73. “Moseke !
mosa-lala ngomo,
timba o-mooka”.
Moseke, elegant/renowned dancer, leave the stage now and retire to the camp/sanctuary)
Moseke is a renowned dancer in Maale Society.
mosa-lala ngomo = an elegant/renowned dancer
mooka = the camp/the sanctuary.
mooka mo Maale = a sanctuary for members of Maale Society.
Yasi nanu: At a Maale ceremony as usual Moseke danced elegantly, spinning very fast. His performances were punctuated with deafening cheers from spectators.
Soon, and to the surprise and disappointment of the youths who formed the largest group of fervent admirers of Moseke, members of Maale Society started to sing a song that in effect gave Moseke notice to leave the pitch without delay and return to the sanctuary (to the mooka mo Maale)
“Moseke !
mosa-lala ngomo,
timba o-mooka".
(“Moseke !
Elegant/renowned dancer,
Leave the pitch now and return to the sanctuary”)
The Youths were filled with fury and further disappointed when the crowd echoed:
"Moseke !
mosa-lala ngomo,
timba o-mooka”.
The Youths then questioned:
“mande-nga ene ese eveli nau” ?
(“Why is this World like this ?).
Is that not the Moseke who members of Maale Society and the crowd were applauding a while ago for his elegant performance ?
Why have they suddenly turned against him” ?).
The Youths continued:
"This is not acceptable to us. We will invade the pitch now, and ask Moseke to continue to entertain us and ignore the demand for him to leave the pitch".
Ikula Nyame then intervened:
"You are taking an illegal and irresponsible decision”, Ikule rebuked.
“Maale Society is a disciplined group. The Society has allotted Moseke time to perform in the pitch. The arrangement is not repugnant to natural justice. We the spectators as non-members of Maale Society therefore have no justification at all for challenging the decision of the Society.
The rules and regulations of the Society require that even though Moseke is a celebrated dancer, he should not remain too long in the pitch or monopolize the pitch or dance in competition with less elegant performers. Moseke is therefore expected to leave the pitch now. The matter is not negotiable. Moseke must either quit now gracefully or face a heavy and humiliating punishment instantly if he continues to perform in the pitch
There is time to be on the stage, and there is time to leave the stage either in peace and grace, or in pieces and disgrace. “Nanu ndi ese eveli” (This is how the World is). Blessed are the actors/incumbents who respect the rules of the game and leave the stage at the time they are expected to do so. The big cock you see hanging there is reserved for Moseke”.
Ikule was still addressing the youths when in the twinkling of an eye, Moseke collected the cock. He then immediately disappeared from the pitch and retired to the mooka (the sanctuary).
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
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