Source: Vakpwe oral narrations.
Many, many years ago, by coincidence, a delegation of farmers from Wojuwa villages and a delegation of fishermen from the villages of Mesellele, Modeka, Ewonji and Tiko, situated on banks of creeks met at the sorcery of the renowned Geographer Mosongo Inoni. The two delegations had similar complains.
The farmers said that the rainy season had started too soon, much earlier than is expected and that it was difficult for them in the circumstances to complete felling down of trees and shrubs, burning down of bushes and planting of crops before the commencement of severe rain fall. The farmers requested Sorcerer Mosongo to mystically extend the periods of sun light so that they would continue to work in their farms until close to midnight.
In this regard the farmers requested Sorcerer Mosongo to tie a mystic rope round the Sun and then hook one end of the rope securely round the trunk of a big tree such as Wuma so that when the rope is pulled down it would stop or delay the sun from setting.
The fishermen said high tide facilitates the taking off and the landing of canoes at beaches. On the other hand movement of canoes into and out of beaches stops at periods of low tide; it starts again only when the high tide comes back to the beaches. The fishermen then requested Sorcerer Mosongo to mystically create prolonged periods of high tide.
Responding Mosongo Inoni said answers to their requests are founded on basic knowledge of geography. It was not necessary for him to consult his oracle and would therefore not receive a fee from the farmers and fishermen
Mosongo Inoni explained that the Sun and the Tide have invariable programmes. Movements of the Sun and the Tide cannot be meddled with. Every morning the Sun starts to rise from the “Douala Area of the World”.
At midday it starts a gradual descent towards “e-Fako Area of the World” (the Mountain) and finally hides behind the Mountain and rests and sleeps until the first crow of the cock when it begins to rise gradually again. Elova-lova asa tingeve mooli. It would be an illusion to expect to tie a rope round the sun and stop it from moving. It would similarly be an illusion to expect periods of sun light other than the periods provided by Nature.
Continuing Mosongo explained also that movements of the Tide are regulated by natural forces that lie at the bottom of the deep sea of Vakingili and Vatoke. Mystic performances, not even the magic of Manja ma Love can stop the tide when it is rising or flowing back into the sea.
When the Tide runs out of energy after striking rocks and walls of hills along sea shores and mangrove forests and islands, it returns into the sea and sinks to the bottom of the deep sea of Vakingili and Vatoke where it undergoes a process of energy recharging.
When fully recharged it starts another session of movement towards sea shores and mangrove forests and creek beaches. Fishermen in creek villages and persons who use routes in the creeks for travelling are expected to adjust their programmes and sail with the Tide.
Lexicon.
Elova-lova asa tingeve mooli = literally, the movements of the sun cannot be stopped
Kaka = to tie. Mooli = a rope, twine. Elova-lova - the Sun. Manja ma Love is a legendary famous magician and pianist. e-Moma a Woso (when e-Moma Wuwa a woteli te litonga ekonga woso) = the first crow of the cock after midnight. 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:
Comments