Four months later still day dreaming about your departure. Are you really gone? To where with such energy and ambitions? Even the conscience of the wicked is worring them. They regret their actions. It's a shame. Real shame to the Ikoma Mondindes family. Your height was rare. We've never had such a sudden death in our family. It's Gods fight. Adieu brother, adieu ....the ball keeps rolling. May your soul rest in perfect peace brother.

uncle your gone but its still hard to believe i ware your bach everyday and thats because" i dont want to beleive that i will never see you i love you rest in peace

This picture reminds me of my late father,mr namanga Ikome may his soul rest in perfect peace,as well as the soul of my mother,brother mwambo,aunty namondo,and the rest of the family members who are all sleeping in the lord.

Paul, it looks as if you may have gone too soon to us the living but as a man who live life to the full is probably your time to go back to your father. He knows all. As In-law when i met you in 2004 for the first, it looks then as if we had known each other for years. You was that kind of man very friendly and fun to be with.

Undoubtedly you had entered the theatre of life triumphantly and now exiting gloriously. like every actor when leaving the stage the curtain come down. though family,children, friends and love ones will miss you dearly but your legacy will live forever. You was not infallible but you impact lots of people life during your time, at least one person that i know of, that is my daughter, Karen your nice. You was a pillar in your family and i hope and pray that God should comfort and strengthen the family for the great lost.

There is no amount of word that can express the mixed feeling of your suden departure. May your soul rest in perfect Peace. 

History tells us that all great people originated from pretty much the same village … a place called HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. While that would be a punch line for many, no description of your origins could be more befitting. As we used to say jokingly, the people who compile dictionaries were simply wasting good ink by trying to define the word “poor”; all they had to do was take one of our pictures and slap it right next to that word; period. All the same, a life as full as yours leaves one with a truckload of memories and stories to last a lifetime, but I’ll share just a couple from our early days which I think capture the spirit that you displayed throughout your life on this earth.

When I was 5 years old, I used to look admiringly at you and my other older relatives all leaving home every day to go to a “magical” place called “school”. I also wanted to go to that place so badly because I thought it was a really special place. At the time, there were generally two criteria for getting into school: be 6 years old or tall enough to be able to wrap your arm around your head to touch your ear on the opposite side of your head. In short, you had to be big enough that you could pass for a 6-year old. It turns out that, at 5 years of age, I was way too small to fool anybody. The family tried to get me into Government School Buea Town, which was close to home, but the headmaster would have none of it. They tried their luck with Presbyterian School Buea Town, but I was turned down again. In both instances I was told to wait until the following year to start school and the family capitulated. When I came back home utterly defeated and crying myself to sleep, you came up to me and said you understood why I was crying because school was indeed a magical place: “Ikomey, I have an idea; let’s go and try my school, Catholic School Buea Town”, you said. It was a bit far, I thought, but you made me understand that I had nothing to lose. I said nobody would want to take me there to be turned down a third time, to which you said: “don’t worry; I’ll take you there myself”. You were all of 7 years old at the time, I believe. It’s hard to imagine that happening today, but the following day I followed you down to Catholic School, where, before the headmistress could ask how old I was, you just blurted out: “he’s 6 years old”. I was admitted right there and then and we went back home to inform the folks so they could buy me a slate and stuff. How could someone that young be so enterprising? Needless to say, by doing things your way, you were able to introduce me to the magical world of school.

When we were 7-8- 9 years old (memory fails me) and Christmas was fast approaching, we had not found a solution for our Christmas clothes; to put it in less diplomatic language, we didn’t have a first damn clue where Christmas clothes were going to come from. A few days before the big day, however, along comes our mother with a couple of identical shirts she had bought on “hire purchase” from one of the traders in the market, although she told us that she had scraped together all the money she could find from under her pillow so that we’d have a memorable Christmas. Nonetheless, we thought they were the most beautiful shirts we had ever seen. On Christmas morning, for reasons that Heaven alone knows, after putting on our Sunday-best,
we got into one of those futile fights that siblings around the world replicate on an almost daily basis. Tht fight ended up costing us dearly, because we tore both shirts in the process. While I spent the rest of that day crying and lamenting the loss of my Christmas clothes, you somehow found the maturity to tell me that: “Ikomey, don’t worry, one day we’ll be wearing shirts that are better and more expensive than those ones, so let’s just wear anything we can find”. And so we did. I didn’t believe you then, but how prophetic that statement turned out to be. By doing things your way, you helped me see the trees from the forest even then. BRAVO.

When, at the ripe old age of 12-13, the family, in its infinite wisdom, decided that it didn’t have enough money to send you to secondary school and that, as a man, you should learn a trade and try to replicate the "successes" of the myriad of tailors, shoe menders and mechanics in town, you simply turned to me and said "Ikomey, I’m not doing any of that stuff".  I thought you had lost your mind. I, of course, bought into the theory that those tradesmen had succeeded in life ... heck, if I had not been lucky enough to pass the Common Entrance exam in List A (free education) and had been told to learn a trade, I would have jumped at the opportunity. Not you! You told me again and again that one can only succeed in life if one had a good education. As I went off to secondary school, you told me not to throw away any of my books and notes. At first I thought you were kidding, but when it became clear that you were serious, I had to be very careful how I took notes in class, because I knew I was doing so for the both of us. The first couple of years when I came back on holidays, nothing happened. You were busy dabbling in music and generally being a man-about-town, sending your family to wit's end in search of an answer for their wayward son. Then, lo and behold, when I was in Form 4, you told me that you were now hunkering down to prepare for the GCE O'Levels, which you would take in the next couple of years. I thought it was a joke but I didn’t know that you had made a similar deal with your other “brother”, Joe. You did your level best, using both of our notes and studying with each of us, usually separately, discussing hard subjects like BUYLOGY, as we used to say, and other issues that a guy who spent his whole time in Buea Town had no business discussing. As history would have it, you went on to obtain your GCE O'Levels without ever setting foot in a secondary school classroom, to the surprise of everyone but yourself. The rest, as they say, is history. BRAVO for doing things your way.

