By Kanute Tangwa aka K(C)anute Tangwa

The Djottin-Nooné (Noni) people zealously and enthusiastically embraced the preachments of the white men of God. If Shisong, Nkar, Kumbo still had functional catholic mission stations, not so with Djottin since its parish had been closed down during the second great war irrespective of its growing number of converts.

Christians from Djottin had to trek to Nkar for church services and other related church activities.  When the booming guns gave way to placid peace, it was only proper for the Djottin to ask for the reinstatement of their parish via a missive handed by Pa Wamey, Pa Teacher, to Fr Nelson the parish priest of Nkar who tore the letter into pieces in front of Pa Teacher and told him to tell his people to beat the hills of Djottin into plains before a parish will be re-opened.

Pa Wamey humbly picked up the scraps of paper, which looked like manna or graces, and on his return from a place of no promise, Nkar, presented them to a dumbfounded people.

However, Fr Nelson underestimated the steel of the Djottin. On Kontri Sundays, marshalled by their Fons, armed with pick axes, hoes, cutlasses, and shovels they slowly, surely and determinedly knocked down hills to create a road!

On the day the parish was reopened by Fr Arnold, the inimitable village poet and bard Pa Yomten composed an anthem that caught the feelings, hopes and aspirations of the people at the time which rings true to this day:

KUM E TU BALE

1, Kum é tu bale, Kum é     tu bale 2×

The hill(s) have become a plain! (2x)

Besse é sung wa Kum wu tu bale, kum é tu bale 2x

We have beaten down the hill(s) into a plain; the hill(s) has become a plain (2x)

2, Dvwi ji bai yé ! Dvwi ji bai yé 2×

A big day; this is a big day (2x)

Tata é towa keta boom biw é, dvwi ji bai yé 2×

Tata (Bishop) has come to visit his children; a big day! (2x)

3, Ben to é bo géne, Ben to é bo géne 2x

Come let’s go; come let’s go!

Bene géne gén yén Tata le, ben to é bo géne 2x

Let’s go see Tata (Bishop); come let’s go! (2x)

4, Kedjottin té bele, Kedjottin té bele 2x

Djottin people wept: Djottin people wept (2x)

Seke Tata té saye nwa bo langke kuse 2x

When Tata (Bishop) tore up their letter & threw the pieces on the ground (2x)

5, Shen té ko besse, shen té ko besse 2x

We were very sorry; we were very ashamed (2x)

Seke Wamey té tachi grasia é bo tenghe lé bibaa 2x

When (Pa) Wamey was picking up the pieces of paper & calling them “gracia”

6, Bi baa bin é, bi baa é,2x

These are the pieces of paper; pieces of paper! (2x)

Bene é boy wa nje kewumén ke Wamey té kéngke 2x

We have been saved because of the shame (Pa) Wamey suffered (2x)

7, Nchun é tu ntefe, nchun é tu ntefe 2x

Insult has turned into counsel; insult has turned into counsel (2x)

Besse é sung wa Kum wu tu bale no wo ché gaiyé 2x

We have beaten down the hill(s) into a plain as you (Wamey) had said. (Translated from Nooné by Desmond Wamey)