On 28 January 2015, HRH Fon Fomuki Patrick Nji of Guneku — recorded in the village archive as Fon Patrick Fomuki II — left the palace on a long journey, the traditional expression by which the passing of a Fon is announced. He had reigned since 1965.
In the days that followed, fellow rulers of the North West paid tribute to him and to the people of Guneku. Their words are reproduced here as they were written.
It is with much sympathy that I write this tribute in honour of Fon Fomuki, whom I fondly called “Contri Man”. You were a jovial and a peace-loving ruler. Though an elderly ruler, you had the ability to associate and interact with your peers. You had love for education, and the assistance you gave in order to educate the sons and daughters of Guneku cannot be over-emphasised. I hope the Guneku people will emulate the virtues of friendship, progress and hard work that you stood for. It is the handiwork of God, and I have lost a good friend. I extend my sincere sympathy to your family and to the people of Guneku. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
The relationship between you and my father was smooth and cordial. You extended it to me since 2001. I enjoyed it, and it looks like you trusted it. This should look like why you invited me to your royal palace, took me to your bedroom and instructed me on what should be done as you transit. I thank you for this confidence, and I am doing just what you instructed — this with the help of your people, the princes, princesses and the queens, not leaving out the Kwifor.
I understood your lifestyle and what you stood for regarding Meta land. It was at times controversial, but I was able to make it with you. I am aware of the problems you had, some real, others less so. With your family, we will try to bring peace where there was conflict, and understanding where there wasn't.
You know, king, I was particularly pleased with you when, at the last hour, you reconciled with the king of Nyen, your genitor. This is comparable with the biblical pardon granted to the thief by the Lord, unjustly crucified. I thank God for this, especially as I am working closely with the king of Nyen (and others) to ensure a smooth transition in the kingdom of Guneku. Adieu, grand frère.
You had a great gift of eloquence and wit, which you used to do many good things to glorify the name of God and for the benefit of mankind. Your departure is a great loss of a great gift of eloquence and wit.
I thank God that before your departure you tried to repair the broken relation between father and son when, on the 27th of January 2015, you insistently told me, your bio-traditional father: “I leave the people in your hands.”
I thank you for the son you left behind for me to place on the throne you occupied, and for the many children you offered opportunity to, for them to thrive in this life. On their behalf, and by virtue of my status as father, I pray that God Almighty, our Father in Heaven, should forgive you all your trespasses and admit you into his kingdom of everlasting glory. I know you will consider this, in addition to the clean heart I demonstrated to you in your last days in this world, as acts of reconciliation and forgiveness. Yes, it is true: we all sin and fall short of the glory of God — but how soon we ask for forgiveness is the other side of the coin. Meta people say, “The back has no eyes.” Adieu, my son, adieu.
Finally, we all knew Countryman of Guneku in NOWEFU, the North West Fons Union, and in Cameroon at large.
Your diversity has spurred younger Fons to action, which today leaves most of them at immeasurable heights. Thanks for your vision. If we never learnt from you at the level of Meta Fons, then we have learnt at the North West Fons Union. You have in no small way practised the most liberal political and religious life one can imagine; and though this exposed you to much criticism, you have taught not only your children and mighty Guneku the lesson of reconciliation at your departure, but everyone else who knows you must learn this wholesome lesson.
I am sure that your children and good friends will find reason to give continuity to any good venture you initiated. It is time the Guneku community and the Meta people remember one of your business titles, “Wake Up Ets”, and wake up to actions of dignity, while you rest from your worldly toils.
Editor's note on the source
These tributes are quoted from the legacy Guneku website. The originals contained typographic damage from the earlier publishing system, which has been repaired without changing anyone's words: spaced-out letters were closed up (“l e a v e s mo s t o f t h em”), doubled full stops were reduced, run-together words were separated, and obvious spelling slips were corrected.
- “Kwifor” is retained as written. It names the traditional regulatory society and is not a misspelling.
- “Wake Up Ets” appears in the original as “WAKE UPEts”. It is given here as a business name; the exact intended form is unconfirmed.
- HRH Fon Angwafor III of Mankon and HRH Fon Fominyen of Nyen are named as they appear in the original.