On behalf of NDA Dennis

Bah! Still to believe that you are gone on a journey of no return. Last Wednesday, you asked us to share a drink together and it is still too fresh in me. How could you have left me in Nyalla, Dla alone. My heart beats double each time l look at your picture with hope that it could be a lie. Since there is nothing I can do, stay well in the blossom of the Lord.

Your friend and brother,
NDA Dennis

On behalf of Ndam Clomid

Oh Dad,
I wish that I could tell you that I am not ready to let you go but you’ve already departed and my heart is feeling so low. I miss your smile and also the sound of your voice and laughter but most of all, I miss you. Many other people miss you and have gathered to mourn your unexpected departure. No one really wants to say good bye to you for our hearts are filled with sadness. Oh dear dad, you went with so many answers to my questions. Each time I look at your picture, I still want to cry.

So, we just wish you eternal peace.
                            Your Son,
                                 Ndam Clomid

On behalf of the Grandchildren of Manyi Fokabo

Daddy, as we called you. We all might not have known you on a personal level but your sudden departure from us still leaves us in pains. Barely 5 months ago, we were in Tombel for Mama Gwen’s burial and now you have followed her to the land of no return. How painful!! But we know by God’s Grace, you lived to a ripe old age. For sure your absence will forever be felt in the family.

Manyi Fokabo’s Grandchildren

On behalf of Atud Sixtus Fokabo

Oh! Pa

You are not only an uncle to me but you took me as your son and the love you had for me with the beautiful advice that you usually gave to me and the Batibo community as a whole has vanished. Even with your wife, children, workers, relatives and friends that you had, you still managed to worry and care about everybody else. Pa (daddy as we usually called you), you have taken away all the words of wisdom from us. We shall always remember these words of yours. I believe that the almighty God will grant you a resting place in his Kingdom. Farewell daddy, May your soul Rest In Peace. In our hearts forever.

Your son,
Atud Sixtus Fokabo

On behalf of Ni Ndam Walters

Father, brother, guide, adviser etc where are you? I am at a loss and yet to believe you have embarked on that horrible journey of no return. I have been abandoned in the middle of the ocean, but why father?

The foundation of our family has been weakened because you’re not here anymore. Your absence has left a vacuum that would be difficult to fill. All the same God knows why. As you go ahead prepare a place for us. May you rest in perfect peace in the blossom of the lord.

Your junior brother,
Ndam Walters.

On behalf of Ma Ramatu Lima.

Bah

You were such a good, calm and nice man. For years, you and ma showed me love with orphans that were my responsibility. You will forever remain in our memory. I know you are rejoicing in heaven with the angels. Rest In Peace Bah, till we meet to part no more. Adieu Bah

your junior sister in law
Aunty Ramatu
As you fondly called me.

On behalf of Ndam Emilienne

Oh! My father, my husband, my everything. Why have you decided to leave me like that without even saying a word to me daddy. It is still like a dream to me that you are no more. Father, you show me so much love. Your departure will always be to me like a surprise. Nevertheless, I love you but God, loves you most. As you have gone ahead father, you should prepare a place for me. Farewell and stay well my father in the bossom of the lord.

Ndam Emilienne.

On behalf of Maitre Mbah Godwill

TRIBUTE TO BAH WOREKRUTIH

ALIAS

• Landlord of Late Fon R.M. Forkum II of Bessi-Awum Village

• Former Sport Prefect CPC Bali popularly called “ Mba Touchline”

• Ni Mba Henry and

• My “Big” CPC Class of 1975

The news of your demise took me a back because you called and we spoke for about ten minutes, two (02) weeks to your journey of no return, little did I know it was going to be our last chat to see no more. I am tongue-tied though fully knowing that death is eminent and we shall each take turns. Truly, you have left an irreplaceable lacuna in my life with the lessons of honesty, truth, sincerity, hard work and success.

Your quest for knowledge made people knew knowledge as “the unique key to grow”. You made known the concept to acquire knowledge through correspondence/long distance studies, achieving various diplomas and degrees in diverse fields from the United Kingdom (UK). All this crafted you a “Self-Made Man” exemplified with distinction at LCC Mankon as a Dean of Studies and Head of the Department of Mathematics and forward moving to the Contract service of the Ministry of Agriculture, the defunct SNEC and CDE which is today’s CAMWATER etc resulting in many lessons to many generations.

I have always praised and admired you for your unique attributes including; living consistently with your values that formed the central key to your happiness, harmony, well-being and high level of self-confidence which all create the legacy you have left behind in remembrance .

