Ba Tita Gwandiku Clement Foncham was one of many children born to Ba Tita Gwandiku II and his four wives.  In the 1930s it was customary for family heads to have many wives, some living in the village resident and other in the farmhomes. Tita Gwandiku III's mother resided at Mbutu in one of the family’s farm homes in Bali Nyonga: It was there that Ba spent most of his childhood. As he became a teenager his mother handed him over to her co-wife (his stepmother) Na Lebsia who resided at the main village compound with their father. While in the compound with his stepmom, Ba Gwandiku tendered his father’s domestic animals (goats, pigs etc.) He also assisted his father in many chores and cash crop farming, harvesting, processing and selling, coffee especially. To earn income, he sold staples and foodstuff like fried groundnuts at times. He also made and sold chairs, and other craft works. At the expense of engaging in all this, Daddy did not get enrolled in school until his late teenage years. Upon graduation at standard six with excellent grades, he was retained by Council School Bali Nyonga as a pupil teacher (PT) in 1964. He later taught at Bambui. With burning enthusiasm for a vocation in education, he sort and earned admission into the then prestigious Teachers Training College Tatum, in Banso. He eventually graduated and passed his teachers’ grade lll exams. In 1968 he was posted to Council school Santa.

He later enrolled in the Higher Teachers Training College in Batibo which he completed in 1973 and became a grade ll teaher.  Suffice to note that during those years as a youngman in pursuit of higher education, Daddy became interested in soccer and sports in general. He eventually was an avid athlete, and at one point, captain of the popular Bali United soccer team.
As a trained school professional, he came back to teach in his native Bali Nyonga and in neighboring villages, including Pinyin, Santa etc. In the early 1980s he was transferred to Bosa town and later transferred back to G.S Bali town 1. While at GS Bali, Ba had the opportunity to teach some of his own biological children and those of family folks. He became renowned for his mastery of Rural Sciences, Crafts and Agriculture, all of which he taught with devotion and pride. He always took his job for a calling.

In the 1990s he was promoted to the Sub-Divisional Inspectorate of Education for Bali as chief of staff. From that duty post, he retired from the civil service in 2003, to spend time helping with his large sub clan family, grand kids; as well as continue with his hereditary traditional functions as a ‘Nkom Mfon.’In this traditional role, he was Advisor and public communication point person for the royal palace of Bali Nyonga Fondom.

Ba Nkom had inherited the leadership of the Gwandiku family and became Tita Gwandiku III when his father died.  The title ‘Tita’ is a princely, hereditary accolade conferred on him as second successor of Prince Gwandiku I, a lead migration war hero who accompanied Bali Nyonga’s first Monarch, Queen Mother Na Nahyonga l, to settle Bali Nyonga in its present location. As a hereditary Nkom, Ba Gwandiku served as close advisor and spokesman of the Fon and of the Council of Nkoms. He partook in ceremonial roles for the behalf of the palace or the Fon. And, as a blue-blood son of the soil, Ba manned these roles with magnanimity, pride, humility and love for the Bali people he so loved. He Cherished being Bali and believed in the legitimacy and exceptionalism of the Chamba tradition and people. As a custodian of the Bali Nyonga history and culture, Ba Nkom hosted numerous students, historians and visitors. He carried on with this role until his last days, despite being handicapped in the last 10 years following a motor vehicle accident.

As a young man, Ba Nkom found faith in Christ and became a member of the Roman Catholic church.  He became a member of the Christian Men's Association, CMA, and served as President of the diocese (Mbengwi, Batibo and Bali) at one point.  He continued to grow in his faith maintaining membership in the Roman Catholic Church until his departure to meet his creator. 

His last words to family, friends and acquaintances:

- Stay strong in the Lord and pray continuously

- Give your life to Christ

- Love one another and share in each other’s problems

- Do not break your corn but remove it line by line to have equal share

- Give your life to Christ “Do not forget God and keep praying”.

 Ba Nkom leaves behind his wife Na Juliet Gwandiku nee Mbeli, children, grandchildren, siblings, and a large family to carry on with his legacy.

 Pa's Career path

1964: PTA teacher Native Authority Bambui.

1965-1968: Teacher Training Center Tatum.

1968: Married in Santa

1968-1971: Grade III Teacher at (Native Authority) Council School Santa.

1972-1973: Higher Elementary Training P.T.T.C Batibo.

1973: Teacher Grade II. Teaching at Council School Bali (later known as G.S. Bali Town.)

1983: Had his Teacher's Grade I Certificate externally.

1997: Teacher at Bossa.

1998-2003: Inspectorate of Education Bali.

2003: Retired from civil service.