Five Bakweri fables of cultural and moral lessons.

291.  Vakpwe Fables of Moral lessons.

e-Mokpwe uses several fables to deliver moral lessons.  Let us examine five fables.

(i).  Nyanga  Viya was known in her home village and beyond for preparing very delicious soup. On one occasion when she was out in the spring to collect water a gang of boys entered into her house to steal her pot of soup.  It was a clay pot (“livanya”).  In the scramble for the soup Evakise attempted to drink the soup direct from the “livanya” without using a spoon (“toe; ngele”).

“Manyaka  me  eya”.  Wonders shall never end.  The “livanya” stuck on Evakise’s face.  Attempts by Evakise’s friends and elders of the village to pull out the “livanya” from Evakise’s face failed.  Nyanga  Viya was informed of the incident.  She then returned to her house without delay.  She carried out mystic performances and gently pulled out the “livanya” from Evakise’s face.  Evakise suffered embarrassment.  Furthermore the aroma that emanated from the “livanya” caused Evakise to develop respiratory problems.

(ii).  Naliongo was sick for about a week and died.  In the course of helping the bereaved family to re-arrange Naliongo’s residence for the funeral ceremonies, Mofufe, a neighour of Naliongo, stole the knife (liwendi  la  gbwengi) that Naliongo used for tapping wine from palm trees.  That night and thereafter wherever he was, Mofufe was haunted by the ghost of Naliongo.  Naliongo wanted his knife, his “liwendi  la  gbwengi”.  Mofufe was traumatized and fell very, very sick.

On the advice of a sorcerer Mofufe returned the knife (the “liwendi  la  gbwengi”) to the family of Naliongo.  It was after Mofufe received serious mystic treatment from traditional Doctors that the ghost of Naliongo stopped harassing him.

(iii).  Ekuma-kuma did not own a farm but he was seen selling heavy (“Nine Hands”) bunches of plantains in Muea Market every market day. On one occasion when he had felled down a bunch of plantain in a farmer’s farm, a mystery swarm of bees attacked him suddenly, stung him on the face and eyes and caused him to develop a cataract (“isanga”) in one eye.

(iv).  Jukuke was sick of yaws and scabies.  On the advice of a traditional Doctor Jukuke rubbed slight pus from his sores on a new “foley” (a flute) and dropped the “foley” at a conspicuous spot on the road.  Ngaka eventually picked the “foley”.  Instead of Ngaka, as is required by tradition and culture, to hand over the “foley” to the Village Traditional Council, he took possession of the “foley”. Then, by a mystic process the yaws and sores of Jukeke were transferred to Ngaka.  Jukuke then made fast and remarkable recovery from his diseases.

Lexon.

Mokove, plural Mekove = A round container with a lid in which a woman stores dry fish and dry meat.  Mokove is made from barks of trees.

(v).   Mokove is porous.  However, it is said that there is always a mystic pool of water inside any mokove that belongs to a witch.  Liyengu was not a witch, but her friend Ewune practiced evil witchcraft.  Ewune was determined to induct Liyengu into the sect of witches. So, in the course of preparing a meal, Ewune handed her “mokove” to Liyengu and asked Liyengu to open the mokove and pull out two pieces of Kaave meat to add to the soup.  When Liyengu opened the “mokove” she was surprised and shocked to see fish swimming inside the mokove.  She panicked. 

Then, as is required by the rules and regulations of the cult of witches, a non-witch who is confronted with the scene that Liyengu experienced must instantly be forcefully and mystically inducted into the sect of witches.  That is how Liyengu became a witch.

Note:  These narrations have tremendous influence on the behavior of e-Mokpwe and their way of life, for instance e-Mokpwe fears to open other peoples’ containers, such as mekove, pots, doors to rooms, purses, hand bags, cash safes, etc., lest he should be ambushed mystically drafted into a club of witches

Lexicon.

toe; ngele – a spoon.

Oma  nanu.

imba Mbua Ndoko.
 
Mola Mbua Ndoko
P.o Box 38 Buea, South West Province
Cameroon, West/Africa
Tel/Fax: 3332-2535
Mobile/Cell:79-73-47-14 
Website: http://www.mbuandoko.com

Comments

[ngal'a mbua njonj'efungani]

gbamu sraih!!!!

[Namondo nwyi Ikome]

Interesting read. Took back to the stories told to us by our grandparents.