By George Etoh-Anzah in Akum with Inputs from R.D.
The people of Akum now have a new ruler.
Fon Chi Eugene Ngwashi 1 was presented to the Akum population in a ceremony to wail the disappearance of Fon George Ndikum Ngwashi who ruled the clan for 66 years.
In a ceremony at the palace esplanade NW Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique enjoined the population to be law-abiding.
He hopes that the ascension of the new Fon should usher in an era of hope and wellness.
The wailing ceremony which saw sons and daughters adorned in banana and plantain leaves depicts a typical traditional grassfield culture.
The ceremony is said to be one in a series of many to be preceded by the formal enthronement of the new ruler.
According to Chief Paul Nji Tumasang, a notable of Akum, the stoning ritual represents a spiritual empowerment from the people to the new Fon.
“In Akum tradition, the stoning ritual is a peculiar action whereby the population grants mystical powers to the new Fon. The Fon disappears, and a new one is caught. We do this because the throne is never empty. Stoning is not meant to wound him; it is to give him the powers to take over the rulership of the land. That’s what stoning means,” explains Chief Nji Tumasang.
But why the Adorning in Plantain leaves ?
Almost all attendees at the Akum Palace esplanade were dressed in dry plantain leaves, reminiscent of traditional attire.
“We were told that the Fon was missing. We came here today hoping to find him, and if we didn’t find him, we would continue mourning him until we catch a new one. After this ritual, we will gather the leaves and burn them under any tree in the palace,” said Chief Paul Nji Tumasang.
He also mentioned that the new Fon had three naming options. His great great grandfather was called Chinelum, and he is referred to as Chinelum. He could have chosen to take the name Chinelum I, or Ndikum II, given that his father was Ndikum I, or honor his father by adopting the name Ngwashi. Since Ngwashi did not name himself Ngwashi I, he is now known as Ngwashi I.
Worthy of note is the fact that Foh Chi Eugene Ngwashi I is taking over from his late father, Fon Ndi George Ngwashi II who disappeared on May 26, 2024 at the age 85. He ruled for 66 years before going to meet his ancestors. The new Fon is a Police Commissioner by profession.