A remark in memory of Ba Nkom Orlando Gwanyama who died on January 28, 2021
by Dr. Philip Wagala Gwanyama
I will start by extending a special thanks to the many of you who responded very quickly to comfort and support Ba Nkom Orlando Gwanyama as he became ill. Thanks to you who are mourning his loss with us; your generous support and kind words are greatly appreciated.
John 8:7 suggests that only those who have never sinned can cast the first stone at sinners, yet Romans 3:23 concludes that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Ba Nkom Orlando Gwanyama is no exception to the conclusion! He had his own weaknesses, but the number of these weaknesses are small when compared to the many good things he accomplished on earth. He worked so hard at every task that were assigned to him (or task which he assigned to himself) that, he found very little time to stop and appreciate or enjoy what he had achieved.
At a very young age and primary school years, Ba Nkom Orlando grew up with our Grand Mother (Kah Mariam Ma’Doh Tasem) and Grand Father (Doh Fineboy Tasem) who are both of blessed memory. While with them, he quickly developed interests in trade and commerce.
• He successfully bred local chickens in a small scale for the markets. He had so much energy around him that those who spent the time to know him could not escape learning about. As a young child he hunted wild birds for consumption, and during one hunting trip, he shot a special “big bird” locally called “Tou! tou!” using his home-made Wooden Slingshot Catapult. After notifying our Grandfather of the harvest, he went donated the bird to our father Ba Nkom James K. Gwanyama (now of blessed memory).
• Our uncle Ba Ngu’ket Samuel Sojah Tasem even opened a wine and beer trading store (Off-License) in Bali Nyonga that he was assigned to operate—and at his very young primary school age operated it very successfully. This commercial skill he acquired helped him in life; this I know very well because, when the Bali Nyonga students of the Bambili CCAST Complex (ENS, CCAST & Agric. Schools) hosted the 1979 National Bali Nyonga Students Re-Union we turn to him (as a very young BOBAN) to run the Cash Bar during the Night Gala--- he accomplished the task very successfully with enough proceeds that were handed over to the next Host of the Re-Union.
I knew Ba Nkom Orlando not only as a brother and successor of our father, but also as one of my past students with very impressive accomplishments.
• After his Primary Education at Government school Bali Nyonga, he went for his secondary education at the Cameroon Protestant College (CPC) Bali where he began training his mind to be intellectually curious.
• In 1982/83, he enrolled at the newly created Science Department of the Government Bilingual College Buea, to pursue studies toward the GCE Advanced Levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Here, I was his instructor in Mathematics and Further Mathematics. Upon successful completion from this college program, Ba Nkom Orlando was one of the very distinguished few nominated and honored with the Southwest Governor's award for excellent performance at the GCE Advanced Level Examinations in 1984.
• He was then admitted into the Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) Annexe de Bambili, under the University of Yaounde Cameroon, to pursue Mathematics. Since 1987 after completion of this program, he has taught Mathematics at High Schools and Colleges in the West African Country Cameroon.
In all, Ba Nkom Orlando was intellectually capable of multitasking.
• In addition to his instructional responsibilities at the schools and colleges he taught at in Cameroon, he pursued Graduate studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he completed an MA degree in Mathematics Education. He later enrolled (Part Time) at the College of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria where he almost completed a Ph. D in Mathematics Education. Before his death, he was making preparation to go defend the Ph. D Dissertation in Mathematics Education.
• He carried out multiple projects for many family members (including me), and friends abroad.
Ba Nkom Orlando Gwanyama will be greatly missed. My condolence to his wife Mamun Irene Gwanyama, his son Ni Palmer Gwanyama, his daughter Dr. Noella Gwanyama, and his son Ni Bengyella Gwanyama.
May his soul rest in peace.
Philip Wagala Gwanyama
Professor
Department of Mathematics
Northeastern Illinois University Chicago