NW Fons Push For Standard Guidelines To Safeguard Cultural Heritage From Extinction

By Anne-Valien Berinyuy

The Anglophone crisis, which has raged on for almost a decade, has taken a heavy toll on cultural heritage raising fears that it may be extinct is care is not taken. With fears that the end of the crisis not in sight, it is evident that as the situation persists, cultural heritage will continue to suffer.

Recognizing that the crisis is unlikely to end soon and that this is detrimental to the region’s cultural heritage, traditional rulers have voiced their determination to address the situation and safeguard the region’s heritage.  

Assembled under Phase I of the training program for the empowerment of traditional rulers organized by the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA), 11 September , at the auditorium of the NWRA, the guardians of the region’s heritage decried the erosion of their traditions and emphasized the need to preserve them.  

The Fon of Weh proposed drafting a document to educate the population on abuses against traditional authorities and their consequences. Similarly, the president of the regional House of Chiefs, Fon Yakum Kelvin, blamed the laxity of some chiefs for allowing violations to persist, warning against the Fons themselves undermining their sacred rights.  

Traditional Rulers At The Training 

On his part, the Fon of Njong recommended that the House of Chiefs take stronger measures by consulting local Fons to sanction defaulters and impose fines if abuses continue.  

Many Fons have come under fire for shaking hands with people, including women, which is not in line with the culture of the people. The Fon of Bambui explained that avoiding handshakes with officials is a protective ritual, although in certain circumstances it may not be harmful. 

He called on the Regional House of Chiefs to harmonize a codified system for Grassfield traditions, noting that it will help children in the diaspora understand the culture they risk forgetting.  

Dr.Forgwei Gideon Schools Traditional Rulers on Historical Sites and Monuments  

Dr. Forgwei  presentation, which sampled traditions from Nso, Mankon, Bafut, and Kom, revealed that while customs vary, they all share a common hierarchy, sacred order, and ceremonial dignity that set the Grassfields apart from other cultural zones and must be preserved at all costs.  

He outlined some of the traditions attached to the Grassfields that are gradually being washed away by modernity:

 "In palace settings, visitors must announce themselves with three loud coughs before entry."

Fons are greeted with ritualized gestures and occupy elevated seats at public events, flanked by queen mothers and sacred councils. During public events, he pointed out that Fons must respect ceremonial rules by speaking only through intermediaries.  

Regarding the attire of Fons, he reiterated that 

"Fons wear crowns and not caps."

He lamented that the dressing code is a major problem, especially in the North West, regretting that some traditional attire worn by almost everyone today is reserved for the Fons and a few individuals authorized by them. The attire includes porcupine skin, leopard skin, red feathers, and cowries, among others.  

The facilitator further urged that sacred practices be highly protected. Tampering with masquerades is forbidden, misconduct during festivals is sanctioned, and women have limited roles in certain rituals.

 Discussing the way forward for promoting and preserving the culture of the Grassfield people, he challenged that palaces should also serve as cultural schools. Using Nso as a case study, he mentioned that young boys, known as sheys, undergo nine years of training in the palace school without returning home, thereby preserving heritage across generations.