Official Launch of Bakwerirama: March 1, 2004

Welcome:

The Bakwerirama team welcomes you to a comprehensive internet project that shall explore, promote and project all things Bakweri, and will be a cultural home for all our people regardless of differentiating characteristics (gender, age, politics, religion etc).

The web addresses for Bakwerirama are as follows:

http://www.bakweri.org
http://www.bakweri.com

Bakwerirama will project all things cultural, news, your business, profession, biographies et-cetera. It would deliberately avoid dwelling on those subject matters that promote rancor: politics, vendettas and negative personal agendas.

The ambition for bakwerirama is huge. Culture at its best is an internal thing, manifest in our thinking and feeling. However, recognition and survival and growth of the culture are very dependent on its external corollaries: literature, poetry, architecture, performance arts, plastic arts and today, a credible presence in cyberspace. Today, we fight for our very survival as a people. Our land is under siege. Our weakness in the face of such aggression to a large degree is attributable to the fact that we are almost invisible. Our culture has been so subsumed that strangers and visitors walk into our yard like colossi, look around and see nothing. They confidently lay down their loads and begin to dig foundations for themselves. Not that we are xenophobic, but human custom is that strangers pay tribute, in kind, respect, acknowledgment or all of the above. Then they settle down and become one of us. When strangers do not pay tribute, it is a declaration of war or a statement that they have arrived in a conquered no-man's-land, a characterization that I have heard many times before. I am not saying that we are fighting with bullets, but cultural assertiveness must be at the core of everything that we do if we are to have space in our ancestral land. Many contributors of bakwerirama are in America. One would hope that they all respect the norms and customs of their host country.

Bakwerirama is dynamic and powerful. It is not intended to be one of those anemic web sites that we see around, with nothing new for years, as if its creators went into a state of suspended animation. It is designed to be user-friendly, easy to upgrade. There are going to be brand new postings every week. There is an active comments function, that will allow our people to comment on any item about which they have an opinion, and opinions will be welcome from everybody. We urge you to present your best when you do comment, because Bakwerirama is history. We promise you that your children and grandchildren will be exploring this material, so think about how you want them to see you 40 years from now.

Bakwerirama is meant to be alive and relevant today and into the future. We are not just a museum or historical archive. History is only valuable when it lends perspective, relevance and power to our lives in 2004 and beyond.

Bakwerirama must rise to the very pinnacle of African cultural sites. Bakwerirama=excellence. That will come from using the technology in a very smart way, and also by making good, sound postings to the website. That will create other opportunities and possibilities that we shall discuss in the future.

Bakwerirama creates a launching pad for other cultural creations and activities: books, film, audio, language revival etc. There will be active and ongoing support for plays, cultural festivals, revivals etc. Culture has to be consciously nurtured and developed with one eye looking at the past for rootedness and inspiration. Bakwerirama will serve as a catalyst for that process.

Bakwerirama is personally useful to you. Feel free to email any member of the Bakwerirama team with personal announcements, graduation announcements, marriage announcements orbituaries and death announcements, births, photographs, your business announcements et-cetera. Your announcement will be posted promptly. We have always been a communal people and we shall use technology to sustain and develop those values.

Bakwerirama's language is English, unfortunate in some respects, because we are forced to approach our essence from outside in, instead of from within out. That is the consequence of the decline of the culture. Not many have the requisite mastery of the language and the culture, so a more organic approach would exclude many (including yours truly). Personally, this project is a learning tool. I am a baby as far as this culture is concerned; I only bring a specific set of skills and my confession makes it easier for others similarly ignorant to take delight in learning. English is like some kind of prosthetic device or crutch in this case. It also helps us to project the culture and to give it presence in and out of Africa, which is an important part of the work.

I acknowledge the immense contributions of the following members of the Bakwerirama team:

Mola Dibussi Tande

Iya Mojoko Ewusi

Mola Moleke Mo-Njie

They have tirelessly worked to bring the site up to a launch-ready state. It remains a work in progress, and like many other things into which we put our hearts it will be trailblazing and of unimpeachably high quality.

My most profound gratitude goes to Mola Mbua Ndoko, who is a veritable pipeline to the wisdom of the ancestors, and whose contributions will continue to enlighten us for all time.

Mola Isaac Menyoli has kindly donated some photographs as has Mola Mbella Ndoko. We shall acknowledge all contributions.

We invite all who have skills in language, writing, culture, web design, data-base building, photography, film, music and cookery to communicate with us.

We acknowledge Auntie Kate Idowu, whose seminal cookery book is serving as the starting point on our ongoing work on Bakweri cuisine and diet.

Have fun with this dynamic cultural experience.