Fast-forwarding to 1980, you found yourself in Nkambe High School because no one would fight hard enough for you to be given an opportunity closer to home. Just getting to Nkambe at the time was a feat and actually settling there and paying rent, cooking your own meals and what-have-you required Olympian resources, which of course you never had. I remember how you had gone to one uncle to see if he could help and he had said: “Mola, you know that one can’t tie a bundle with one hand”. You turned around to me and asked why Bakweri people always used parables when they were denying one a service but hardly used parables when they could actually help. Anyhow a few well-wishers managed to cobble together whatever they could find for you to go to Nkambe, but it was never going to be enough. You went all the same. At the time, I was doing my last year in Lycee Molyko, where I happened to be the Senior Prefect, which basically meant that I was the bridge between the student body and the administration. About a month after school had started, I was shocked to see you back in Buea. I thought that you had done something wrong and had been kicked out of the school in Nkambe. No, for the first time, I saw you almost defeated. You told me that you really wanted to remain in high school but that life in Nkambe was simply impossible … your meager resources were just that, meager. Not being one to back down, you asked me to see if there was a way for you to get into Lycee Molyko, and I said I thought it would be impossible because the school year had already started, etc. You insisted nonetheless, so I went to the administration to explain our predicament. As luck would have it, they told me that they trusted me enough that they would give you a chance if I promised that you would be the same “model” student that I was. I told them that I couldn’t make such a promise because you had never stepped foot in an organized secondary school classroom. This would be your first experience with formal, post-primary schooling. I did tell them, however, that nobody … not me, not any other student, would be more hard-working than you. On that, they told me to tell you to show up for school the following Monday. From that point on, my dear brother, I thought life had come full circle. You had helped me get into primary school and I had helped you get into high school. As you can imagine, I could not help but see all your ensuing professional achievements through that prism. They really don’t make people like you anymore.

In life, when some of us thought that happiness could only be achieved through the neat pigeonholes that society had carved out for us, you said: “Oh no, not me; I’m doing it my way”. As you face your final curtain, I can only paraphrase the inimitable Frank Sinatra: you lived a life that was full; you travelled each and every highway; you did what you had to do and saw it through without exemption; you planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway; but much more than that, you did it your way. Yes, there were times when you bit more than you could chew, but you faced it all, stood tall, and triumphed. The record shows that you took many blows along the way, although it may surprise some to learn that you found most of them quite amusing. Yes, you did it all your way.

I thought sharing these few stories would serve as inspiration for all the young people who admired you for being a state counsel, a judge, the President of the High Court and … I’m sure you’ll chuckle when you hear this … one of the “rich” men in Buea. I hope they remember that, no matter how humble your beginnings and no matter how tortuous the lanes that you take as you navigate your way through life, it’s where you end up that matters. I hope that they place all the bells and whistles of your professional achievements against the backdrop of those humble beginnings.

I’ll end with something that you always told me whenever we sat down to consider the plight of the many relatives you cared about so deeply: “People just need to have a sense of purpose in life and everything else will fall into place”. Pride is not a strong enough word to describe how I feel when I look at your body of work on this earth which was cut so brutally short; and tears are truly not enough to express the hurt that I feel inside. I rest my case, Mi’Lord.

May your soul rest in perfect peace and may your spirit give us the strength to uphold your legacy.

When a man loves a woman

Can't keep his mind on nothin' else

He'd trade the world

For the good thing he's found
If she is bad, he can't see it

She can do no wrong

And turn his back on his best friend

If he puts her down
When a man loves a woman

Spend his very last dime

And trying to hold on to what he needs
He'd give up all his comforts

And sleep out in the rain

If she said that's the way, it ought to be
When a man loves a woman

I give you everything I've got

Trying to hold on to your precious love

And baby baby please don't treat me bad
When a man loves a woman

Deep down in his soul

She can bring him such misery
If she is playing him for a fool

He's the last one to know

Loving eyes can never see
Yes when a man loves a woman

I know exactly how he feels '

Cause baby, baby
When a man loves a woman

When a man loves a woman

When a man loves a woman

When a man, when a man

When a man loves a woman

My dear Friend Mwambo – Your sudden departure from us has left a void in my heart.  When we crossed path in Bilingual Grammar School “Lycee Molyko” Buea in 1979, it was like meeting a long lost brother.  Your quest for success set a new tempo among your friends, and created a sense of purpose and drive, that became a catalyst for success, irrespective of where and when we started. My friend, you made it to the mountain top.  Although you were not given enough time to bask in your achievements, you left an imprint that will last forever.  How will my visits to Cameroon be without you! You will be greatly missed. At this point, all I can do is bid you farewell, and pray for The Almighty God to Rest your Soul in Peace – I miss you dearly.

Here is a synopsis of my memories:

The first time I met Mwambo was in high school. We were both Art Majors  and took similar classes. After an introductory class in Economics, we quickly sized each other and realized that we had many things in common.  He was very good at aligning himself with people he could empathize and exchange ideas with.  During our last year in high school, although we had limited resources, his “apartment” was where we all settled after  tedious and long hours of studying for the G.C.E. “A” level. He will quickly organize something to eat – his famous “pancakes!”  Mwambo studied hard and played hard. He was a genius in the real sense of the word! He did exceptionally well in academics and still maintained a very busy social life.  After successfully completing two years of high school, we both ended up in Yaounde University, where he started his pursuit to attainment of his full potential. I remember how during our first year we shared a one bedroom apartment without experiencing  a lack of space  because,  we lived more like brothers;  we shared food, ideas, and even clothing!  However there is one thing we did not share; “guess!”  Despite financial challenges during this time, Mwambo did not just get by, he lived comfortably. “How could he do that?” You may ask! He was a master planner. As I mentioned earlier, he knew how to align himself appropriately.  

