The life and death of Cameroon’s first-ever Cardinal, Tumi Christian

Christian Cardinal Wiyghan Tumi died in Douala Cameroon Friday, April 2nd, 2021- Good Friday. According to a source at Douala Metropolitan Diocese, the lone Cardinal in Cameroon passed on to eternity in a private clinic where he had been receiving medical attention.

Born on the 15th of October 1930 in Kikaikelaki village, Bui Division in the North-West Region of Cameroon, Cardinal Tumi attended a local primary school in his community before moving to other places for studies.

He was ordained Priest on the 17th of April 1966. He served as Bishop in Garoua, North region of Cameroon, and later as Archbishop.

Cardinal Tumi was later transferred to the Metropolitan Diocese of Douala in the same capacity.

On June 28th, 1988, the then archbishop of the metropolitan diocese of Douala was appointed Cameroon’s first Cardinal by Pope John Paul II.

Cardinal Tumi went on retirement in 2009 and was replaced at the Douala metropolitan diocese by Archbishop Samuel Kleda.

Besides being an influential personality in the Catholic Church in Cameroon, Cardinal Tumi stood tall as a national opinion leader, making pronouncements on topical issues in Cameroon whenever he saw the need to.

Cardinal Tumi was one of the founding fathers of the Anglophone General Conference, an initiative meant to seek lasting suctions to the plight of Anglophones demonstrated in the armed conflict in the North West and South- West regions.

His demise on ‘Good Friday’, Christians say, confirms his attachment to the teachings of Christ whom he has spent his life serving.


Mbatho Ntan.