Mola Mbua Ndoko: Wisdom and Ways of the Bakweri People

45. Mofonge-fonge, osi mo kake lomba !

A “mofonge-fonge“ should not be wrapped with leaves.

mofonge-fonge is the name of an insect with spikes.

fii-ya = edible maggots that live inside the trunk of a dead or a dying palm tree. 

likao = the tuber on which coco-yams grow.

veyali = leaves; singular, yali.

veyali  ve  likao = “likao”  leaves.

ngaata = a shallow basket for farm use.

Yasi nanu: Liyengu was not aware that there was a mofoge-fonge among fii-ya (maggots) she had wrapped in coco yam leaves (veyali  ve  likao) and placed in a basket (ngaata) that was standing on a heap of dead grass. As is usual with mofonge-fonge, using its spikes, it burst holes on the coco yam leaves. Several fiiya then used the holes as escape routes.

44. “Liyeti la Mwaana, vetembe ve Nyango”.

A child’s illness causes fatigue to the child’s mother.

liyeti = fever.

vetembe = fatigue.

Iya = my mother; Mama.

njiya  wuva = the way to a latrine; to go to a latrine

tande/li-tande = to carry someone on the laps.

Yasi nanu:  Ngando was about twelve years old when he had a serious attack of fever.
He was restless. Groaning continuously, he said:

"Iya  oo !
I am thirsty.
I want to drink water".
(“Iya  oo  !  e-nyisa  maliva;  ono  mbgwe  maliva  ma  li-nyo)

His mother helped him to drink water.

43. “Eto ama mwese si mwa” !

Rat says day light will not be as long as a year.

Tales of the Animal World.

lifoko = good fortune; delicious food.

Yasi nanu:  Yonja Wuva and Eto stole meat, maize and pumpkin during the sassa of Mola Ekpwa, and hid the meat, maize and pumpkin behind Yonja  Wuva’s nest on top of a shelf (wokao) over the fire place.  Next morning, to his surprise, every time that Eto made an attempt to eat some of the maize and pumpkin (lifoko), Yonja  Wuva alerted the inmates of the house that Eto was on the wokao.

“Eto  ene  o wokao !
yeene  e-vanga;
ya gbwa  o-likando”  !
(See that rat. 
It is running towards the roof).