By Chief/Nhon George Enongene( Emeritus Cultural Chair of BACDA/USA)
By Chief/Nhon George Enongene
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” — Marcus Garvey
Introduction
The Ndieh celebration is the Bakossi Thanksgiving. The Bakossi believe that the dead are not really gone. They can help the living and God. Every summer, a special day is chosen for people to talk with the ancestors. Each village picks its own date. The date is announced by Sango Muankum, who is like the cultural police, a leader and judge for the community. He tells everyone to clean the roads and to prepare food. Women are told to save their best harvest for the festival.
Sango Muankum speaks very loudly. He has a powerful voice and strong rules. He can move quickly from place to place. Some people think he is more like a spirit than a person. His rules are strict, and fines are high. He is one of the most mysterious Bakossi traditions. When he is near, lights may go out and darkness is preferred. He fines those who disobey. He does not come out during a full moon. If he does come out in the day, it is rare and only for something very important. You must be invited to see him, and paying the fee does not guarantee you will see him. If you are stubborn, you may have to wait nine days and nights to see him during initiation. This is like a military school. Thinking about him can make my heart beat fast. This is a big part of Bakossi life.
The Litany of Ancestors
The Litany of the Ancestors is the main part of the thanksgiving. It is a kind of prayer sent to the Almighty God through the ancestors. The Bakossi believe the dead are not truly dead. When we go to commune, we feel the ancestors’ presence and tell them our troubles, pain, and needs.
Significance of Ndieh
Ndieh is very important in Bakossi folklore. In hard years, the ancestors are called upon, asked for help, and the next year is believed to bring plenty. People who have problems in life often see good results after Ndieh: students pass exams, women with fertility problems may have success, and business may improve. Bad luck and evil are hoped away.
Ndieh at Home
Each village decides its own Ndieh date, but it is usually in November or December. Each village has a shrine with special big trees and three entrances. In the middle is a special hut with a thatched roof and walls made from forest materials. The inside has bark and grass. The hut also has three doors, and the keeper enters the hut backwards. The reason for this is a mystery.
In Washington DC, we used to set Ndieh for November. But November is very cold, so we moved it to October for comfort.
The Wake of the Ndieh
On the evening after Thanksgiving Day, the important people meet at the shrine to do special rituals. The best harvest, palm wine, kola nuts, tasty foods, and special plantains are brought for the ancestors’ blessing. A skilled speaker calls on the ancestors and presents our needs—education, jobs, wealth, marriages, births, happiness, and peace. We say these requests in groups of odd numbers, with poetic songs. We walk to and from the shrine, praising the land’s gods. The evening ends with eating and celebration. The next day, all roads go to the shrine.
The Mbwen (Cultural Music)
After the libation, there is time for cultural songs and Mbwen. During Mbwen, each person tells their name, their achievements, and their life’s ups and downs. This is usually spontaneous and very meaningful.
Chief/Nhon Enongene in a relaxed mood
The Kola Nut Puzzle
The kola nut is important and has many pegs. When someone is chosen to throw the kola nut, they must be calm, clear-minded, and able to speak well. The kola nut has four or five pieces. For it to be favorable, one piece must face a different direction from the others. People should not throw the kola nut carelessly. The person chosen comes from each clan or village, depending on the size of the event. If someone speaks poorly, the kola nut will not fall in a good way.
Head Mimbo
Head Mimbo is blessed wine used in a libation. It is given to those who drink it to seek ancestors’ blessing, along with a piece of kola nut that approves the request. In the past, students who failed exams sometimes succeeded in the next semester after receiving Head Mimbo. Women with fertility problems who used a blessed plantain from Ndieh, kept under the bed for three days, roasted it, and ate with palm oil, often had better results with their husbands. Businesspeople whose businesses were failing sometimes saw success after Head Mimbo. People say “Nsooooooooooo!” to express thanks.
After the Head Mimbo ritual, everyone takes a blessed plantain home, keeps it under the bed, roasts it after three days, and eats it with palm oil for blessings.
About Religion and Tradition
Some people today think Ndieh is wrong or not Christian. Before European missionaries, Africans believed in one Supreme Being and worshiped in many ways. The Bakossi worshiped God through Ndieh. The United States is very religious, and many people there honor their dead on Memorial Day. People sometimes say that Ndieh is not holy, but traditional practices can still be meaningful and respectful.