By Bakah Derick
The Paramount ruler of the Nkwen people has been treated to a warm welcome as he arrived Yaoundé for his maiden visit to the community residing in the nation's capital.
HRH Fon Azehfor III arrived on Friday 5 August 2022 at the start of his visit and was received by the Nkwen elite led by Ngu Julius, President of the Nkwen Cultural and Development Association (NCDA) Yaoundé branch.
After sharing some pleasantries and assurance of his availability and commitment to promote and protect the culture as well as ensure the development of the Fondom, His Majesty Fon Azehfor then proceeded to raise some of his Yaoundé based subjects to begin the process of traditional maturity.
While performing the ritual, the Fon edged them to be defenders of their culture, tradition and traditional institutions at all times. He asked the gods and ancestors to bless and protect them and their families in the areas of health and work.
As tradition demands, the Fon explained, the traditional ritual that matures you to a full adult by Nkwen culture allows you to greet the Fon and with a traditional cap on not by handshake but with three hand claps before him each time you meet. To complete the process, the Fon indicated that after the construction of a personal residence, those initiated will offer a party to their "traditional god-parents" and then the community where they live before returning to the palace for the completion.
The Fon is expected to install the Quarter heads of Yaoundé this Saturday before making any official pronouncements which could become royal acts or decisions.
Accompanying the Fon are top traditional authorities, notables, NCDA national leadership amongst others. The visit is expected to end on Saturday 7 September 2022.
Here are a few pictures of the initiation ritual
Don't Go Yet
As a community and audience based not-for-profit news outlet, we depend totally on the benevolence of our readers like you to continue generating credible content in a challenging environment like ours.
Please a token via any of our Mobile Money Numbers or Bank Account will help a great deal
MTN 675460750
Orange 694718577
UBA Bank 04002007603