Bakwerirama Coordinator

Emil Isume Mondoa

Photograph courtesy of finalfocus.com

Comments

[Mojoko Ewusi]

This giant stride towards the survival and growth of out culture is an occasion for us to call unto our ancestors through the "Mbando" to bless and support the growth of this effort.
Please go to "myths and legends" for the "Mbando"

[Mark Samuel]

Hello,

I am happy about this site. It actually dipict and potray the intellectual, moral and cultural strength of a Bakweri man.

[Mark Samuel]

Hello,

I am happy about this site. It actually dipict and potray the intellectual, moral and cultural strength of a Bakweri man.

[Eweny a Ngando]

I am so glad that these few people have started this huge task of not lettingthe rich Mopkwe culture die. My prayer is that many more may join you espcially the elders back home to impact you with more wisdom as you dig into the culture.Eyole

[James Caldwell]

Is there a grammar and/or dictionary for the Bakweri language available for English speakers?

[James Caldwell]

Forgive me. I have now read on Wikipedia that the language of the Bakweri people is called Mokpwe. So I am interested in a grammar of the Mokpwe language for English speakers.

[Nfor Atem F. Momanyi]

Dear editors,

A friend referred your site to my today. After perusing a few feature articles, I am beginning to be hooked on the forum. The lay out is neat and clean, the subject matter, very educational.

I am so attached to Bakwerirama so much so that, I am beginning to nurse feelings of using your template to start one for my people (Manyu) too.

Once more, thank you all for the excellent job in maintaining this forum. Please keep it up.

Best regards.

Nfor Atem F. Momanyi.

[Mokenge Hans]

I stumbled on this website by chance and I have not stopped thanking my ancestors for inspiring others with this idea. I stand as a good example of a Bakwerian who knows very little about his heritage. In an age of global information technology, I see this site as a huge step in revitalizing the Bakweri people by providing them with opportunities to discover their heritage.
I commend the initiators of this site for their tired less effort . Judging from my ignorance, I wonder the fate of my children. I hope this site will continue reaching and teaching Bakwerians of their rich heritage. My contribution will be to inform more Bakwerians of this site and to encourage them to support Bakwerirama. I urge you not to cease in your steady effort.

[Ngonja]

i'll like to have a clear understanding of the Origin of the Bakwerians.could any be of help?

[Emile Meoto]

Hello Ngonja,
I think Wikipedia has something about the origins of the Bakweris. There are two rival theories I found there:oral tradition says we originated from Mboko, the area southwest of Mount Cameroon and then migrated to our present home east of the mountain in the mid-18th century.

A rival Bakweri tradition says we descend from Mokuri or Mokule, a brother of the Duala's forebear Ewale, who migrated to the Mount Cameroon area for hunting.

I don't know which to take. Perhaps an elder person could help there.

[Ngonja]

Hi Emilie Meoto,
Thanks for the information.i'll check that out and hope to have what i'm looking for most especially finding out about traditional marriage: how our old days parents use to give their daughter for marriage and also accompanied their sons in asking a had in marriage.
Thanks and God Bless!
If u'll have any information again on that, i'll be very greatful

[Erna]

Hi Ngonja, you can find details about Bakweri traditional marriages at Mola Mbua Ndoko's blog at: http://www.mbuandoko.com/2006/05/the_bakweri_tra.html

[Ngonja]

Hi Erna, thanks so much for that information.its what i was looking for.God Bless!

[Nate Teke]

Hi,
I am a bakweri man looking to meet
bakweri people in the DC area. I leave in VA. It is my desire to meet bakweri people.

[Sally Mokoto]

I finally get to see a site that has everything to do with the culture of the Bakweri.I am so in love with it. I wish to thank all those who have made this site a success for their sacrifices, may u never relent ur efforts . Keep it up !!
Hey Hans i am glad to meet u here as well pls hit me up on sally_mokoto@yahoo.com hope all is well with you.

[C. Nokuri]

A true historical rendering of the Bakweri people will find that Bakwerism is a construct of colonial politics. The concept of Bakweri didn't even exist until the advent of colonialism. I don't even think Bakweri was even a word until the 17th century.

A study of Cameroonian Politics following its liberation shows that Paul Biya in order to keep the country divided and conquered continues to inflame the divisive seeds planted by the Britsh. While the Europeans continue to unite by creating such things as WTO and the European Union, African countries like Cameroon, wrangle over little pieces of land ignoring the global economy. Though understanding and acknowledging history of ethnic cultures in Cameroon is important, it should be done in the context of promoting diversity and acceptance not for political power. To borrow a phrase from Benjamin Franklin "unite or die".