By Kanute Tangwa aka K(C)anute Tangwa
PART I
Son of Nkem
Before gigantic traditional kolanut trees standing defiant towards Nkemcheng, I bow/
Son of Nkem
Before majestic kolanut trees with roots as deep as Efa’a of Nkemcheng,
I genuflect/
Son of Nkem, Nooné
Looking aghast at the massive sturdy trunks clothed with backs sloughed off over time,
yielding roughly hewn taut tendons, I dared/
Scion of Kamala
Squinting to catch a glimpse of the canopy of ovoid green leaves holding the sun rays at bay supported by stout branches, I did/
Scion of Ndituba
Dashing and overturning foliage under the accuminata as the resounding thud of falling ripe pods reach the ear, I did/
Son of Nkem
Answering the call of the falling pods/
Bofa’a stepped out from Efa’a in stride/
Dwarfing the compound with his bearing:
– two great wars he did fight
And I, Chibugom/
– having drunk from his experiences under German and British flags as the fire crackled and eventually petered out in his abode
For it was the season
– the season of kolanuts
– the season of the king of nuts
Nuts that came in three, four and five cotyledons ensconced in white sweet nestas/
Having convened the nkem council of elders/
Bofa’a breaks the nuts/
Looks up to the ancestors/
Gives thanks to them/
Prays for long life, peace, unity and prosperity/
Places the nuts in a bowl/
Each picks a cotelydon as age demands/
Washing down the masticated nuts with fresh palmwine/
In remembrance of ancestors:
– for our ancestors are never dead
– they are always with us.