After I left for the United States, we lost communication for a brief period, during which we were both pursuing the fulfillment of our ambitions.  My visits to Cameroon were very meaningful  because of my friend Mwambo. I remember the first time I visited him in Limbe; I was so proud of whom he had become. The Head of a Judiciary Division! Knowing how ambitious he was, I knew that was just the beginning of greater things,  and that he was aiming for the top.  The second time I visited Cameroon, he had earned the title of “Chief Justices.” I couldn’t be prouder of my friend. What else can I say about my friend? He was passionate towards his family, his friends and his career – It was exhilarating being in his presence.  He was designed for greatness, yet he was called home too soon!

My sympathy and prayers go to his family and everybody whose life he touched and influenced. It is human to morn our son, brother, dad, cousin, uncle and friend.  However, as Christians, we should be thankful to the Almighty God for the time we had with him, and knowing that he is in a better place!

Mwambo,
I lack words but have pleasant memories

I knew Mwambo in the days when I was in form 3 in college when I used to spend holidays with my cousin Late Ekaney Blues who was the owner of Our One best not forgotten Night Club called Sansui Sounds.i stayed with Mwambo in the same house and i use to cook and offer him food everyday.He spent most of the times reading because he did not have any one sponsor him through his Education, so he will stay home and read everyday from Monday to Friday and during the week ends he will be reading the women.He had so many girlfriends and I could not figure out which was which.He kept his wonderful afro wekll combed and most of the time that girls will be visiting without notices , I will be oblarge to lie because the was always fighting and exchange of words.
Sometimes I will tell other girls that the girls were Pepsi,s friends or Blues Ekaneys friends.In the Night Club he will always arrive with no girl and will stand quietly at one end looking at the girls and you will see him come up to me ,to ask if i know a certain girl and to call her to see him at the room behind the Night club.Oh my God ,only for me to ee that he came back home with the girl.That was a terrible life to live and we thank God that AIDS was not around te corner at that time maybe he could have been dead long ago.He never forget any little thing that was done to him in good faith during that period but was so proud of him that evenwhen he played around with women that much, he concertrated on his book work from home and passed his Exams that made him moved forward to be the Big guy until his death.My dear brother, I have your shirt I was suppose to surprise you with in cameroon but you are gone.I will always live to remember you.stay blessed with the Lord and say Hi to Blues.

I first met Paul when he came to Quebec in the early 1990s to visit Ikomey, who was working at my translation firm.  Since Francis and I needed to travel down-river to work at a conference, we picked up Paul at the airport and set out.  I felt that Paul was my brother from the minute I met him,  He was dressed in Bakweri traditional attire.  He looked so elegant.

Paul was having a malaria attack and spent the first 4 hours of the trip covered with a coat in the back seat, alternately shivering, dozing and gazing out the window as the river grew bigger and bigger.

Finally we stopped at a lookout near Baie St-Paul along the Lower St-Lawrence (''la mer'').  We all piled out of the car and took in the view.  Just then, a tour bus arrived loaded with tourists from ........... France.  They all rushed over to the edge of the lookout, but one lone gentleman made a beeline for the three of us.  He greeted us with a big smile and said, '' Bonjour, bonjour, je suis ravi d'avoir rencontré mes premiers vrais Québecois''  I think that Francis and I must have looked a bit surprised.  But not Paul.  He immediately returned the greeting with an even bigger smile and a handshake:  ''Ravi à mon tour mon cher monsieur.''

You see, Paul -  Big Paul -  was a true citizen of the world.  And in the words of my dear wife Daphne, he taught us much about pride and possibility.  For this he will be forever remembered.

Goodbye, Big Paul.

Don Sugden and Daphne Boyer

WE GIVE THEM back to you, dear Lord, who gave them to us. Yet as you do not lose them in giving, so we have not lost them by their return. Not as the world gives do you give, O Lover of souls. What you gave you do not take away; for what is ours is ours always, if we are yours. And life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only an horizon, and an horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. Lift us, strong Son of God, that we may see farther. Cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly. Draw us closer to yourself that we may know ourselves nearer to them. And while you are preparing a place for us, prepare us for that happy place, that where they are and you are, we too may be; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.


ALMIGHTY GOD, we rejoice to know that your reign extends far beyond the limits of this life. In the mystery of what lies beyond our sight we pray that your love may complete its work in those whose days on earth are done; and grant that we who serve you now in this world may at last share with them the glories of your heavenly kingdom; through the love of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Death hides - But it cannot divide, Thou art but on Christ's other side. Thou with Christ And Christ with me And so together Still are we.

go forth upon your journey from this world, in the name of God the Father almighty who created you; in the name of Jesus Christ who suffered death for you: in the name of the Holy Spirit who strengthens you; in communion with the blessed Saints, and aided by angels and archangels, and all the armies of the heavenly host. may your portion be in peace, and your dwelling the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.

I barely dried my tears following Whitney Houston death only to learn about Justice Paul Mwambo Evande passing on!

Devastated!

So I thought: what a cruel world we live in! Is it so cruel that some "STARS "can no longer bear but pass on to a world beyond? Otherwise, how can Mola Paul Mwambo Evande die when he was always so full of life?

He would weep for others and sympathise with many!
He would visit you if you were sick!
He would cheer you up if you were feeling low!
He would joke even when no one expected him to.

