Panic occurs in markets when business is at its peak.
Yasi nanu: Mola Kumbu a Mosoke of the village of Woanda had mystic power of causing panic in crowds by lifting his head wear (cap, hat, helmet). Order was restored when he returned the head wear on his head.
On one occasion when women from Mola Kumbu's village met Mola Kumbu in Tiko early in the morning of a Tiko Market day, the women asked him to cause panic so that they would freely collect fish when panic occurred.
Mola Kumbu said he would comply with the wishes of the women. By eight o'clock the women urged Mola Kumbu to cause panic so that they would commence their return journey home early.
Responding Kumbu said:
“Not immediately.
It is not yet time to cause panic.
The appropriate time to cause panic in a market is when business is at its peak”.
Kumbu explained:
“Fishermen (Vaa-no) are on their way coming to the market.
Be patient and wait for them.
I will cause panic to occur when the big fish (mefasu) are laid on the counters. If panic occurs now you will have a poor catch, and miss the mefasu”.
When business was at its peak, Kumbu lifted his cap and there was panic. No one was able to explain why he was running away from the market. Kumbu's village women looted what they were able to carry and then took off for their home village.
e-luwa esi sii-se, esi tome-ya.
Literally:
(i) Take note. There is a hidden agenda. Disagreement will certainly emerge when the honeymoon phase of the union/negotiations is/are over and the hidden agenda is out. Wait and see.
(ii) The situation is a revolt in incubation. The revolt will certainly hatch at a time when office holders are resting on their laurels, believing that they have become unassailable.
Nanu ndi ese eveli. (This how/what the World is). Wait and see.
Lexicon:
e-luwa = a market.
moo-no = a sea faring person; a fisherman; plural =vaa-no.
sii-se = to lay on the floor a load that one is carrying on his head, his arms, his back; for instance: sii-se muuna ose = put down the load you are carrying.
tome-ya = panic, confusion.
mofasu; plural, mefasu = a big fish, suitable for entertaining very important and special guests.
lumba/li-lumba = to loot.
Oma Nanu
Mola Mbua Ndoko
P.o Box 38 Buea, South West Province
Cameroon, West/Africa
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