I recall you always told me “ a man is not finished when defeated but when he quits. One must conquer temptations/trials without surrender, you reiterated one of the best ways to give your best a chance is to rise up when knocked down”.

Ni Henry, my “Big” you were a great reader, leader and consultant. I believe you inculcated this to family members, friends and “Smalls” like me. Our notion of “Big and Small” never ended in secondary School like others but invariably continued until your death, wonderful. In this light you provided me with shelter and even food during my race to become a “man” while teaching at LCC Mankon, working with IRZ Mankon and after my graduation without a job from the then University of Yaounde. I couldn’t pay you back but the Almighty God certainly did. Who shall keep calling again to check on and advise me from time to time as you usually did? I have lost a “ foster father” and no replacement possible. Weh! It is life, do well to extend our salutations to your tenant, my Late Father, Fon R.M. Forkum II when you do meet him. To God be the Glory. Adieu.

Ntomfon Maitre MBAH GODWILL N.
Sheriff-Bailiff.

On behalf of Mba Jacob

OH BAH!

It is very difficult to handle my pen writing this farewell letter. The unmeasurable love that you shared with me and the entire Krutih family shall for ever be missed. I don’t know where to start for you never told me where you ended. Your absence shall never depart from our memories. Being abandoned like chickens when the hawk takes away the mother hen. I can only lift up my hands to the almighty who has the agenda of everyone. Till we meet again.

May your soul rest in perfect peace. Amen


                     Mba Jacob (Small brother)

On behalf of Sojah Joseph ​& Wife.


Ohh ! Our lovely Pa Mba and big brother ! Your sudden demise is a very bitter pill for us to swallow. It’s so hard to face the reality now and will take us as long time to come to ourselves and believe you are gone forever. We will miss your advice, wisdom, humour, jokes and warmth as a family caretaker. Your concern for the peace and well being not only of your close family circles but to the world at large was immeasurable. You were surch a cheerful giver; So open handed to almost a fault. That is why you spent the little energy and resources God gave you to make people around you feel happy even if it meant going to bed hungry. We are grateful to the Almighty for the life you spent with us. Thank you for the wanderful family you have left behind for us to look after. May the Lord Almighty take your hand and keep you by his side in his heavenly kingdom till we meet to part no more. Father you remain a memorable match-maker in our Lives. Adieu our good father in need and a wonderful father in deed. 

Bye ​bye

​​​​​​​​Sojah Joseph ​& Wife

On behalf of Victor (tallest)

Our late Pa Mba was so dear to me. I really miss you. Never knew you will leave me so suddenly, you were a good man. You advised and provided for me when I was in need. Ragardless of your status you still showed humbleness to the lower-class. You are a good example for many people to follow. I am saddened that death took you way from me, but God said in all things we should give him thanks.

On behalf of Fokabo Engwali Tegum Chantal


Daddy it touches me writing a tribute about you so soon, just a few months after Gwen's death. I still ask if you had planned to go this way. Daddy, l knew you as a father not an Uncle since the year 1990 when my father died in the hospital at Acha in Bamenda and you had to do all to see that his corps is taken to the village, and you did all for his burial. After the death of my father you took full responsibility of all he was supposed to do. Daddy your death to me is a deep spear in my heart, l remember you in all especially in some years back when your sister my mother fell sick and had just few hours to give up. You called me to hire a vehicle and meet you in Douala without any waste of time and l did just as you said. You did all spending much money to bring her back to life, Daddy who will do this again for me. Daddy we always hear my mother saying, l have my able brother who will bury me or who gives me what l need. Daddy what will she say now? Daddy a father to our children to who will they look up to now? The load will be heavy for mom alone. Mom has much to do that's why you always join hands to see that the whole family is OK Daddy you have left much for Mom alone, why? Daddy l will not stop crying because you’re gone, at this point l don't know where to start ,these children have always been with you l remember when the crisis started here and there was no school you told me to bring the children so that they go to school you don't want them to stay at home , You told me Our area is not safe with guns and military everywhere and they came and stayed for more than a year with you and you took responsibility for everything Daddy who will do this for me now? Daddy you had taken the place of a husband and a father to Ella and Yvette from the time their father died in January 21th 2020 just last year and just for this short time they were always with you during the holidays because they know YOU and MOM always provided for their needs. Daddy who will do this now? Daddy you brought Gwen and her children to Douala when you saw that she needed help. You took care of her and the children and introduced her to business which allowed her to take care of her children. You made it your responsibility to see to it that Dieuly and Destiny went to school, who will do this now?
Staying with you , Gwen took the responsibility to care for you since Mom was not around and you became strong again. Daddy you became strong because you knew you had much to live for and the whole family looks to you as you were the Umbrella to all of us.
Daddy there's much pain in my heart and l don't want to think it’s TRUE that you are dead because just five months ago l saw tears running down your eyes when Gwen died, in spite of all you people did to see that she survived. Daddy we knew Gwen has gone but you were still there but today is a different story within a twinkle of an eye you’re gone.
THE SHOCK IS STILL TOO MUCH FOR ME TO BELIEVE BA MBA MY HERO, MY UMBRELLA IS NOT WITH ME.
Daddy who will call me and ask after your Sister? BA MBA, why have you left your sister who even though she lost her vision was able to see through you? You were her eyes. How will she live without you just turn and see her condition daddy the pain is too much. We Are Still Crying about Gwen for leaving us so soon. Well Daddy, l Say good bye as you are going l believe you will see my husband and Gwen tell them you have come to stay with them leaving me in a confused state, Leaving Manyi still blind. Daddy thank you for all you did for me while on Earth. Forgive me in whatever wrong l did to you and l pray that the Almighty see your work on Earth and reward you.I believe you have your Bible in because you were never without your Bible.


