NGOKETUNJIA SONS AND DAUGHTERS READY TO PLAY THE FINALS OF HON. NJINGUM MUSA’S PEACE AND UNITY CUP COMPETITION.

The competition that began some months ago will be finalized this Saturday the 13^th of February 2016 in Ndop. Organized for all the 13 villages that make up Ngoketunjia Division, the trophy worth over Five Million Francs (5.000.000FCFA) for both Boys (Football) and Girls (Handball) is donated by Hon. Njingum Musa for Peace and Unity to reign among Ngoketunjia Sons and Daughters. Being a Member of Parliament for Ngoketunjia North Constituency Hon. Njingum Musa thought it wise that there could be no meaningful development without Peace, No Peace without Unity, No Unity without Love and No Love in Ngoketunjia without everybody being involved, reason why the competition is titled Peace and Unity Cup Competition and organized not only for villages of Ngoketunjia North Constituency but for all the villages in Ngoketunjia Division. The competition started at the three sub divisional levels with two teams qualifying to play the quarter finals that was played in Babessi Sub Divisional headquarters. After the quarter finals, Bamessing, Bamunka Urban, Bamali and Balikumbat qualified to play the semifinals in Football (boys) while Bamali, Bamunka Urban, Balikumbat and Babessi qualified to play the semifinals in Handball (girls). At the semifinals played this Tuesday the 09^th of February in Balikumbat Sub Divisional Headquarters, Bamunka Urban had an easy ride over the Balikumbat boys while Bamessing fought hard to overcome the Bamali boys in the second match. Thus Bamessing will play against Bamunka Urban in the finals scheduled this Saturday the 13^th of February 2016 at the Sub Divisional Headqaurters of Ndop Central Sub Division. In Handball Girls, Bamunka Urban humbled the Babessi girls while Bamali surprised everyone to come far from behind and beat Balikumbat on home soil. The finals will thus be Bamali against Bamunka Urban. Both finals (football and handball) will be an all Ndop Central finals given that no other team is coming either from Babessi Sub Division or Balikumbat Sub Division.

 

Bamunka Urban is tipped to emerge victorious in both finals given the talent, discipline, tactfulness and maturity that the players have demonstrated this far.

It should be recalled that this competition was reserved for sons and daughters of Ngoketunjia Division.

At G.S Balikumbat where the semifinals matches were played, indigenes came out in their numbers including old women and men who could not believe that people could travel from Ndop Central Sub Division and Babessi Sub Divisions to come and play. Speaking to some of them, they revealed that it has never happened and that they were used to hearing that their sons and daughters are travelling to play in Ndop. This to them is a historic event. To the Bamunka Urban team who have in the recent past enjoyed home advantage over their opponents, they had to play with travelling fans who stumped the venue in large numbers. Hardly could the Balikumbat boys enjoy any home advantage as the noise was coming mostly from travelling fans who were at home away from home. The fan club of Bamali was present and added something different to the atmosphere surrounding the playground.

 

The objective of the Member of Parliament which is for Peace, Love and Unity can be given a 100% score as the players demonstrated love for one another, played with passion and understanding respecting each and every one. The fact that it was organized for all the villages in Ngoketunjia Division and matches played in different playing grounds, permitted the players to acquaint themselves with their brothers and sisters of other villages. For example, matches of the First day of play in Ndop Central Sub Division was played in Bamunka Urban Field, Matches for the second Day of Play, played in Bamali Field, Matches for Third Day of play in Bamunka rural field etc. As if that was not enough, Matches for the Quarter Finals were hosted by Babessi Sub Divisional Headquarter, Matches for the Semifinals hosted by Balikumbat Sub Divisional Headquarter while the finals will be played at the Ndop Sub Divisional Headquarter which doubles as the Divisional Headquarter of Ngoketunjia Division. Sons and Daughters of Ngoketunjia Division are more than ever before aware of the fact that Peace, Love and Unity are prerequisites for any meaningful development and are now praying for God Almighty to Grant Hon. Njingum Musa long life and his heart desires. Speaking to some youths, they revealed to ngoketunjiaonline that Hon. Njingum Musa a politician with a difference, one who is ready to do whatever it takes to achieve development of not only his constituency but his division of origin.

By MBAH Isofa

MAJOR GENERAL TUMENTA LAID TO REST (SATURDAY 06/02/2016)

