The Irony of "Death Celebrations"

The Irony of "Death Celebrations"

The inexplicable phenomenon of celebrating death over life has been deeply rooted in our contemporary society. This explains why the activity organised for the interment of persons that have breathe their last is called Death Celebration. The term "celebration" is an apt and vivid description of what transpires today, contrary to the yesteryears where the deceased were practically mourned.

Mbengbu and Upper Wumnebit are forested communities in the Lower Medig zone of the Meta clan, Mbengwi. They are inhabited by mostly elderly persons most of whose children and grandchildren have migrated to urban areas for studies and greener pastures. The locales depend on subsistence agriculture with rudimentary tools for livelihood. 

Cho Ngafor Foundation Volunteers & Beneficiaries

Many of the grannies haven't seen nor heard about some of their children for many years now and counting. They fall sick and struggle with some traditional herbs to regain their health. They are hungry and often manage to fill their stomachs with food that's really not worth the name. Their case is a simple replication of the neglect phenomenon of parents by their children that's on the increase nowadays. 

It is on the basis of this premise that a humanitarian organisation known as the Cho Ngafor Foundation in meeting up with its mission of empowering the deprived has reached out to such elderly persons with food aid while still alive rather than wait to celebrate their death. A team of five young volunteers was in Mbengbu on Sunday January 24 2021 to on behalf of the foundation donate a package of food assistance to some nine selected elderly persons.

Cho Ngafor Foundation Volunteers

Upon arrival on motor bikes to meet the elderly persons already seated, they were first explained the objective of the donation exercise and the source. They were presented the reality they already know, that children neglect their parents in the villages for years at times till they die probably out of hunger or minor ailments. When this happens, they appear to at times rehabilitate the old compound that was partly broken, keep the deceased in the mortuary for weeks or months, purchase an expensive coffin, hire a sound system and catering service provider to make available enough food and drinks. At times a family meeting is held and members charged to contribute tens of thousands to give the deceased a befitting burial. Ironically, hardly are such efforts consolidated to safe a person's life. 

Having listened to the presentation by the team leader, Fongoh p Ayeh, one of the beneficiaries, Pa Tah Simon said "We heartily thank all of you for coming to our aid on behalf of Cho Ngafor Foundation to whom we say may God bless you with more so you keep reaching out to more persons too. We are one family." On his part, another beneficiary Pa Ticha Celestine said "We first of all thank God for giving you this thought, praying He makes it grow on your minds and grants your heart's desires so as to continue helping others. The little you've given to us will be replenished bountifully"

The Package 

Apart from hunger, the elderly persons also have health challenges as expressed by Pa Sobah Cornelius popularly known as Pa Dong who said "Well, we are relatively strong but for occasional health challenges like you see me trekking with the aid of a walking stick. We hope next time a doctor will be in your midst to diagnose us"

Mami Muyang Rhode, when she stood up to speak, began by addressing a message to donor as such "Dear Cho Ngafor Foundation, God says Knock and it shall be opened, seek and you shall find. We know for partnering with these young volunteers to reach us, you're indirectly asking God to provide you more. We your mothers are so happy because this is how it's good to mourn, when the person is still alive by feeding them, an acknowledgement that you came out of your mother's womb." She went on to direct a message to other children on the need to emulate such good examples. "To other children waiting for their parents to die before they come and feed the multitude meanwhile he or she even died of hunger, that's not good at all. It's good to cater for your parents when still alive. Burying me in a coffin for hundreds of thousands is feeding the ground"

L-R: Ticha Celestine, Tah Simon

L-R: Muyang Rhode, Sobah Cornelius

After the various talks,  each of them were then handed their package made up of a kilogram of fish, a packet of magi, two loaves of bread, two cubes of soap, a bottle of soft drink, peanuts and some onions, all amounting to the sum of fifty thousand (50.000) Francs sent by the foundation to spend in realising the exercise. They were explained that it's from the heart and for the start with prospects of a return in the near future for another bigger donation exercise. 

Mbah Shaddrack is one of the volunteers. Talking to Mbengwi Online at the end of the visit, he first of all on behalf of the team, extended gratitude to the foundation for assigning them the task. About the idea of feeding the old, he said "It's a very good initiative. I plead others emulate such gestures" He revealed that being on the ground, they are always ready to render such voluntary services especially when it concerns reaching out to humanity. As such any other individual, family or organisation that intends making a donation to impact a life in Mbengwi should contact them to liaise with the beneficiaries. Lastly, he expressed his utmost desire to one day solicit such help for his own people. Hear him, "I am from Tuanyang in Bome where there are also poor and suffering persons in need. If the Cho Ngafor Foundation can include my people in her next plan of action or any other organisation, I'll be very grateful"

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It should be recalled that in November 2020, this very group of young volunteers head-carrried material and food assistance from the World Food Program to a certain visually impaired Pa Nji Munya in Chaa, a border locality between Bafut and Mbengwi. The Cho Ngafor Foundation whose founder Doreen Beiri is in Switzerland then got interest in the volunteers after watching a YouTube report of their trip to Chaa. That's how they were contacted to also go donate food assistabce to the ageing population of Mbengbu and Upper Wumnebit.