In Memoriam: Mola Ndeley Mokoso is No More

It is with deep sadness that the Bakwerirama team announces the death of prominent Bakweri novelist, poet, painter, journalist and politician, Mola Stephen Ndeley Mokoso, on June 9 in London, England.

According to news reports, Mola Ndeley:

... came to the UK a few years ago to pursue treatment for a long ailment, but his life here was full of activity. He continued his work of art and writing, seeking to perfect all the time. He won many friends among the retired who took after his inspirational talents. On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee, he was hailed by the local press as the man who had on official duties brushed the Royal family in three different decades. Queen Elizabeth on her visit to Nigeria, Prince Philip on his visit to Cameroon and Prince Charles to whom he offered his famous painting of the Victoria Botanical Gardens.

Bakwerirama will honor Mola Ndeley by publishing a few of his poems that were submitted to Fako International newspaper back in December 1994. But first here is brief look at Mola Ndeley's active life, again courtesy of Fako International archives:

Mola Ndeley Mokosso, who is more renowned for his short stories and artistic creations, took up painting and writing as hobbies upon joining the British Council Literary and Arts Group in the 1950s. In the following years, his short stories and plays were broadcast over Radio Nigeria, Enugu. Between 1955 and 1970, Mola Ndeley won a series of literary contests, most prominent among them, Winner of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Short Story Competition (1955); First Prize - Eastern Nigeria Festival of Arts (1956); First prize in a contest for budding scriptwriters at the NBC staff Training School in Lagos (1958); and winner of a short story competition by Radio Cameroon to commemorate Ten years of independence.

Mola Ndeley's stories have appeared in numerous publications such as Balafon; the Russian edition of Panorama II, and Wasafiri, a magazine on perspectives of African, Caribbean, Asian and Black British literature. Extracts of his works are also used in Secondary English Projects for Cameroon, Books 4 and 5 (GCE edition). Ndeley Mokosso's first collection of short stories, the highly acclaimed Man Pass man and other Stories, was published by Longman in 1986. His first novel, a biographical work titled Nothing to Something, is nearing completion. Although Mola Ndeley developed an interest in poetry late in his literary career, he already has an impressive collection of 30 poems with subjects varying from songs, dirges, elegies, to protests.

Ndeley Mokosso is also a nationally renowned self-taught paint artist. His first painting exhibition was in 1969. Since then, he has held seventeen one-man shows, the most prominent being those held at the American Cultural Centers in Yaounde and Douala, the French Cultural Center in Buea, then Ministry of Information and Culture in Yaounde, and at the British Council also in Yaounde. Mola Ndeley paints in oil and charcoal and his subjects ranging from landscapes to portraits. The highest prize paid so far for one of his paintings - ASPERSION - was 360, 000 Frs CFA.

After graduating from Sasse college in 1946, Mola Mokosso worked with the Eastern Nigerian Secretariat as a Verbatim Reporter and later News Editor/Senior Reporter for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in Lagos in 1958. He was the Public Relations Officer of CDC from 1961 to 1970 when he was elected into the Federal National Assembly. He subsequently served as the Director of Personnel at SONARA and retired from the Civil Service in 1986.

The Longman publishing House has described Ndeley Mokosso as:

represent[ing] a fresh and original voice in African Literature. He has a telling but unobtrusive eye for detail and writes with a profound understanding of contemporary West African Society. These are short stories to enjoy alongside the finest in the world.

His recent poetry award [the 1995 Cameroon National Poetry Award] shows that he is also a master poet whose poetic talents equal is much acclaimed story-telling skill.

(c) Fako International

Comments

[Mola Monono Forseh Wotany]

May his soul rest in Perfect Peace. My condolence goes out to his family, friends and love ones...

Bye for now...
Mola Monono Wotany

[Martin Jumbam]

That Mola Ndeley Mokosso could've been sitting with his ancestors all this while and I'm only hearing of it now, is a sad indication of how uninformed I have been about the fate of our Anglophone writers. I don't even remember reading about it in any of our newspapers. That's sad, indeed.

I enjoyed his collection of stories "Man Pass Man and other Stories", which I read in my student days in frozen Edmonton, Canada.

Mokosso's simplicity in writing speaks directly to me, especially as I am an unapologetic advocate of writing that speaks directly to the heart and mind. I am not talking here of simpleness that verges on childishness; no, I'm talking of language that carries the message so clearly across to the reader that the latter remembers only the message without the irritating intrusion of obscure language.

Mola Mokosso seems to me to sit comfortably around the same table with the Achebes of the world. My head stands bowed to his memory.

[roland ndiba]

please i will like to get mola mono wotany email adress tell him it is small roland from cameroon anty ewokolo son this is my adress he can get me through that ndibaroland@hotma.com

[MATUTE ESUNGE]

Wonyamoè,
The Bakwerirama site can truly be likened to a prophet who does not get the commensurate attention of his fellow members albeit the mass of wealth he is ready to share out.
For a long time, I kept pushing forward visits to the site for some other date.
By some stroke of ..., I rode in and can say that I found great pleasure and pride checking into the site.
Great job done by commendable people.More power, beloved....
Your bakweri brother,
MATUTE ESUNGE.

[Etonde Ndeley]

It is great and inspiring to find such a site highlighting the richness and diversity of the bakweri culture. It is long overdue and I can only raise my hat to the instigators of such a website. I wouldn't have come across this site if I wasn't doing a radio documentary on my grand dad - acclaimed poet and writer (amongst others)Ndeley Mokosso and was curious to know what had been said of him on the net if ever. I want to say I am deeply touched and pleased to see his memory lives on on the bakwerirama website and can only say more grease to your elbows. Ndeley Mokosso was not only a very talented man but a very loving and loved grand dad. As far as I am concerned, he lives on. Thank you very much. You made my day. Keep up the good work.

[D. Okoro]

Africa has lost a talent! Sleep well,Ndeley. May the stars guide your journey to your place of rest.