A pig that has no tail.
During the era of German Colonial Administration in Buea and also in the early years of British rule in Buea, driving an engine vehicle was a very prestigious activity. In fact drivers of motor vehicles and motor cycles and locomotives were an elitist group.
However, the pride of being an engine vehicle driver suffered very severe damage that was caused by continuing widespread allegations at that time that every person who drove an engine vehicle belonged to a specific “Nyongo” Society that required him from time to time in the interest of his welfare and prosperity, to offer sacrifices of human beings for mystery destruction.
The explanation in support of the necessity to belong to a Nyongo Society and to offer sacrifices of human beings was that the engine of every vehicle requires the assistance of mystery persons.
This mystery persons helped to direct the vehicle when its driver is negotiating bends and “S” bends and also to push the vehicle when the vehicle is stuck in mud or when the vehicle is climbing up hill;
They explained also that it is ghosts of human beings mystically destroyed by a Nyongo Society that offer the appropriate assistance to a driver experiencing difficulties with his vehicle.
A person offered for destruction by a Nyongo club is culturally referred to as “Ngowa esavene moondo” = a pig that has no tail
It is said that at that time Nyongo societies required that persons for offering as sacrifices had to be closely related by blood to the member of the Society who made the sacrifice. The blood of a non-member of the family of the member making a sacrifice was not considered pure enough for a sacrifice.
There were also allegations that the ghosts of persons that a driver destroys in driver’s Nyongo Clubs carry or fly a driver’s vehicle over logs that lie across a road.
It will be recalled that at that time the roads/tracks from Victoria to Buea or from Tiko to Buea for instance meandered through thick virgin forests, with tall trees standing close to the road.
In the event of wind or a hurricane, trees fell on the road. Motorists therefore always carried along with them tools for clearing trees that fell and were lying across the road.
It was also said that every carpenter has to acquire a “Nyongo” that instantly put into action mystery people who either prevent a carpenter from falling from a height or assist a carpenter involved in an accident on a height to land safely on the ground like a cat,
Stories of Nyongo clubs and sacrifices of “Ngowa esavene moondo” firmly instilled more and more fear whenever some one died in a family that had a motor driver, a locomotive driver, a carpenter. Drivers of engine vehicles and men of other professions were consequently labeled “mystery murderers” and “hawks” that seize and devour young chickens.
Some drivers took the strange action of talking to their vehicles when their vehicles had problems. Such actions caused fright to passengers and furthermore helped to consolidate the belief that drivers of engine vehicles no doubt belong to Nyongo Societies that destroy human beings, and that it is the ghosts of destroyed human beings that give mystery assistance to drivers.
Mola Oscar Finda Mae-nye of the village of Wokova wo Mbenge (Lower Wokova, Mile 15) who was one of the first Bakweri men to drive motor vehicles made several statements to dispel allegations of sacrifices of “Ngowa esavene Moondo” to no avail.
Mola Oscar Finda was a noble man and perhaps the most careful and most respected motor driver of his time.
Lexicon:
ngowa = a pig.
wombe/joongo = a hawk.
moondo = Tail
ngowa esavene moondo = a pig that has no tail. This is said to be a diplomatic reference to mystic ritual destruction of a human being for the advancement of the properity of a member of a Nyongo club.
Nyongo is said to be a secret society that enables its members to acquire wealth fast; the society is also said to protect its members from imminent danger.
Oma Nanu
Imba Thomas Mbua Ndoko
Dallas Tx, USA
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