Bakweri chiefs do not die; they travel never to return

      -Chief Ngomba Francis of Bonduma

Chief Ngomba Francis

    As a traditional ruler and notable of Buea can you edify our readers on how chiefs are buried in Bakweri tradition?

 I should first make a correction: Chiefs do not die in Bakweri land; they disappear. Because they are said to disappear, they should not be seen again, not to talk of being buried. What obtains is that, when the disappearance of the chief is noticed, his subjects wait for some days or weeks or months as the case may be. After which there is a celebration that is done to honour the fact that he is gone, not dead. We believe that a chief travels and gives chance for a new person to succeed him. The celebration of a chief’s disappearance is characterized by traditional dances and several other rituals performed in his honour. This is done in the midst of other chiefs and other dignitaries of the area.


    How is the new chief chosen when the former one disappears? How is chieftaincy succession done in Bakweri land?

After the celebration in honour of the former chief, his family writes to authorities of the region, particularly the Divisional Officer announcing their interest in choosing a new chief.  The D.O and king makers upon deliberation consensually pick a new successor from among the king’s descendants. It is possible that the king or chief had made his choice while he was still around. In such a situation his word is respected.
Another scenario is when the chief had only female children. In such a situation one of the chief’s brothers could become the successor; otherwise, one of his brother’s sons can be selected as successor. The procedure of choosing a successor is very clear. In fact i should say that chieftaincy in Bakweri land is essentially from father to son, except when circumstances warrant the selection of other member of the former chief’s family
    The new chief so designated has to perform some traditional rites wherein he kills two sizeable pigs and shares out to all the notables and households in the land(the pig is a very sacred animal to the bakweri people). This is done to appease the gods of the land. Until this traditional rite is performed, the successor is not recognized as the new king. You may also want to know that the successor according to tradition cannot leave out of the palace or village of the former chief.
    I must however note that evolution has in one way or the other affected the Bakweri culture wherein sundry traditional rites and rituals have been abandoned and others revised at the mercy of modernity. Formerly Chiefs in Bakweri land used to be buried along with some slaves, and with their important belongings like their staff. This is no longer the practice today. Today some chiefs are even put in public mortuaries and laid in state for public viewing. Times have changed.