Lady Liberty and Afoakom at Intersection of Fundraiser for Kom Children

By Innocent Chia
More than 40 years after the mysterious work of art – AFOAKOM – found its way back to Kom from a New York museum, Kom sons and daughters “komvened” in New York from June 21-24 in celebrations marking a rich cultural heritage that circumstance and fate intertwined with the city of New York. Perhaps lost on New Yorkers, the Fon of Kom via a video recorded message reminded his citizens residing in the USA of the renown bestowed upon Kom by Afoakom, like the Statue of Liberty to New York. Unfathomable and unfair comparison between the Statue of Liberty and Afoakom, perhaps, but a contrast that most aptly mirrors the educational gap that is leaving the poor and needy worse off particularly in Cameroon. It is the assessment that I made after listening to one of the Co-founders of “Hope for Children Cameroon” choke and cry in the midst of a compelling presentation that sent participants reaching deep into their pockets and purses to pull out cash and write checks in support.

The 9th annual Assembly of Afoakom USA in New York was swirling with the theme of pride; pride in the kom language - itanghi-kom - that continues to grab the attention of linguists worldwide, including an ongoing study by Matt Faytak of University of California – Berkeley; pride in the Kom music and dance; pride in the protections provided by Kom culture with regards to marriage…and pride in Kom art. In the words of NY chapter President, Mrs Ernestine Chiabi, it was noteworthy that the “Komvention” was

…within minutes of the private gallery where the now world famous AfoaKom (Mbang) was found, put up for sale at the asking price of $60,000 prior to its being returned to the Kom Kingdom in 1973.
We hope that like Mbang – found and returned to Kom after six years in exile – all daughters and sons of Kom in America (“woin Kom a’America”) will use the convention to commit to their future return and to an ongoing process of giving-back to the Komdom.

And giving-back to the hopelessly poor and dispossessed, beginning in Kom, is the driving force behind Hope for Children Cameroon, an organization co-founded by Peter Yuh and Paul Yimbesalu – (twins), and their cousin Miranda Afumbom Kijem. According to Paul, the seed was initially planted in him while doing unrelated undergraduate research work in Kom. He found it unsettling that so many bright kids were idling around  or dancing masquerades during school hours. A little bit of digging revealed painfully that the parents, predominantly leaving on less than a $.25 a day, could not afford to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in the education of their progeny.

 

Almost a decade removed from those humbling days, and in a relatively better place, Paul’s heartfelt, sobbing and tear-filled appeal spoke volumes about a new generation of Komrades. It is a generation that seems to be thinking beyond their personal precarious circumstances. Such selflessness and vision, Komvention Chairman Dr. Emmanuel Chiabi noted, was justification for the generosity instantly manifested by the General Assembly in raising almost $1400.00. With the blessing of a mother, Mrs Ngoh Nkwain entrusted the token to the co-founders, calling it a little investment to jumpstart much needed help for a clan of drop-out kids that can now find hope, be it on the benches of less expensive government schools. The goal of Hope for Children Cameroon, the Co-founders say, is to ultimately send every Cameroonian Child of need to primary school; one child, one household, one block and community at a time.

Early feedback from Komrades has been very positive as many are applauding the untiring efforts of Herbert Boh, Senior Communications Officer at the World Bank and in his first term as President of Afoakom USA, for steering the organization in a direction that recognizes and supports independent initiatives such as Hope for Children Cameroon. Also deservedly acknowledged were Nawain Kerstine Awa, Sr. Xaviera Nteinmusi and Bobe Francis N. Yong; each one of them receiving an 'Outstanding Achievements in Development Award'.

The organization has been facing the challenge of breaking significant fundraising thresholds, especially mindful of the laundry list of needs and requests. In the Video-recorded message to his citizens at the New York Komvention, His Royal Highness the Fon of Kom made mention of the importance of a Curator for Afoakom. The legendary art must be rescued from becoming an inconsequential relic that would have been disabused of its promise to be an eternal light on Kom, like the Eifel Tower in Paris or the Lady Liberty in New York. The Fon also endorsed the idea of a building – museum – for Afoakom and other significant Kom works of art. 

Already, AFOAKOM USA is making plans to attend to these concerns. In a post-convention Kommunique to the membership, the President acknowledged how swift-moving the general assembly has been: 

“The GA voted in support of more aggressive fund raising to tackle the many top priorities delegates mentioned, stressing the need for Afoakom USA to find a working formula for raising more funding during the period in between "Komventions" ….

There is general consensus, within Afoakom USA, that it is of dire importance that 21st century libraries be constructed in all three of its sub-divisions – Belo, Fundong and Njinikom. But that has to be put on hold for several reasons, including an agreed need to carry out a thorough needs assessment.

Results of the assessment will be unveiled in July 2014 in hilly country - West Virginia – where the new Chapter President, Roosevelt Boh and his father, Herbert Boh are already in the trenches putting together an elaborate convention program that has more than a few surprises.