December 12, 2020
December 12, 2020
Tribute to Mrs.Catherine Ebie Musoko nee Lyonga
To know that someone is of a certain age or ailing health does not prepare us for this! It still is a shock that hit me and my family hard when we learned about the passing of our beloved mother fondly referred to and addressed as Makaty.
She lit every space and livened up every audience with her effervescent personality. Darkness and sadness may have fallen upon us but this will pass. In this sadness, let us not lose sight that in the greater scheme of things….Her memory shall always bring us JOY-the joy of having had the honour and privilege to know or be acquainted with her in one way or the other.
Makaty’s was the heritage of being the daughter of a well respected clergyman. Raised under very strict discipline and austere conditions; taught to be highly principled, a towering and almost an intimidating figure she espoused the values of hard work which showed in her educational exploits. She was my English Language idol. As a young man I hoped to one day speak this language like she did. Castigating me earlier in life for talking to her in Pidgin English I became so relieved when, in my late twenties she would initiate a conversation with me in this pidgin, a clear sign of endearment, and that she had approved of the level of my English Language skills. I know she was as demanding of those who spoke to her in the Bakweri language to speak proper Bakweri.
I knew Makaty as a highly opinionated woman. Some elders, I think erroneously would say stubborn. She was vocal and always expressed the reasons and justification for her stance. She suffered fools very badly and would say so fearlessly. Once the scales fell off your eyes, she came across as gentle mannered, gracious, noble, well intentioned lady at the core and overly generous. Her hospitality was simply legendary. She always had food and drinks for visitors. I enjoyed the food and delicacies from her cuisine; Makaty was certainly one of the best cooks in her generation and it could not have been otherwise given her exposure to all that was trendy in her time! No wonder she also was a close friend to the author of Auntie Kate’s Cookery Book. Her availability greatly facilitated life for me in Limbe and I am deeply thankful to her.
I remember Makaty as someone difficult to box in any specific setting. She physically seemed to be here, there and everywhere but somehow managed to be focused on each of the things she was doing…. and oh boy with a passion! She was never content doing just one thing at a time. Her brain and mind were equally agile. She was a consummate “multi-tasker”, capable and often carrying on more than one conversation at a time, in more than one language, not missing out on anything said. I can hear her as I write, I can see her, I cannot escape nor hide from her. An amazing empathetic listener, she went way above and beyond all expectations in her service to her church and community.
Beloved and loving sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, grand aunt, great grand aunt and friend, Makaty leaves behind the fondest of memories. Kind, enduring and a devout Christian, her strength and courage in the face of adversity are worthy of our admiration and respect. Her high energy and vitality coupled with her persistence to do “the right thing” got her to make many friends (amongst whom my mother, my paternal aunt and a host of Victoria Basel Mission Girls’ School ex pupils) but she would not compromise her values to or for anything. We learnt from her example, the virtues of hard work and compassion. She loved her independence, was a free thinking no nonsense woman and was in many respects, a true feminist trail blazer in Cameroon.
Above all, and this repetition is for emphasis, Makaty’s lasting image is that of a true Christian. She had complete trust and was resigned to the will of God. May this God, our God welcome her into his Kingdom and grant her eternal rest close to her departed parents and my elder brother the late Rev. S. Lyonga (Mola Pastor Mbela) and his wife Irmhilde (aunty Hilde).
Jeremiah (Jerry) Andoseh
To know that someone is of a certain age or ailing health does not prepare us for this! It still is a shock that hit me and my family hard when we learned about the passing of our beloved mother fondly referred to and addressed as Makaty.
She lit every space and livened up every audience with her effervescent personality. Darkness and sadness may have fallen upon us but this will pass. In this sadness, let us not lose sight that in the greater scheme of things….Her memory shall always bring us JOY-the joy of having had the honour and privilege to know or be acquainted with her in one way or the other.
Makaty’s was the heritage of being the daughter of a well respected clergyman. Raised under very strict discipline and austere conditions; taught to be highly principled, a towering and almost an intimidating figure she espoused the values of hard work which showed in her educational exploits. She was my English Language idol. As a young man I hoped to one day speak this language like she did. Castigating me earlier in life for talking to her in Pidgin English I became so relieved when, in my late twenties she would initiate a conversation with me in this pidgin, a clear sign of endearment, and that she had approved of the level of my English Language skills. I know she was as demanding of those who spoke to her in the Bakweri language to speak proper Bakweri.
I knew Makaty as a highly opinionated woman. Some elders, I think erroneously would say stubborn. She was vocal and always expressed the reasons and justification for her stance. She suffered fools very badly and would say so fearlessly. Once the scales fell off your eyes, she came across as gentle mannered, gracious, noble, well intentioned lady at the core and overly generous. Her hospitality was simply legendary. She always had food and drinks for visitors. I enjoyed the food and delicacies from her cuisine; Makaty was certainly one of the best cooks in her generation and it could not have been otherwise given her exposure to all that was trendy in her time! No wonder she also was a close friend to the author of Auntie Kate’s Cookery Book. Her availability greatly facilitated life for me in Limbe and I am deeply thankful to her.
I remember Makaty as someone difficult to box in any specific setting. She physically seemed to be here, there and everywhere but somehow managed to be focused on each of the things she was doing…. and oh boy with a passion! She was never content doing just one thing at a time. Her brain and mind were equally agile. She was a consummate “multi-tasker”, capable and often carrying on more than one conversation at a time, in more than one language, not missing out on anything said. I can hear her as I write, I can see her, I cannot escape nor hide from her. An amazing empathetic listener, she went way above and beyond all expectations in her service to her church and community.
Beloved and loving sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, grand aunt, great grand aunt and friend, Makaty leaves behind the fondest of memories. Kind, enduring and a devout Christian, her strength and courage in the face of adversity are worthy of our admiration and respect. Her high energy and vitality coupled with her persistence to do “the right thing” got her to make many friends (amongst whom my mother, my paternal aunt and a host of Victoria Basel Mission Girls’ School ex pupils) but she would not compromise her values to or for anything. We learnt from her example, the virtues of hard work and compassion. She loved her independence, was a free thinking no nonsense woman and was in many respects, a true feminist trail blazer in Cameroon.
Above all, and this repetition is for emphasis, Makaty’s lasting image is that of a true Christian. She had complete trust and was resigned to the will of God. May this God, our God welcome her into his Kingdom and grant her eternal rest close to her departed parents and my elder brother the late Rev. S. Lyonga (Mola Pastor Mbela) and his wife Irmhilde (aunty Hilde).
Jeremiah (Jerry) Andoseh
