Vakpwe Tales and Fables ~ 277. Mooso amondo mo-mwiti wondenga ame-ngama.

Vakpwe Tales and Fables.

277.  Mooso  amondo  mo-mwiti  wondenga  ame-ngama.

(The Stream/River flows down the slopes alone. This is why its track has bends)

At the middle of a Rainy Season a pool of water (Yuulu  ya  Maliva) on the Mountain (o-Fako) said it would soon flow down to the Village of Buea, then to the Village of of Molive and then to the Village of  Bimbia and meet its Big Brother the Sea of Bimbia. Thereafter the course of the flood would serve as a canal. It would be a straight course without bends and cataracts. The name of the canal will be “Koke”

Responding Kaki  Inoni (the Vulture) said:  “That is an ambitious programme.  It’s a good idea.  Remember to work in concert with Resource Persons like the Elephant (Njoku) and the Mole (Koo).  Njoku will bulldoze the track while Koo will create tunnels through hills”.

Yuula  Malive  laughed and said::  “Njoku  and  Koo  are known for presenting exaggerated bills.  The cost of their feasibility studies alone will exhaust half of my resources. I will not involve any of them. In fact I do not require the services of any one. I will do the work alone. I will do it fast and satisfactorily.  I will roll down the slopes of the mountain with enough speed and force that will enable me to carry all objects – rocks, trees, hills - on my way and dump them far into the Sea of Bimbia.

Kaki  Inoni  intervened:  “I am familiar with the area in which you intend to create a straight canal without bends and curves and cataracts. Perhaps it is pertinent for me to bring to your knowledge that there is a high ridge of hills that extends from Ombe to Molive to Wonya Likombo (Mile 4) to Foo (Victoria/Limbe)”.

“I have no doubts at all about your might. However, owing to the eastward slope at the bottom of the ridge from Wonya Likombo to Molive to Ombe, when the flood  will arrive Molive the bulk of water will flow towards the east end of the ridge at Ombe and then flow into the sea probably close to the Village of Bwinga.  Flood water that may climb up to Wonya Likombo will flow down to the sea at Ambas Bay. The flood will then probably not have enough force to burst through the ridge at Molive and enter the sea at Bimbia”.

Yuula  Maliva  retorted: “You have probably not seen me at work.  I have enough power at all times to break through any hill. I will create a tunnel through the ridge at Molive and then flow to Bimbia”.

After five days of incessant rainfall Yuula  Maliva burst its south bank and rushed out like a hurricane. Remarkably instead of the flood to flow southwards towards  the Village of Buea, it moved eastwards to the Village of Wova, then southwards to the Villages of Wokpwae and Gbwitingi, and  again eastwards to the Villages of Muea, Mosaka to Ekona Mbenge, then eastwards again into River Mungo (Mwanja  mwi  Ikanje).

There are numerous bends and curves and several cataracts along the path in which Koke flows.  The disappointment that Yuula  Maliva has suffered is now a household word, namely:  “Like other streams/rivers, Koke Stream flows alone down the hills; this is why, like other streams/rivers  Koke stream has a crooked path”.  (“Mooso  amondo  mo-mwiti,  wondenga  ame  ngama”)

Oma  nanu.

Imba  Mbua  Ndoko

Mola Mbua Ndoko
P.o Box 38 Buea, South West Province
Cameroon, West/Africa
Tel/Fax: 33-32-25-35
Mobile/Cell:79-73-47-14 
Website: http://www.mbuandoko.com

Comments

[E.Ndoko]

Tata Mbua Ndoko,
I can't express enough gratitude for your teachings on this forum.
The baseline from the underlying lesson seems to covetly re-echo the benefits of "living together".

Thank you dearly.

MATUTE ESUNGE

[E.Ndoko]

Mola Mbua Ndoko,

Na komi eh. Thank you very much for this fantastic story that teaches the geography of Fako. It also teaches the importance of unity and taking advice from friends and relatives. It is interesting that your story has Kaki’ Inoni (vulture). Do we still have vultures in Fako?

Oma Nanu

Lyombe Eko

[E.Ndoko]

Tata Mbua Ndoko,
This is also one of my favorite Mokpwe fables. It depicts the popular folk song where Mola Musonge was called to lead the government in Yaounde. On his retirement (e fonda l’asziole l’amba sango Musonge li mukeh), Mr. Biya called upon Mola Inoni (Mokpwe a’endi, Mokpwe veh a jeh); Sango Inoni on his part said he could not do this trip to Yaounde alone…. Na sende o Yaounde mbiti, Mooso amondo mo-mwiti wondenga ame-ngama. He then called on his brother Sango Njie Meoto to come with him.
Wa tateh wa kowa-kowa wa ma weh wama, moto na mwanyango; yossa ndene, yossa messambo; moto na mwanyango

Oma Nanu,
Eszuka Mbella Lifafe L’Endeley l’a Likenye