By Mola Mbua Ndoko
Metoti, me-yoke-ya vaana; Vaana va li-ngani loke-ya o-metoti (Children like to play on level land)
Source: Tales of the Animal World
metoti = low and level lands.
Koo/Koo a Nyame = a mole.
Kaave/Kaava Nyame = a deer.
mooli = a hill.
mbee-mbe = a slope on the side of a ravine.
Yasi nanu:
"Koo a Nyame" and "Kaava Nyame" were friends. Koo built his house at the bottom of a hill, on level land near a stream; Kaava Nyame however built his own house at the top of a stony slope of a hill, from where, to his satisfaction, the house was seen from the towns of Gbwenga, Ewonji, Meselele and far away Douala.
It happened that children in the village, including Kaave's children, were fond of playing in Koo's compound during the day, and at night when there was moonlight. The children bustled about in the compound all the time.
"choka, choka;
jemu, jemu,
so-oo" !
Children scarcely visited Kaave's compound. Kaave became jealous of Koo and accused Koo of having told the children not to play in his (Kaave's) compound. The disagreement between Kaave and Koo was so serious that the village traditional council had to intervene. In his defense, Koo stated that he did not at any time invite children to play in his compound, nor did he ever ask children not to play in Kaave's compound.
The children stated that Koo had never at any time discussed with them where they could play. They explained that they preferred to play in Koo's compound because it was on level land, and near a stream in which they comfortable bathed. The children went further to say:
"ane mwa-nya, mbe-mba mooli mwa-mba Taata Kaave, nau;
jae ! kpo !
isa tane,
osa temene !
osenje eki, anga, i-tane loke-ya".
(Up there at Taata Kaave's compound that is situated on that escarpment.
No ! Never !
There is no place there for a playground".
Ikula Nyame the presiding judge, summarized the matter in these words:
"The children have said it all:
"metoti me-yo-keya vaana" !
vaana va langini loke-ya ndi o-metoti".
(Children like to play on level ground).
Continuing, Ikule said:
"Wise people avoid areas where there are conflicts and where peace and security are absent. Hence people feel comfortable to visit homes and places where they know they will be sincerely received and be at ease. Every reasonable person wants to have the best affordable service available to him. Where only two services are available he will of course choose the better of the two. This is exactly what the children have done."
"Metoti me yokeya.
Nanu ndi ese eveli".
(Of course children like to play on level ground).
Judgement was in favour Koo.
Oma nanu: Mbua Ndoko na meyana me Mokpwe.
Mola Mbua Ndoko
P.o Box 38 Buea, South West Province
Cameroon, West/Africa
Tel/Fax: 332-25-35
Mobile/Cell: 986-24-61
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