Mubimambila Essays

Location Index

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Mubimambila Essays

Njalak, James M.
1966
A geographical study of Ndum-yaji area
Department of Geography, Teacher's College, Mubi
Unpublished Local Study

Ndum-yaji: 7 water falls called Fep Basets Nkok - four handled basket Nker small basket with lid - keep tings, give presents in baskets. Kwer open work basket harvesting etc
57 Kimi to to Willem at Mbamnga then went S crossed the R Mentung and settled at Sih. Some of the Sih people were then at Gom about 10 miles to the W. They came and were friendly asked the Ndumyaji people to move a little to the N so the Sih could live near each other. Ndumyaji moved into plain nearby but continued to expand - Sih got jealous and started rolling stones down on them so they left crossed back over R Mentung to their present site where there were no inhabitants. Much of their land now lies in Cameroon - including a standing stone at which sacrfice is made each year. Sih now claim this land fertile with lots of palms and raffias. In 1954 fought a "civil war" with Sih over it tried to get DO's permission to fight. In 1965 went before DO again who refused permission not wanting international incident. Many Ndumyaji people died in 2WW?? 59 Shelter in caves from enemies. Sprinkle oil on stones and they open up, enter then they cllose again, sprinkle more oil to get out. Caves very big - cannot be smoked out by enemies - water and bats to eat in the cave.
60 Yami was chief, no one in his Family to succeed so gave chieftancy to Yaji but Abraham Gabkwi turned elders against him and had him deposed in c 1954-56. Abraham Gabkwi then became chief. Therefore continuing hostility between diff sections of the village from which these men came.
61 Broom used to dub a new chief - courtyard brush qv Mbar sua use of brushes.
62 About 50% Xtian, 50% Pagan. 79 75% Xtian, 20% Pagan, 5% muslim.
63 Nkakngwi annual (Dec-Feb) dry season dance through the night. The dance is held in one of the 4 quarters that invites all the others. A month approx later done in another quarter - competitive hospitality betweeen the quarters!
67 Nkaso a diff dry season dance that follows a communal hunt. Split Ndumyaji into N and S halves. One will announce hunt. One day hunt all territory of that half of the vilage. Dance through the nght. Save the animals captured till next day then divide them - hind legs to the first person to shoot the animal. Meanwhile youths dance and wrestle. Division of meat takes all day - feast in evening, dance through 2nd night.
73 Tajok dance when new wife arrives at compound of her H. After fattening inside (out of sun) for some time.
76 Adultery - divined if illness of children, or difficult childbirth - must confess.
78 Society of elders perform Nwantap cermony at roads to vilage if outbreak of serious illness. So the being Nwantap will piss on the leaves/sticks across the roads and this will kill any bearer of illness that crosses them.
84 Land inheritted by sons only - if no sons then other kin of F may inherit.

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