Cameroon: New Family Head for Moghamo Community in Buea

Mbacham J. Ndum( covered with umbrella),new Family Head being presented

By Zifac Fatima

The Moghamo community in Buea has  filled a vacuum left by the demise of their Family (Clan) Head, Pa Ngwan, five years ago. After 5 years of searching, Mbacham John Ndum has been  voted to serve as the new  family head.

 Mr. Ndum was installed as the new Family Head for Buea Chapter alongside a host of councilors ( mukums), last March 15, during a cultural ceremony.

They are expected to promote the Moghamo culture and traditions in Buea.

The event was graced by a council of traditional rulers, the Chief of Wokoko Buea HRH  Mboa Emelson and nine  Fons of Moghamo, including HRM Fon Richard Ayong Fomba of Enyoh ,who is the Chairman of Moghamo Fons’ Conference.

Moghamo is under the Momo division of the North West Region of Cameroon. It is made up of 22 villages each with its own fon . All the people from these 22 villages based in Buea are under the canopy of the family head. The family head is not a Fon of any village; he can only act as the representative of all the Fons of Moghamo in Buea and is not entitled to the honour and privileges reserved for fons.                    

The position of Family Head is a lifelong appointment.  The  family head rules till death.

Mbacham John hails from Ashong, one of the villages under Moghamo. He has been living in Buea for about 35 years now. He is married and father of seven. He is a business man. 

The President of the Moghamo Cultural and Development of Association (MOCUDA) Buea, Kock Geoffred, in his address, expressed gratitude to their host, HRH Chief Mboa for his support and hospitality. He also acknowledged the presence of the Fons of Moghamo and urged them to encourage their subjects to join MOCUDA Buea so that together they can promote their culture and traditions and build a stronger and more united Community.

The president emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting the Moghamo culture and traditions. and outlined several initiatives aimed at achieving this goal. These initiatives include a cultural revival program, a language preservation program, a traditional dance and music troupe and community development projects. 

Fons and Notables of Moghamo were present at the ceremony 

The new family head emphasized the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence among the Moghamo people, stating that his vision is to bring the Moghamo people together and make sure they live in peace and unity in Buea. “We will not go to the  police to seek solutions to our problems. We will try to solve our problems ourselves, so that we can move forward as one people,” he said

Mr. Ndum also stressed the need for the youths to learn more about their cultural heritage, promising he would put more effort into teaching the youths traditional dances and the Moghamo culture in general.

The Fon of Ashong, HRH  Christopher Mbah Mbafor, was proud having one of his own sons from Ashong as the new clan head. “I am a happy man, and I will be happier if he lives up to expectations because if tomorrow he is a failure, it will not be good,” he said. Fon Mabafor promised to guide the new clan head behind -the- scenes in  his functions. 

The Fon also advised Mr.Ndum to lead with objectivity and impartiality. “The keyword to leadership is objectivity and impartiality; that’s what will make you a successful leader,” he told the new family head .

Fon Mbafor said the position of family head was vacant for five years because they did not want to be in a hurry to get just anybody as family head. “We need to drill him very well especially when someone is needed to lead in this socio-economic crisis, so we take time to test and select a worthy candidate,” he explained. 

Fon Mbafor’s message to the people of Moghamo in Buea was a call for  peace, unity and respect. “Being out of the village in people’s land they must give respect to their host, respect their landlords and accord their host traditional rulers the same respect they give to Moghamo Fons if not they will not live happily,” he told the Press.

Talking to the Press, the President of MOCUDA Buea said the role  of the family head is to promote their culture, bring together the people of Moghamo in Buea and encourage them to participate in the development of the 22 villages that make up the Moghamo Clan. 

Highlights of the event included the beautiful display of traditional dances, one of which was led by the Fons shortly after the cultural rites of the installation were performed.