FAREWELL daddy
From your daughter
Fokabo Engwali Tegum Chantal

My Man, Yes sir!! Was how Daddy and I began every conversation. My Man he would say and I would always say Yes Sir and then we would both smile as if we had just come to some secret understanding and then begin our conversation. Daddy was as humble a man as God ever created and his humility shall be greatly missed. The resemblance between Daddy and I was uncanny, it’s as if we were twins in another life. To see my father means you have seen me and vice versa. I remember this one time we went shopping in Mache central in Yaoundé and as we were walking through the market those market boys kept saying “père et fils, comme des jumeaux” which means Father and son just like twins. I remember thinking to myself at the time these guys must be drunk to think I look like my dad. But not only were they absolutely right but they were also paying me the greatest compliment of my life. Whenever people visited the house and I opened the door they always called me Mr. Mba and I would smile in protest that I was not Mr. Mba but that I was Babila instead. Thankfully they always ignored my protestations and would instead say something like ‘chaiii, this Pikin fever e papa sotay.’To everybody who has at one point or the other paid me that compliment I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thanks to my father I never had to look too far for inspiration, thanks to my father I never had to look too far to learn how to love, thanks to my father I never had to look too far to learn how to be honest, thanks to my father I never had to look too far to learn how to be hardworking, thanks to my father I never had to look too far to learn how to be respectful, thanks to my father I never had to look too far to learn how to be polite, thanks to my father I never had to look too far to learn how to be kind, thanks to my father I never had to look too far to learn how to be a generous, thanks to my father I never had to look to far to learn how to be grateful, thanks to my father I never had to look too far to learn how to be a man and I am the best version of myself because he was the best version of himself. To say I loved my dad would be an understatement and to say I’m going to miss him would be an even greater understatement.

Have you ever been in love? I'm talking about the kind of love where souls whisper and make promises to one another that only the heart can remember, my parents had that kind of love. There’s a picture of mom and dad from I think the early 80s that I call the ‘invention of Romance’ where they are sitting at some party and gazing longingly into each other’s eyes and I swear every time I look at that picture it melts my heart because it is one of those “a picture is worth a thousand words” kind of pictures. It captured and communicated to the person looking at it the incredible love between my mom and dad. Mom and dad loved each other as deeply, as honestly and as openly as any 2 people have ever loved each other. One time about 2 years ago when mom was in the United States and Daddy was home I was walking past the kitchen and I overheard mom singing ‘I just called to say I love you ‘to Daddy on the phone. This was year 40 of their marriage and the love between them was as strong as it had ever been if not stronger. It was one of those moments between my mom and dad and there were many others throughout my life that solidified in my mind the fact that indeed there are people in this world who are meant for each other and my dad and mom were blessed to have found each other. To everybody reading this or hearing this I wish for each and every one of you the kind of love that my parents shared. For those of you who already have it I say may God continue to bless and strengthen your bond, for those of you who haven’t found it yet I say may God bless you so you find it and experience all of its beauty. I am humbled today by the strength my mother has shown since Dad died and her ability to focus on the amazing life and times she shared with him. I hope that in the coming days and weeks and months and years I can find strength from her example and be there for her whenever she needs me.

