North West: Traditional Rulers seeks to redeem lost respect, authority at Bamenda conclave

The great respect and authority that traditional rulers in the North West Region once incarnated have disappeared following the advent of the socio-political crisis that has led to the desecration of many cultural values in the region.

Most of the fons have been chased out of their fondoms, their palaces raided and destroyed.

This was made known Wednesday, August 18, by the president of the North West House of Chiefs, Fon Yakum Kelvin and other fons of the Mezam Division, during a come together of traditional rulers from the Mezam Division aimed at assessing the the disturbing situation and seek ways of restoring the powers of traditional rulers in the North West.

These traditional rulers were once considered the custodians of the land and their presence and the throne in the community was sacred.

“Palaces and shrines have been desecrated. With that kind of a circumstance, you don’t imagine that the Fon is there. Most of them are out of their palaces.”

“Festivals that we used to see in the North West region we no longer have them. It’s painful for us”, Fon Yakum Kelvin lamented.

The personality of the over 450 traditional rulers of the North West have been downgraded and most of them have gone underground.

“We now talk to the population through our village council chairperson and quarter heads”, a traditional ruler said.

Since the advent of the Anglophone Crisis, some traditional rulers have been kidnapped by separatist fighters. A situation considered as a taboo according to customs and traditions. Prominent amongst the kidnapped fons is that of Nso.

The regional come together to meet with traditional rulers of the North West region continues this Thursday, August 19, 2021 with traditional rulers of the Momo Division.

Timfuchi Aaron