He would tell you to 'keep up the good work and be there for his colleagues
He would make you feel proud of yourself in a 'house' where others hardly did same!

A jolly and ebullient prince of social lineage
He towered majestic as elegant Iroko tree
Always a star, wherever folks gathered Leadership naturally flowed from Mwambo Evande

Bold, brave, gallant and tough
Mwambo Evande tackled soft and rough
Tactician, strategist and achiever
Justice Evande championed distinction

Educator and motivator extraordinaire
Justice Mwambo Evande loved grooming youth
Like a rising and graceful fountain
His listeners outclass and excel globally

Firm, faithful, formidable and fair
He upheld principles like great principals
As “garri” politics and economics jeopardized
Justice Mwambo Evande fought valiantly like winners

Teacher, mentor, counselor and guide
Mwambo Evande forever prospered as spearhead
Educator, administrator and facilitator
Mwambo Evande legacy towers like Mount Fako

As a gem vanishes from Africa ’s galaxy
Creating large and pitiful vacuum
Justice Mambo Evande  rich and noble legacy
Will forever inspire follower’s ecstasy

Bye, bye “Mola Mwambo Evande”
Didn’t you always dwarf as a generation leader?

In life like death, you outrival as pace setter
Always bequeathing indelible milestones
So pave paths for us in that mysterious land
Where none, yes none, ever returns

Farewell Justice Paul Mwambo Evande

 Life is series of stock-takings.  No matter our lot, we all sit back once in a while, relax and indulge in the bitter-sweet activity of chewing the cud, so to speak. For me, personal stock-taking helps me to get my spiritual, political, social and cultural bearings. It gives me the pleasure of looking back at the path I have trodden, an opportunity to take stock of my present circumstances and decide  the paths to follow next. But unfortunately Paul Evande Mwambo was not given the opportunity to  take a stock taking in all his activities as the cold death took him un expectedly.

The irony of this tale is that Paul Mwambo Evande does not know me from Adam. He has never even spoken to me. But as is usually the case with Legendary and other stars, I know Paul Mwambo Evande very well because he had a child with my senior sister Sally Enyowe Monanagai giving birth to Kidienat Evande Mwambo.  Someone said that “your lifestyle is so loud that people cannot hear what you say.” I agree. 

His fearlessness, persistence, perseverance, drive and never—say–die attitude on the field of the Judiciary inspired me. The man did not become my role model for nothing. He earned my admiration when he neutralized the legendary of justice for so many East Cameroonians.

 Psychologically, this did wonders for me.  We the post-reunification generation were living under the double domination of injustice and their condescending, over-bearing, and insulting kin-folks.

Paul Evande Mwambo was my role model. I told myself that every time I had an obstacle, I would not give up. I would face it and overcome it, like I saw Paul Evande Mwambo face and neutralize the legendary of justice in us cameroonians and the Africa region as a whole.


Sleep Mola Mwambo sleep a gentle sleep with the Lord for one day we shall meet to depart no more.


I want to use this opportunity to extend my heart felt condolences to all his children, brothers and sisters, parents and on behalf of the Martin Njie Monangai's family please accept our heart felt condolence.        
     
   
   
  

If Tears Could...

   If tears could build a stairway And memories were a lane, I would walk right up to heaven To bring you home again. No farewell words were spoken. No time to say good-bye. You were gone before we knew it, And only God knows why. My heart still aches in sadness And secret tears still flow. What it meant to lose you, No one will ever know.

I AM FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free I'm following the path God laid for me
I took His hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day, to laugh,
to love, to work or play.
Tasks undone must stay that way
I've found that peace at the close of the day.

If parting has left a void, then fill it
with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times,
a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all to brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me,
God wants me now, He set me free.

   I may say this is a dream or may be some movie being watch by me. But how  can I watch a movie without seeing any picture or an action? As a childhood friend, Mwambo and I shared a  lot of common characteristics, from extreme humble homes, we learnt to fight life no matter what it takes. I am extremely proud of catechist because I for one knew him and we always shared stories commonly related to us together. No matter how you get to live this world, One is thing quite certain we know not when or who is out finding pride in taking away your life. To kill a man for any jelouse reason is un call for. I have lost so many of the stores members. I did hope that one day I will be with members of the power house to feel that bond of intimacy, arguing  playing together as days of the old. I can't fine where Mboule is gone, Nya,poufpouf, Levena, now is Mwambo. Who is next, Please supporter take note, tell teh to be very carefull, times are not the same as we went through. Ikome please do me a favor ask Fr Nkeze Goerge to personally preside over this death. We never knew what it meant to poison someone, but in today's world the bile of the wicked is now coined Aids; Day after day all we shared in common was to get up in the morning go search wood for the family go sell quacoco for the family and the remaining of the evening we go to the field to play equipe, betting twenty five francs each. My store was called power house not because of the influx of money but because we cultivated a unified spirit that brought us together. I write this with tears in my eyes I have shared tears for this past eight year due to the number of friends that I will never see again. What hope is left for me back there, I may not understand the situation, but for certain as an architect of Buea I am still Mara capable of pounding issues one after the other. I miss my dear friend catechist I will never forget the day I was traveling to US, he came to the store and said to me it will take me more than a good time to come to Buea town if not that my mother is in Bova. I want you to know that this town is dead. Tailer, the way Mboule felt I had to be called. I want you to know something, I have kept this all this years, You are the bond of this town and your departure will cost all of us great pain. John I use to look at you and feel a man need to know you, I felt like part of me is leaving me. I willbe having fun with my friends in Limbe but as you name comes into my mind I immedetely calls the driver to take me to Buea. I sometimes just want to see you ask you to buy me head cow well fried with pepe fro the Bamungo lady, eat with my kids and go back extremely satisfied, now I have nobody to share some of my experience, you are what it  takes for a man to be. I will say to him, you remember that if not of you, I couldn't have paid the money I owed the union. Tailer how much you desearve more I have been hoping that you will one day ask me to raise money for you to do real business. I hope you make it but one thing you have to know is do not hesitate to call if you need any help or your children want money don't worry your kids will never feel bad just ask them to come see me.  I said to Mwambo hey, am not death I am going and will be back one day and then... little did I knew he meant that I will never see not only him, but the others. Bye my dear friend god bless you and those friends I have buried without seeing their dead bodies. greet them for it is written in the great book those who put their faith in God will never perish but have evalasting life.

