Mola Mbua Ndoko: Wisdom and Ways of the Bakweri People: 72. “Liyali la Ngowa ! na nya, vafafa” !

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July 24, 2009

72. “Liyali la Ngowa ! na nya, vafafa” !

72. “Liyali la Ngowa !
na nya, vafafa” !

The unique plight of Mother Ngowa

Tales of the Animal World.

liya/liyali = giving birth to children.

ngowa/ngowe = a swine; a pig.

vafafa = they hit; they strike; they kill.

fafa e-ngowa – strike the pig and kill it.

mofufe, na liyeli mbiti = I am the lone survivor.

Yasi nanu: In her first delivery, Ngowe had eleven babies, seven females and four males. Within a space of six months Elive the owner of the Ngowa disposed of all the babies. He ate some, sold some, and used some in settling his debts.

In her second delivery Ngowe had eight babies, five females and three males. Once again Elive disposed of the babies as they developed. As the last of her children wailed “howaa – howaa –howaaaaii”, in the process of its throat being cut, Mother Ngowe lamenting chanted:

“Wonya vaa-mi;
ngele kuma nge-nge;
na nya, va fafa !
ngele kuma nge-nge.

Liyali la Ngowa !
ngele kuma nge-nge;
na nya, va fafa !
ngele kuma nge-nge.

mofufe !
naliye-li mbiti ! mofufe !

mofufe !
naliye-li mbiti ! mofufe” !

("Oh !
My children ! My children !
You are being disposed of (devoured/sold) one after the other as I deliver you.
And now, I am the lone survivor.
What a plight ?

The lamentations of Ngowe have become slogans and popular songs at children games

(i). “Liyali la Ngowa”.
Literally: Lamenting over repeating misfortunes.

(ii). “Liyali la Ngowa, na nya, va fafa” !
Literally:
What a plight to be in - to watch and see the continuing destruction of members of my family or properties by enemies, and to endure the stress of a lone survivor.

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

Posted at 02:43 PM | Permalink

Comments

Mola Mbua Ndoko,

Thank you for reminding me of this cryptic and poetic song we used to sing in the village when I was a child. We need to teach these songs to our children.

The fate of the sow whose piglets are knocked over the head (slaughtered) as soon as they are born is a very interesting metaphor for the African condition!

Mola Keep the wisdom coming.

Lyombe

Posted by: Lyombe Eko | July 24, 2009 at 09:58 PM

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March 2012