I know losing my dad has forever changed me and the pain will be with me for the rest of my days. I am one of those people, who always believed that you have to find the lesson in everything that happens to you, but I don’t know what lesson to take from this loss but I know dad will not want me to walk around angry all the time because he is not here anymore. I’ll take the best of my dad with me and try to live by his example wherever life takes me. My Dad died suddenly so I never got a chance to say goodbye and that’s the one regret I will always have and have to learn to live with. I take solace in the fact that he is at peace now. You lived a good life daddy, those of us you leave behind are grateful and blessed that we were part of it. If I never thanked you enough daddy for everything then please allow me to use this moment to express that gratitude. Thank you for everything you did for me, thank you for all the times you were by my side to help and support me, thank you for being there to celebrate my successes and to understand and guide me through my failures, thank you for teaching me the value of hard work and good judgement, thank you for the sacrifices you made to make sure I never wanted for anything. Thank you for being my dad and my hero. Rest in peace to the man I got all my good qualities from, I will miss you dearly every day for the rest of my life.

Your man
Your Loving son
Babila Mba

Celebration of the Life of an Icon and Hero -Ba Mba Woregwe  Henry.

Mark Twain once said, “the two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Interestingly enough a few years ago, I sat down with my brother-in-law and had a talk with him at a more philosophical level. With everything going on, I asked him what he thought his purpose in life was. 

He responded, “maybe the purpose of my life is to make sure my wife and kids are taken care of and my inlaws as well as friends are taken care of. I know they will all be okay if I’m not around.” In my head I was thinking, there has to be more, what about the most basic right every parent should have – watching your kids grow up? Why wasn’t that an option for him? Why do some people live such long and fulfilled lives whereas other lives are truncated? He accomplished so much in such little time at both a personal and professional level, but unfortunately his life wasn’t long enough for us to see how far his excellence would have taken him. 
That being said, I do believe wherever Ba Mba Woregwe Henry is, he now fully understands what his purpose here was and the legacy that leaves on as footprints after his heroic exit to eternity.

Life is too short. I realize this now more than ever. So many times we put our lives on hold for this or that or fear or the time isn’t right, but NO MORE!!! Watching someone you love endure so much pain to merely survive has forever changed the way I perceive life. Through all of his pain and suffering, he still managed to say things like, “thank you,” “please,” “I’m so blessed,” “I’ve lived a good life,” because that’s just the type of person Ba Mba Woregwe Henry was.
Despite his rapidly deteriorating health, I will never forget how incredibly grateful Ba Mba was towards the end of his life which left the rest of us feeling humbled. It makes you think twice before complaining about petty things, such as, “rainy days” and “train delays.”

Death is an inevitable part of life, a harsh reality that makes you question your own mortality. It makes you question your own purpose in life. Are you on the right path? How could you live your life differently? What would you do different if you were only given 5 more years to live? I guarantee “most” of us would make immediate changes, but fear generally gets the best of us. The sooner we can all realize that life can change in the blink of an eye, the sooner we can all learn to live in the moment, and live our life in a way it was intended to be lived, one with purpose and one with love. For now, do things that make you happy, love, give back, figure out your purpose, and enjoy the journey because the show must go on, I know Ba MBA WOREGWE HENRY would not have wanted it any other way.
          
           THE BASIC LEGACY OF BA MBA WOREGWE HENRY
1-Ba Mba Woregwe Henry was a true Gentleman , a Friend , a Father and an Inlaw - A humble man who was alawys ready to solve any problems that came his way , be it financial .
2-My Friend and Inlaw was a Social GURU that made a difference in any Group or Environment that he approached.
3-Ba Mba Woregwe Henry was a Great Educationist with very strong principles , a Fighter , a Winner and a great Hero.
4-Ba Mba Woregwe Henry was a true Family man who provided and took care of his family and others .
5-Ba Mba Woregwe Henry , a man of few words but believed in Action.
In short the presence of a Lion never calls for an Announcement - this was who Ba Mba Woregwe Henry was, a Silent Lion .

I hereby join my Sister, Mrs Elizebeth Matata Mba , their Five children , duagter inlaw and grand son, family members and all sympathizers to apologize to all those Ba Mba knowingly and unknowingly annoyed in anyway and pray to God all Mighty to forgive hs sins and welcome him to his Heavenly Kingdom.
Rest In Peace Ba Mba Woregwe Henry.

Pa Joseph Babila Tata alias Dohnjuhnden.