My dearest Paul, how do I sum up our relationship, I don't know.  How do I describe you, I can not...not in any depth.  You were my friend and future husband.  It was an honored to have known you.

 You were the leader of the Judicial Superiority in Cameroon, the larger than life history that touch many lives, living, breathing legend. Your death happened suddenly and unexpectedly, but peacefully.  You were way too young to die.  The swiftness of your instant departure remains shocking to the people of Cameroon but we cannot fight God, he owns your life so does everyone else's life.
I met Paul through his friend Charles who is a friend of my sister while I was planning a trip to Africa. I never thought I would love anyone so much. It was the most intense relationship I’ve ever had. He was always very excited when we talk on the phone.  We kept it low key; he was my best friend.  Despite living billions of miles apart, our close unbreakable friendship and emotional love remained until his recent death.   I never even had a chance to say goodbye.  I am beyond heartbroken and the pain is indescribable.  The thought of never seeing you, never hearing your voice, never hearing you sing our famous song to me "ah don see my wife oh..1+1 is 2" you were always very excited when you sing that song, never seeing you taking notes while the court is in session, etc is all too hard to take and don't know how I'm going to get over this.  I keep trying to tell myself that you are in a better place and at least you died peacefully, but it still hurts so much.  I would give anything in this world to be with you one more time, even if it was only for a short while.

 When people speak you listen, you were not judgmental, you were very quiet, and when approached with personal issues you always advise accordingly.  I remember recently I was upset with you, I could still hear your soft voice echoing on my speaker phone advising me that two wrongs don't make a right, eventually everything will be okay.  You could analyze a situation with incredible swiftness and accuracy.  There can only be one like you in any generation.  You were that one star; you were a child of fate, born for no other time than the one you found yourself in.  Destined to lead your people in the Judicial Superiority, there was no one else.  With you, I learned to face the world without fear and learn daily the things that matter most.  To try to contain you in words is futile, you span the breath of human experience, full of kindness and above all, you have touched many.

 Your total dedication to your people, family, children was so absolute that really very little else mattered.  You never craved anybody praise as long as you believed that you were doing the right and even in the face of utmost danger, you never relented from speaking truth to power.

Joe Pepsy my prayers go out to you knowing you lost your better half. I know that you strive to hear “Hey Pepsy” one more time. As much as Paul talks about you and honored the friendship you and him had, I felt I was in a relationship with you. I informed Paul that our summer cruises and trip to Las Vegas will include Pepsy being the chaperon. He promised to find a way to ditch you for all of our summer getaways…LOL! It is unfortunate to be surprised one minute with numerous lavish trips, and have to bear that God had bigger plans for you Paul.

Ikomey, I ask God to provide you with guidance after this tragic lost. When I spoke to you late last week I felt the throbbing pain and agony in your voice. It is an accolade to know that you shared the same womb with an overachiever like Paul. Just know in your heart that he will provide you with all the deserved strength and courage to take over the thrown.

Elizabeth, I know you lost your father, your best friend, your mentor, your leader, your back bone and most of all your loving brother.  It kills me to hear the soundless pain in your voice. Paul always mentioned how proud he was to see the loyalty within you. I know that I could never replace him, but I ask God to provide me with the strength to be by your side.

To your Mom, he always explained how you solidified his foundation. I can’t begin to tell you the countless hours I spent listening to Paul talk about how his world would crumble if he lost you. He would tell me repeatedly that all the achievements in his life were made possible because of you. Paul wore his heart on his sleeve for everyone, but he always explained that you were his reason for breathing. My heart aches to know that you are burying Paul before God provided you with your angel wings.

To my cousin Lawrence, thank you for creating such an amazing tribute site. After 40 years of friendship, who would know Paul better than you! Thank you for all of the encouraging words.

To all of Paul’s children, please know that your father is gone but never forgotten. God has called him home, and he has now become your guardian angel. His spirit will always be present to guide you through life. Paul, words cannot explain how you cherished and prioritized family. Everyone knew that they can count on you and one of your major concerns was always the well being of your family members. Please guide them down the path of righteousness, stand by them when they need you most and shelter them during their time of need.

 To you power is the freedom to be true to yourself and to God, no matter the cost.   How could I survive an instant departure.  You were so absolute that you will be in the United States in March, then your mother had taken ill, plans were changed for this summer.

The Judicial flag will be lowered in your honor.  Though you have ceased to be, our love never will.  A piece of me has died with you.  I realize that this is not goodbye forever... just goodbye for now.  May you find peace and happiness wherever you are and I will see you on the other side someday. Paul I know you will always be looking over me, and I will always love you no matter what.  So long for now, my prince...Adieu, my love…..Adieu…...