Born on the 20th of February 1954 at Babungo village, Ngoketunjia Division, Late Major General Tumenta had his First School Leaving Certificate at the Government Primary School Ndop in 1967, G.C.E Ordinary Level at the Cameroon Protestant College (CPC) Bali and his G.C.E Advanced Level in the Cameroon College of Arts, Science and Technology (CCAST) Bambili. He enrolled in the faculty of Science, University of Yaounde in 1974/1975 to study Mathematics and Physics. He passed the entrance into the Combined Military Academy (EMIA) in 1975 and graduated from the academy and was posted to the Air Borne Battalion (BTAP) In Koutaba, where from 1977 – 1991 he commanded the 1st and 2nd airborne companies and the airborne instruction and support company (CLEAS). In between time he was posted to the Military Academy from 1981 – 1984 to train the “Bravour and Perseverance” Batch. From 1991 – 1992 he served as Technical Adviser to the Minister of Defense. In 1992 he was posted back to the military Academy as commander of the Basic Training Division. The post he held till 1996. From 1996 – 1999, he commanded the Cameroon Defense Forces (NCO) Training Centre (CPEFAN) in Ngaoundal. from 1999 – 2001, he served in the Army Head Quarters Yaounde as G3. 2001 – 2005, Commander of “Operation Delta” during the Bakassi Peninsular crisis. 2005 – 2010, he served in the 3rd Joint Military Region Garoua, first as the operation Assistant to the General, Region Commander and later as Chief of Staff. 2010 – 2011, he was appointed Director of Human Resources in the Ministry of Defense Yaounde. 2011 – 2013, Commander of the 3rd Military Region Garoua from where he was appointed to command the MISCA forces at the height of the Republic of Central African Crisis. This was later transformed to MINUSCA when the United Nations took over and he became its first Force Commander. The post he held until 30th November 2015 when he left our physical world.

Major General Martin Tumenta in 1978 was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, in 1980 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, in 1985 promoted to the rank of Captain, in 1992 promoted to the rank of Major, in 1997 promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel, in 2000 promoted to rank of Colonel, in 2011, promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and in 2014 promoted to the rank of Major General.

He has received many decorations among which are Medal of merit of the Armed Forces and Police, Knight of Cameroonian merits, Cameroonian Merit Officer, Commander of Cameroon merit, Knight of the order of Valour, Officer of the Order of Valour, Commander of the order of Valour, Cross of the military order of Valour, Grand Cordon of the Cameroon order of merit.

His Hobbies included Reading, Listening to news, Listening to Music, Plays table tennis, Volley Ball and squash.

In a tribute to her husband, the wife had this to say “I will not grieve for you for now you are free. You are following the Path God laid for you, He took your hand when you call upon him that faithful day that you want to rest he heard your cry. You could not stay another day to laugh, to love, to work, as you love working but you found that place the early hours in the morning. Best Boh (BB) your passing has left a VOID that no one can fill. I miss your jokes, friendship shared, laugh, love kindness. Ah these things I too will miss but God wanted you now to set you free. No one can fill you vacant place. The Children and I will miss you more as long as life and memory last. May the Almighty God Grant you perfect peace till we meet to part no more”. 

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE

BY MBAH ISOFA

when it happens in ngoketunjia, we know it and when we know it, you know it and of course we know it because we are ngoketunjiaonline.

 

83RD EDITION OF “SHA’ATANG” 20TH FEBRUARY 2016 UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED PATRONAGE OF H.E MOUELLE KOMBI NARCISSE, MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE

The Mbaw-Yakum people of Bambalang village Ndop central Sub Division, Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region of Cameroon will on the 20th of February 2016 observe their annual cultural festival “SHA’ATANG under the distinguished patronage of H.E Mouelle Kombi Narcisse, Minister of Arts and Culture. The “SHA’ATANG” according to Mr. Ghogomu Ezekiel Nkonki (Publisher of Mbaw-Yakum Outline) originated during the reign of Fon Ghogomu in the 1920’s. Speaking on stone FM radio, he revealed that “during the reign of Fon Ghogomu who took over as the Fon in 1929, all the time every time they will go to the soothsayer to find out what is wrong in the village and the soothsayer will say one of the previous Fons is angry because since he died the village has not remembered him, consequently the villagers will block a week and remember the Fon. This happened repeatedly and Fon Ghogomu saw that it was good to set aside a period to remember departed Fons. He then proposed to the Ngumba (Secret Society) that 9 days be blocked in a year to remember the departed Fons. His request was thus granted and that is why 9 days in a year is blocked to remember departed Fons of Bambalang village. During these 9 days, the “Ngumba” visits all the shrines of the departed Fons believing that it is bringing the “cry die” from the shrines”. Mr. Ghogomu Ezekiel Nkonki is a prince of the Mbaw-Yakum Royal Family and doubles as the principal of G.H.S Bambalang. He attempted to trace the origin of the Mbaw-Yakum people and revealed that they originated from Northern Nigeria and were named Mbaw-Yakum because the first Fon was Yakum Ntah so the name Mbaw-Yakum was chosen to mean Mbaw under the leadership of Yakum. However Bambalang was given during the arrival of the Germans with the Bali Nyonga people.

The theme of the 83rd edition of the “SHA’ATANG” is “PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTION AND EMERGENCE OF OUR CULTURE”. Saturday the 20th of February is the day for public manifestations while many other activities will take place within the nine days set aside. Public gatherings, farm work among other activities are prohibited within the nine (9) days.

H.R.M. FON K. SHOMITANG II (FON OF BAMBALANG)

Bambalang village remains one of the few villages in Cameroon with an annual cultural festival.

BY MBAH ISOFA

when it happens in ngoketunjia, we know it and when we know it you know it and of course we know it because we are ngoketunjiaonline