quarter heads in Mankon. When such a thing happens, we as subordinates are supposed to be informed. We cannot just have a king of the land talked about like a cricket that has passed. When a scenario of this nature takes place, the quarter heads are summoned and are told that the palace is in smoke. Five years back, it rumoured that HRM the King of Mankon had Vanished and today that is the similar message. Let Jesus Christ take control. The Archbishop's journey to the Mankon palace was a big blessing from God"


Kwifor, the administrative arm in the palace

In Mankon just like in other fondoms in the grassfield, the "Kwifor" is the supreme administrative body that rules in matters of tradition in the palace. The Kwifor also has the responsibility of communicating in matters of chieftaincy and King making. The king rules through the Kwifor


"In Mankon as well as the other fondoms, when the Fon disappears, Kwifor is in charge. The Kwifor informs the people as well as the Kwifor would present the new Fon to the people. It is the responsibility of the Kwifor to do that not any Tom and Dick. There is an inner circle responsible for information in the palace" Julius Mishumbu noted.

His Royal Majesty Angwafo III Solomon Anyeghamotu Ndefru, head of the Mankon Fondom recently came to public visibility on May 11, when he received Andrew Nkea, Archbishop of Bamenda Archdiocese in a courtesy visit at the Mankon palace. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Editor's Picks

AT PALLIUM INVESTITURE PAROLIN ENTASKS ALL TO PEACE   By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum The mission to hand the pallium in Bamenda was blended with a mission of peace, dialogue and reconciliation. Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of States of the Vatican and Pope’s envoy on errand to place the pallium on the shoulders of Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea accomplished his task while also calling on an end to violence affecting Bamenda. He prescribed vigilance and serenity insisting that dialogue should be pursued in place of violence. Pietro Cardinal Parolin at St Joseph Piazza Bamenda Pietro Parolin was principal celebrant of a pontifical High Mass to mark the pallium investiture on January 31, 2021 at the St Joseph Centenary Piazza in Bamenda.  He acknowledged that Bamenda is being shattered by division and rioting. His message of none violence in relation to a socio political crisis plaguing Bamenda fell on a heterogonous audience “we are all responsible for peace. All the actors ...
3 comments
Read more

THE ROLE CATHOLIC CLERGY AND LAITY PLAYED IN ANNOUNCED NATIONAL DIALOGUE

Priests and Bishops pose for pictures at 67th BAPEC session Cameroon’s president Paul Biya announced a major national dialogue to commence as from the end of this month.  The announcement came in a speech which he addressed to the nation hinged on the throes of the socio political crisis that has gripped the North West and South West region. It is barely a week since the national dialogue was announced and the topic is animating public debates. It is however time to give credit to the clerics and the laity of the Holy Mother Church the for role played in paving the path of dialogue Since the outbreak of the Anglophone crisis, the priests, the bishops, the religious and other leaders of the church have often echoed and re-echoed that only profound and meaningful dialogue can bring solution to the problems plaguing the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. In fact memories of 29-Dec-2016 are still fresh, the date when bishops of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conf...
5 comments
Read more
      DAZZLING MULTI CULTURAL AMBIANCE AT FOOD MARKET                                                        BY MILDRED NDUM WUNG KUM At the Bamenda Food Market Cameroon, there exists a cultural space.  The scenery combines several aspects of culture. It reflects the natural and artistic heritage of Africa and to a very great extent that of Cameroon.  This area of the market that serves as a reference point to peoples and their identity lie westward the Food Market just opposite a pharmacy called Amen Pharmacy and adjacent a market area called fowl line. The area has not been given a formal name, however “country line” is the appellation used by locals to describe the area.  While passing around the area, I was really fascinated by the vast array of cultural goods displayed at the open shed shops...
2 comments
Read more