Justice Paul Mwambo Evande. I called you simply 'Rellie', the young man of Buea with whom I fell madly in love at the tender age of 15. Our story would endure long after the relationship because, as you said in this text you sent me recently:
        "You and I have the kind of relationship that, no matter how much time goes by, whenever we meet, we just pick up...because we are friends in the true, pure unadulterated sense of the word. We had a love and adventures that left indelible and incredible sweet memories. I am so, so proud of you and will always be comfortable in your company.  Rellie "

We met when you were in high school, Lycee Bilingue, Molyko, Buea and I in Saker Baptist College, Limbe. You loved me with an uncommon purity and showed me what true love was. At that impressionable age it was natural for me to believe we would be together for ever. I remember my visits to Molyko as if it was only yesterday. I made you 'wait' for a long time because I wasn't 'ready' [SMILE]. This would frustrate you many times, but you stayed (grudgingly) patient and loved me even more. Behind that epitome of masculinity portrayed by your macho physique, was a soft and sensitive soul that only those who got close to you would experience and appreciate. Your love for life was infectious; you were the man that women vied for, and when you danced cuban salsa (your favourite), it was as if nothing else mattered in the world at that moment.

Professionally, your passion for Law was so intense that even then, at the level of high school, your brilliance was unfolding, foretelling of the legend that you would become. I remember long hours spent, with me listening, captivated, while you read aloud interesting passages from legal tomes. To your delight, I came to know and understand the Law of Tort, your favourite branch of Law, and Lord Denning, your great legal hero. It's a wonder I didn't go into the legal field myself. We also shared the love of poetry, and I recall the amateurish and soppy poems that we wrote for each other and spent time reading to each other.  In all, I was fascinated by your brilliant mind, your incredible self-determination and your great romance with life.

Despite your humble beginnings and the challenges you had to scale, you were uncompromisingly confident in your ability to rise to the highest levels of achievement, and you never wavered in your belief that you would be a 'legend' someday. I also believed in you. You worked hard, you stayed focused and ultimately made your dreams come true in your usual grand style, with flying colours.

Destiny parted our ways in the 80's when you went to Yaounde University and I to CCAST Bambili, hoping I'd join you later in Yaounde. Through my own action, our relationship took a blow of canonball-strength and a detour that would lead us in different paths. Nonetheless, driven by the innocence and purity of a true twinning of hearts, you forgave me and our love story would endure well beyond the relationship to this day. You became my friend, my brother, my mentor, my intellectual sparring partner, my soul mate. You followed my progress through the years, as I did yours. And whenever we met, it was as if time - 1year, 5years, 10years, 20years or even 30years - had never gone by. We would hang out, sometimes with me and my friends, talk all day, laugh, joke and reminisce, bonded by incredible nostalgia and a kindred spirit. It was so natural, innocent and true.

It is unbelievable to think that I won't hear your voice, see that ready smile and share that infectious laughter of yours again. I keep reaching to call your phone..... I only just manage to stop myself each time.  Why are you leaving this world at only 52 years old???   Your hero, Lord Denning, 'one of the most outstanding Judges of the 21st Century, and (just like you) a fearless champion of the rights of the common man', died at the ripe old age of 100. Why not 100 for you too?  Professionally, you were stepping in that great man's footprints, but sadly you bowed out much too soon.  You had accomplished great things, but you still had lots more to give your country and the world.  Too painful!

We spoke barely 3 days before the cold hands of death snatched you so suddenly from your loved ones. "How's the star legal luminary of Cameroon doing?", I asked you. "Fine, as always", you replied. Little did we know.....
We discussed your new job, I opined that you were now only a whisker away from the apex job, we laughed, we discussed world issues, we laughed some more, just as we'd done intermittently for 30 years. "How's the star model and executive of Abuja doing?", you teased. I laughed and said I was visiting Washington DC and New York. Excitedly, you urged me to see your dear friend Pepsy in Maryland and your brother Ikome at the UN, two of your closest people that I know. I said I'd not been in touch with either of them for ages, and asked you to send me their contact details. You talked about going to hand over your duties in Kumba. You were content, your only major concern was your Mum's health, confessing that you didn't know how you'd cope if she passed on because you were so close to her, she was everything to you!   Little did we know that you would be the one to go ahead of her. It is the wrong order of things, but only God knows best!

Cameroon has lost a true hero. By sheer brilliance of mind, hard work & the grace of God, your journey to greatness has been as inspiring as it has been impressive to us all. There was not a shadow of doubt that you would have soared even higher to occupy the highest position in the profession that you loved so much.

Personally, I have lost my first love, my brother, mentor, my intellectual sparring partner, my cheerleader and my true soul mate for life.

May God comfort your family, especially your beloved Mum whom I imagine would be thoroughly devastated. If only tears could bring you back, you'd be alive today. But only God knows why. So my dear, may you now rest peacefully with Him.

Goodnight my learned friend.
Missing you terribly!
Muke    x

It was on January 3rd of 2012, that you and I chilled out over a bottle of Champagne and olives in your beautiful home in Buea and listened to, while chanting out loud to your favorite sound tracks by Luther Vandross ... "When a man loves a woman", "Hey Jude" etc. The music lured you to recount this story that got me laughing and rolling over and I now can't help but share with the rest of all who mourn your passing on.

You talked about how in your High school days, a couple of your friends and yourself had saved up through the month to go clubbing in Limbe. You had gone the extra mile of buying you a new pair of shoes which were kind of tight but suitable for the night out  (your sense of style was an inborn trait).

You said the problem with going out clubbing in Limbe back in the day was the fact that buses did not start leaving Limbe for Buea in the morning until it was about 7am and as such, once the doors of the night club had closed, you all walked to half-mile and secured your seats on the first bus which wasn't due to leave until about a couple of hours later.

Of course because your shoes did hurt so bad at the time, you took them off and went to sleep on the bus to the extent that when the bus got full and departed for Buea, you were still fast asleep (for anyone that knows you well, they would testify to how much you love your beauty sleep).

