SOURCES CLOSE TO PALACE DEBUNK
By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum
The social media has been awash with a post indicating that the traditional leader of the Mankon Fondom has Departed to the world beyond. The post carrying address as Butabu Kwifor reads ” we can confirm that Anye Solomon is no more… Mankon warriors are done with his burial. We gave him a successful burial to honor our culture as the foundation of the land”
The information which began circulating on Sunday drowned people in doubts with everyone waiting for an authentic source to either confirm or debunk. Inhabitants rushed to their quarter heads for clarification.
In some contrary information sent to heads of neighbourhoods in Mankon, the Secretary General of the Mankon Traditional Council Ntomnifor Richard Fru labels the news of the Fon’s departure as fake news. Read him “Good morning Quarter Heads. Following several calls from our dear ones relating to the message circulating on social media about our father, His Royal Highness the Fon of Mankon, l wish to officially inform all of us that it is FAKE NEWS. You should therefore NOT take it serious. Just like any human being at his age, the Fon presently has health challenges. We should therefore be praying for His speedy recovery”
Concerning the information that went viral, Julius Mishumbu Assistant Secretary of the Mankon Traditional Council condemned the social media source “The news is fake, pure fake because if the Fon of Mankon is no more, that is not the channel that would inform people. The Kwifor would summon and inform people on what has occurred in the Mankon palace not the social media. As usual, the social media has killed the Fon of Mankon several times but he is there. Even though he has health challenges he is there. Each and everyone of us would go at God’s appointed time. There is nothing in Mankon called Butabu Kwifor. Butabu Kwifor means the father of Kwifor but Kwifor doesn’t have fathers. So all those who are claiming to post on behalf of Mankon called Butabu Kwifor is just part of the social media creation”
In an interview granted to Cameroon Infotrend by Tangye Nju Spartan, the quarter Head of Nitop Six Mankon, he reacted thus “If it is true, then that is not the channel. There are seventy six quarter heads in Mankon. When such a thing happens, we as subordinates are supposed to be informed. We cannot just have a king of the land talked about like a cricket that has passed. When a scenario of this nature takes place, the quarter heads are summoned and are told that the palace is in smoke. Five years back, it rumoured that HRM the King of Mankon had Vanished and today that is the similar message. Let Jesus Christ take control. The Archbishop’s journey to the Mankon palace was a big blessing from God”
Kwifor, the administrative arm in the palace
In Mankon just like in other fondoms in the grassfield, the “Kwifor” is the supreme administrative body that rules in matters of tradition in the palace. The Kwifor also has the responsibility of communicating in matters of chieftaincy and King making. The king rules through the Kwifor
“In Mankon as well as the other fondoms, when the Fon disappears, Kwifor is in charge. The Kwifor informs the people as well as the Kwifor would present the new Fon to the people. It is the responsibility of the Kwifor to do that not any Tom and Dick. There is an inner circle responsible for information in the palace” Julius Mishumbu noted.
His Royal Majesty Angwafo III Solomon Anyeghamotu Ndefru, head of the Mankon Fondom recently came to public visibility on May 11, when he received Andrew Nkea, Archbishop of Bamenda Archdiocese in a courtesy visit at the Mankon palace.