Cameroonian Writer Pens touching Poem for Late Cardinal Christian Tumi

Following the death of Cardinal Christian Tumi, an avalanche of reactions have poured from around the world to honour to iconic prelate. Award winning Cameroonian Writer, Nsah Mala has written a touching Poem to honour Cameroon’s first Cardinal.

FOR SHUFAI CARDINAL WIYGHAN TUMI

You are Wiyghan in Lamso.
You are Welighayn in Mbesa.
You are Visitor in English.
You are Visiteur in French.

Not the empty-handed visitor
Who bores his host family.
Not the visiting spectator
Who sucks like a parasite.
You’re the full-handed visitor
Who brings God’s Good News.
You’re the active participant
Who cooks love and peace
For peace-starved citizens.

You’re the cultural boulanger
Who bakes christianity & tradition
For the festival of hybridity.
You’re the universal sibling
Who shares a brotherhood
And sisterhood in every human.
You’re the memorable visitor
Who can never ever leave
Because we’ve screenshot you
In the cameras of our hearts.

Yes, we have your hard photos
Which can rust & decay with time.
Yes, we have your digital photos
Which can crash with the Internet.
So, while you were busy toiling
For God and for Cameroon,
We secretly filmed you in our hearts
Where you can never ever escape!

© 3rd April 2021, Nsah Mala.

Safe journey, Cardinal Tumi! Long live Cardinal Tumi!
What a LOSS for Cameroon and humanity!
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Bon voyage, le Cardinal Tumi ! Vive le Cardinal Tumi !
Quelle PERTE pour le Cameroun et l’humanité !