Unfortunately for you, when the bus got to Buea and your friends alerted you it was time to get off the bus, you were happy to do so with the only draw back that you couldn't find your shoes anywhere in the bus. Someone had made away with your brand new shoes and what made it worst is the fact that you couldn't even tell at what point this had happened as you had slept sooo deep!

As such, you had to track for about 10miles on your bare feet (which hurt like crazy from the blisters of being in tight shoes all night) back home and you still felt content and happy that you had had an awesome night out.

As I join the rest of the world to mourn your sudden passing on to the Lord, I can't help but reflect back on this story which reminds me of the way you led your life through your 52years on earth ... hanging on to ONLY the GOOD parts of all the OBSTACLES that life threw at you even to the point of death - you died an effortless and peaceful death which some of us can only dream of when our time comes. 

ADIEUS my BFF as you join the chanting of the heavenly chorus in the light of your love for good music until we all shall meet again where there will be no more crying or sorrow for the old things most have passed away! 

I have told everyone who cares to listen following the shocking news of your untimely death how I came to call you Justice Evans. I met you when you honored my Mum's invitation to attend my daughter's baptism. You were dressed like an Arab Prince and drove an elegant car. All who were present who did not know you whispered amongst themselves...who is that guy? Your dressing did not leave anyone indifferent. This was Buea in 2008! So who was this Arab Prince? I was mighty curious myself. After being introduced, you Justice Evans said: (probably out of respect for a very junior legal mind, but I suspect more out of the fact that you simply saw yourself as you without the usual formalities) "call me Evans". My Mum, in trying to protect me from contempt, was very quick to add "Justice Evande!" Who was I to call you Evans? I would not permit myself such liberties. I opted for Justice Evans. It sounded good and you liked it.

Following that, I met Justice Evans at several occasions. He joined us recently in celebrating my Mum's 60th birthday. He was always a gentleman. Properly attired and well spoken. A true reflection of a brilliant and honorable judge.

Then the shocking news of Justice Evan's death broke and left me speechless. It was most shocking because I had recently viewed some pictures of the 20th May celebrations in Yaounde.The "cream of the cream" of Cameroon, the "who is who" were present at the Unity Palace feasting with the President and I was only too proud to boast that I knew him... "that is Justice Evans!" Then not even 4 days later after our good Lord invited Justice Evans to his heavenly feast and he honored the Lord's invitation.

Justice Evans, apart from our love for Harvard Law School which we always discussed, you and I had something else in common which I just found out.Too late to discuss it now but my daughter, whose baptism you attended, was born on 07/07. Someone told me 7 is a sign of greatness. You confirm it! In life and in death you shall be missed but through the persons you loved, memories of you will live on. You will always remembered for your class, your impeccable taste, your brilliance, your eloquence and you shall especially be remembered for being a great man.

Adieu great Judge! Rest in the Lord.

Paul, my best friend, so many thoughts, so many memories, where to start... at the beginning, in primary school or in the ‘Cartier’ were our life began.   Our ideals, thoughts, likes, dislikes, mischief, music, road trips, weekends of fun and laughter brought us together.
Even as a teenager, Paul lived his life, rising to the challenge and turning each day into the equivalent of a day and a half, sharing his vision, purpose and passion for life. Something many adults have yet to achieve.

Paul was a person of character, with morals and values, and matures beyond his years. He was the person everyone got on with, exceptionally likeable and never failed to leave an impression with anyone that met him, as each of us can attest today.

Paul was earthy; being kind and generous although never afraid to tell you what he thought and believed, always one to help and put him self on the line for you. We celebrated and commiserated, he saw me through the happiest and darkest times of my life and for that, I can never thank him enough. Through all the ups and downs, Paul took the challenge to turn things around, all it required was good knowledge, which obviously he would control later and which he was the undisputed Master of. Paul did not tolerate complacency; he always did things to the best of his ability, with a passion and enthusiasm beyond most people's comprehension. Paul was exceptionally dedicated, mastering anything he turned his hand or mind to. As a teenager he loved music, soccer and his books, and then later in life he mastered Law. When the time was right he was brave enough to embark on his dream career as an Advocate. He recognized his paths in life and tackled them with absolute energy and enthusiasm.

Paul had two passions in life and both are obvious to all who knew him well, studying and beautiful women. Like Jack and Jill, our two souls grew so wonderfully together. I vividly remember Paul telling me about this wonderful woman he had met, you could hear the excitement in his voice over the phone and he wanted us to get together as soon as possible to start planning for the wedding. As usual, he always found a soul mate and that was his heart's passion and obsession.

The saying goes "you don't regret the things you do, but the things you don't do". This being true, Paul had no regrets in life and he truly was a man of his own destiny. I cannot even begin to describe all the feelings I have, the loss, the sadness, the love, the hole in my heart. I want to pick up the phone and hear "Hey Pepsy". Paul you were my childhood mate, my flat mate, you were my best man, an inspiration, you are my best friend, I love you....until we meet again.

NOW THE STORY BEGINS

Where do I start to write about my childhood friend Paul Mwambo Evande? ‘Curran’ that is how I used to call him.

Not a moment goes by when I don’t miss Paul. In so many ways we shaped our lives together from more than 35 years ago and today. There are times I realize that Paul was teaching me who to become, not in a teaching and preachy sort of way like when we all refer to him as ‘Catechist’ but in the very best way. He gave me a great example of how to be a, friend and brother. I thank you Paul for teaching me all that you did and continue to do through your memory.

Paul was always proud of our accomplishments and that we could be anything that we hoped to be. We listened to our thoughts about our likes and dislikes and took these seriously. We weren’t just little people growing up in Buea; we were important and special in our own eyes

Paul grew up believing that family always came first and I think he passed a lot of that along to his children, brothers, sisters and friends.  Some friends are meant to last forever and I always believed that Paul was that type of friend. We’ve known each other since before high school and Paul’s loyalty and kindness has always been a big part of my life. No matter how busy we were, we always came home to our foundation in Buea for holidays and other family events.

