Epie Gilbert
In a dramatic twist that has drawn attention both in Finland and the conflict-affected English-speaking regions of Cameroon, a Cameroonian asylum seeker, Epie Gilbert Hene, living in Finland has reportedly refused succession to his late father’s traditional throne over concerns tied to ancestral rituals associated with the installation ceremony.
Epie Gilbert Hene, originally from Nyandong,Tombel in KupeMuanenguba division, Cameroon’s South West Region,left Cameroon for Europe in 2018 seeking asylum amid the ongoing Anglophone crisis that has displaced thousands and driven many into exile across Europe.
The father, Epie Peter Ngalame and traditional head of Nyandong village is said to have died same year, leaving the stool vacant.
According to family sources and community elders in Cameroon, Epie was recently chosen by the King makers of Nyandong and named heir following the death of his father, Chief Epie Peter Ngalame, a respected traditional ruler in the southwest of the country.
However, sources close to the family say Gilbert declined the installation after converting to Christianity during his stay in Finland.
.“He said his faith would not permit him to participate in certain traditional rites connected to the throne,” a family source familiar with the matter told local reporters in Cameroon. “The rituals performed during installation conflicted with his Christian beliefs,” a family member said.
The decision has reportedly sparked deep divisions within the royal family and among villagers, where traditional leadership remains highly respected and spiritually significant.
In many parts of Cameroon, succession to traditional thrones involves sacred ceremonies passed down through generations.
These may include ancestral invocations, symbolic sacrifices, spiritual cleansing rites, and secret customary practices reserved for initiates and future rulers.
While some younger Africans in the diaspora increasingly embrace Christianity or Western lifestyles, refusal of royal succession remains rare, particularly in communities where leadership is viewed as both political and spiritual inheritance.
Residents familiar with the matter say Gilbert’s years in Finland significantly transformed his worldview.
Friends describe him as quiet, deeply religious, and committed to his Christian faith after joining a church community during the uncertainty of his asylum process.
Sources say he has become increasingly uncomfortable with expectations surrounding traditional rulership back home.
“He respects his culture and his people,” another source said, “but he believes serving God comes before accepting the throne.”
His refusal however may have some consequences on his person according to the customs and tradition of the land.
Disrespect of decision of King makers in the Bakossi tribe where Epie comes from is punishable including complete banish or excommunication from the village,” a village person told Eco-OUTLOOK.“ We fear for his life,” he said.
The situation has reportedly left palace elders searching for an alternative successor while attempting to avoid tensions within the community.
Observers note that the case reflects a broader cultural struggle affecting many African diaspora families — particularly among younger generations balancing traditional African identity, migration, modern Christianity, and Western influence.
Meanwhile, Gilbert Epie is said to have remained in Finland, where his immigration status is still believed to be under review.
Cameroon’s Ministry of Territorial Administration have officially not commented on the matter.
