Bafanji natives have contributed a sum of 29 million CFA, for the reconstruction of the Fon’s Palace.
The rich ceremony in Yaounde, was marked by the presence and participation of HRH Fon Ngwefon Francois II, Paramount ruler of the Bafanji clan, as well as a cross section of elites and friends.
The project also entails, the erection of a magnificent building to serve as a museum, where the legendary and cultural artifacts of the Fanji people could be preserved, with the aim of making it become the United Nations Cultural World Heritage sites of attraction.
The celebration got to its zenith, when the Project’s Task Force chairman, Tiembieh Cletus Nchue spearheaded the official launching with a huge envelope, then followed by the plethora of elites, guest and community members.
The first phase of the fund raising was launched in Buea in the month of July and later on went back home, to proceed in United Arab Emirates. However, the project is expected to hold in other regions, as well as in America and Europe in December.
Addressing pressmen, the Chairman of the Bafanji Palace Task Force, Tiembieh Cletus Nchue appreciated the natives for the sacrifice.
“The development- oriented Bafanji people who believe in the philosophy of self- reliance, thought it wise to embark on reconstructing the place because the over five decades, old existing structures are dilapidated and no longer proper for habitation”.
” The project is quite a mammoth one and would be about 500 million and can get to 530-540 due to inflation “.He said
It is worthy of note that, the first phase of the project involves the reconstruction of the queen’s section and the queen mother’s section evaluated for about 130-150 million.
” After the queen’s and queen mother’s section, we are going to the Fon’s section, that embodies some traditional structures. We also envisage to erect a Library, a museum and a magnificent grand-stand at the palace Esplanade “,Tiembieh Cletus Nchue concluded.
Tiembieh Cletus Nchue hailed the renewed level of connection between the self-reliant Bafanji population and the task force,which he said gives them hope of delivering in the assignment given to them by the Fon.
Mba’a Tiemunji William, in his capacity of Head of the Local Organising Committee, articulated on the necessity for all the sons and daughters of Bafanji to send their hands deep into their pockets for the success of the humanitarian and social course”.
” We want that ,what we will realize here today to contaminate the other regions,where sons and daughters of Bafanji are based”. He added.
Mba’a Tiemunji said the existing and almost fallen structures jeopardises the tradition and culture. “that is why we thought it wise to take a giant step to do something that will stay for prosperity”.Mba’a Tiemunji William echoed.
The Paramount ruler of Bafanji, HRH Fon Ngwefon Francois ll, extended his sincere gratitude to all the sons and daughters of Bafanji, for their warm reception towards the project and appreciated the enormous efforts put in place for the purpose of the development of their village.
He hailed the efforts of the royal task force charged with coordinating, the project and called on all Bafanji sons and daughters to be more committed towards community development projects of such magnitude.
” We want to send the message to those back home that even in crisis, we should have hope and that is why back home in the village the people came out massively as one person and contributed”, HRH Fon Ngwefon Francois ll said.
The Bafanji village is situated in the Ngoketunjia division precisely in Balikumbat subdivision, northeastern part of the North West. It is is a agrarian area, predominately reputed for the cultivation of cocoyams, maize, rice groundnuts and for the practice of fishing.
The speakers of the Chufie lanuage, are considered to be 16992 in terms of population as revealed by the 2005 population censeus.
By Brian Mboh