Paul always stood by me and we encouraged each other in every dream and hope and that is why, when I was in Bilingual Grammar School Buea staying at home and preparing for my GCE “O’ Level, I had all the books which he shared with me while not being a college student, but we went to the library and studied together for the same exam. Music was always Paul’s passion and no one believed him at the time he was going to make it but he proved everyone wrong and although he did not pursue music as his career, soon, that living, dreaming, hoping and believing came when we passed the GCE exam and it was time for high school.

Every day with Paul was special and I have so many moments I’d like to share with you. Many of us can remember how caring we were with each other especially his big heart. There wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do, a favor that was either too big or too small that he wouldn’t extend to our friendship. As time went on, we took the courage after our “GCE” to move to theNorth WestProvincein Nkambe looking for a High School so we could be together and leave behind, the life of partying in Buea. When things didn’t work out in Nkambe, I stayed in Bamenda and got admission into “CCAST” Bambili while Paul headed south to the Province and worked his way out only to call and tell me he got admission intoBilingualHigh schoolBuea. After high school, I had no choice but to work with Cameroon Bank in Buea while we lived together in “Figaro” at our Condo which I had rented with “Mini” whom we had adopted as a young boy growing up in Buea. At that point, we began forming the most part of our lives. Paul brought life to everything and touched every heart that he met. His leadership was phenomenal at the time we were growing up. As you all may know, he was recently awarded a new position in Yaoundé. He thought highly of the work he did but never expected anything in return. I remember a conversation with him when I asked him why he gave so much of himself. Paul stood in silence for a couple minutes and then replied “because, Pepsy, that is the only way to live life.” Now I look back to the conversation and understand how he lived his life. Paul always had hoped to give to everyone even during the toughest times of his life. When my sister who also took care of us as young adult died a tragic death in 1987, Paul was the only one who was filled with hope. And, he was the only one who could talk to me and help me out of my grieving.

The decision came down that; Paul was to go to Yaoundé University to do law while I will take the responsibility over “mini” and provide financial support to Paul while as a student until he completes his school and from there on, he would sponsor me to Nigeria, to do Economics because it would be cheaper for him at that stage just coming out of ENAM. He did not want me to go anywhere further than being around him because our lives have been wrapped around each other because of the great dedication and love. However, when the opportunity came, we decided with terse that; I would rather be better off going to the United States and believe it or not, I have never seen a man cry like that before, because of the fear of losing our bond and friendship and because of our dream, we accomplished many of the things we had longed for as a youth and young adult.
I will always remember Paul’s sense of adventure and his endless curiosity. We have lived in this Buea for more than thirty years, so it might surprise you to realize that; Paul and I was a world traveler and visited nearly most countries and in theU.S.A.I hold many memories of traveling with Paul, some of these full of more adventure than I preferred. Smile. But in many ways every day with Paul was an adventure all on its own. I have never met a man who asked the question “Why?” endlessly and who was never satisfied with the answer. At times, this would be exasperating in a funny way – but many times Paul was the one who found the best treasures that we enjoyed in life. In many ways Paul and I were polar opposites. They say that opposites attract and this was no clearer than with Paul and I. He was a night person and I am a morning person. He was a dog person and I am a cat person. I could give many more examples, but for those of you who know us well you are smiling and nodding now. Just like my mother and her mother would always say “There’s a lid for every pot,” he was my lid and I was his pot. We were imperfect alone but perfect together.No contest. I’ve checked it out. Some people wind up with brothers they can’t stand or barely talk to. Paul and I would do and have done nearly anything for each other. We have been sometimes more like brothers than friends some would say. That’s why it has been so hard to lose Paul at this time. I feel like I am losing a part of my self in some ways. Paul and I were so connected sometimes we didn’t even have to talk to know what the other was going to say or do; we just knew the way brothers know. That I think is very special. I can see so many people that Paul knew, are writing in here today and I know that Paul led a good life. It may not have been a perfect or an ideal life, but it was a good life. It was a life full of love. It was a life led with respect for others and one where Paul was respected by others. It was a life where Paul’s existence made a great difference for so many – and that is the most that any of us can only hope for.

Justice Evande was a self-made man. He owed  very little to birth, relationship, friendly surroundings; to wealth inherited or early approved means of education, this man was what he was without aid of any kind, without the favouring conditions by which most men usually rise in the world to achieve great results. He was indeed a self-made man.

It wasn't luck that made Justice Evande what he was, but considerable physical and and mental effort. He took steps down new roads, armed with nothing but his own vision, this man was our very own Lion of Flanders. 

But to say that he was a self-made man, is not to say he was a man unto himself. Quite to the contrary, so much of what defined him was his love for and dedication to others, especially to his family and wide range of friends.

Paying a deserved tribute to Uncle Mwambo's manliness should not be construed  as an admission of the fanciful notion that the difficulties that stood on his way early in life were essential to his sucess. They were rather obstacles which he overcame; thus wining distinction and honour. Thousands of others have been discouraged by these same obstacles, but have found  suitable places among dullards and drones.  

His success was  outstanding and wholesome, he used it to make his fellows better and happier and faithfully responded to the obligations of society. He loved life, believing that to die rich was a fool's errand and that the was no shame in enjoying what you could while you could. This is how the merits of a sucessful  man who had struggled with dificulties and disadvantages should be judged.

We shall miss you dearly. You'll greet my mother, your cousin, for me. Though she might welcome you with open hands, it is certainly going to be with much lamentation because you've joined them rather too early and left so much undone.