Mama Maggie Kitior Fohtung née Ngu was born to Pa Joseph Henry Ngu and Mrs Martha Ngowo Ngu née Ikome on June 8, 1936 in Limbe, Cameroon. Mama was the first child born to her parents, but she had older siblings through her father: George Ngu, Veronica Ngu and Nguetsop who she all grew up with in addition to her three other siblings who are all of blessed memory: Jacob Lifanje, Benedicta Njomo and Peter Mbavuwa, and her sister, Dorothy Ikome Nasah, affectionately known as Iya Mbamba who is her last surviving sibling. She attended primary school in Kumba from where she proceeded to CCC Uyo in Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria for her secondary education.

As the first child, she shared a deep bond with her father who taught her how to drive at an early age and provided her with a car for her personal use at age 16.

During one of her vacations from school she met a handsome young man who would later become her husband. They were married soon after and their union produced 5 children: late Babila Joseph, late Martha Daphne, Gerald Munwu, Beryl Ngymanstie, and Jacky (Bah)Fominyi. The young couple settled in Kumba, but moved to the UK when her late husband went to pursue his masters degree.

There, their first daughter was born. Upon graduation, they returned to Cameroon where they settled in Ombe. Mama chose to stay home and raise her children, but her entrepreneurial spirit beckoned, and as such she was always involved in one form of business or another.

Unfortunately, death came calling and snatched her dear husband on March 13, 1975 leaving her a widow at the tender age of 38.

This did not hold her back though, as she hit the ground running upon her husband’s passing.

She bought land, constructed and moved her  family to a barely finished home without running water nor electricity.This all done that same year. This would be the home she would pass away in more than 43 later.

Mama Maggie did all possible to make sure that her children had a smooth transition into their new life. She was a contractor supplying food to Prison School (ENAP) Buea. With a strong determination to make sure her children had the best, even when she’d travel to England for health reasons, she’d buy things to sell to increase her income.

She supported her mother in running the family rubber plantation for several years, and at some point she would even go to Nigeria by boat to buy items for sale. This spirit lasted to the very end, as in early December Mama set up a poultry and began selling chickens right in time for the Christmas holidays! An entrepreneur to the very end, she most definitely could not hide her Bami genes even if she tried.

FAMILY

As the first girl borne to her mother, Mama assumed a lot of responsibilities in the family and she performed them with pride and joy down to the very end.In 1983 Mama Maggie moved to Kumba to be close to her mother who was aging and needed someone close by. Her brother of late, Peter Ngu built a nightclub named after her, “KITIOR’s” which she managed for him.

At the same time she had lovingly welcomed and was bringing up a second batch of kids - her grand kids, Munwu Towa, Kapala Ngowo and Kitior Motue. We fondly referred to her as “REPEAT EXAM”, (an expression borrowed from a friend’s mum, Mama O’tabong).

All this, while smoothly and efficiently running her family’s rubber plantation in Mbalangi and managing her family’s properties.

She moved back to Buea in 2006, after burying her mother, Mama Martha Ngu & brother Peter Ngu.

By now her second batch of children were grown up.

Years later, Mama Maggie being the loving and resilient MOTHER, welcomed the responsibility of taking in the third batch of children; Kahbila Kitior, Kapala Nahbila, Sama Mbavua & Kusona Kehmia.

As each of her grandchildren will testify, (even those who did not stay permanently with her) Granny had a special relationship with everyone. She will ask for her grandchildren every holiday. And she was not ashamed to beg and sometimes twist arms. And when they all grew up, and moved to foreign lands, she would always keep in touch by calling.

They would testify that she never ever missed a birthday, as she would typically place her calls bright and early on the morning of, which she did right until the week before she passed away. Mama definitely embraced the digital age with more enthusiasm than most of her peers. She was on Viber, Whatsapp, and for a brief period: Facetime! Even with her hearing impairment, she would always call, more often than not just to check on everyone.

She welcomed friends of her children/grandchildren without discrimination. They were all her children. She shared whatever she had. Mostly her love to feed. She had “SUNDAY BRUNCHES” until her friends passed away.

She will be remembered by the Sakarettes Class of 1973 for she cooked and sent food to Victoria every day all through the period of their GCE exams. She welcomed children’s friends even when they were out of the country.

SOCIAL

Mama Maggie belonged to numerous social groups because she had a deep love of community, of coming together to serve others. She joined the Everly sisters which was as the name stipulates a group of women bonded by sisterhood.

They were there for each other through the good times and the bad. For births, funerals, marriages, counselling - ah they were indeed a real force. The beauty about these women is that they came from all works of life and from different social classes.

Meetings were held on the 28th of each month from member to member’s residents. Whenever it came to Mama Maggie’s turn, she would go above and beyond to make sure the ladies had a fantastic time, after all she had a knack for hosting.

She was also a member of the Nkongni women group. Similar to the Everly Sisters but more traditional. They held meetings on the 22nd of each month. A lovely group of women who were always there for each other.

Mama Maggie was a very devout Catholic, so it comes as no surprise that she was a member of several church groups. The was the all important CWA - the Catholic Women’s Association, the block Rosary Crusade, the Blue Army, St. Vincent Prayer group to name a few.

She even started a prayer meeting with her late daughter, Daphne Fohtung in London in 2005. She and her rosary were inseparable, she always had it on her. She would gather her household every evening to say 5 decades of the rosary.

The church played a very significant role in Mama’s life. She would cook and send food to the priests and Rev. Sisters. Because most of them were younger than she was, they’d come to her for counselling and advice. She would even send her grandchildren and household to go clean and decorate the church in preparation for Sunday services.

The social groups Mama belonged to were just more than social gatherings. They carried out vital work for the well-being of the community. They visited the sick, comforted widows, visited prisoners, provided food for the less privileged. These and many more gave Mama fulfilment.