HRH Fon Azehfor III of Nkwen Pays last Tributes to Queen Mother

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

HRH Fon Azehfor III has paid last tributes to his mother, Queen Mother of the Nkwen "Fondom". This formal event which took place at the Nkwen Palace on Tuesday June 9, following the demise of the Queen Mother had as highlights a Requiem Mass, payment of tributes as well as reception of Administrators and other Royal personalities that came to bid her farewell.

 Miafo Azehfor III ( Ngegha Emmerencia) passed on to eternity on the night of Monday June 8, 2020 and as Tradition demands could not be taken to the morgue. She was as such laid to rest as prescribed by tradition.

In a brush with the media, HRH Fon Azehfor III said "It is first of all a great loss for the "Fondom". My mother remains the source of inspiration and pillar in the life of the Fon and the Kingdom. My mother as a Queen Mother has always supported me in my administration. She is a major source of inspiration and gives me counsel when we have any difficulties. She always acts on my behalf when I am away for other services. She coordinates the Queens and my wives and all the community looks up to her for a proper management of the village. So when my mother passed on it was very heavy for me to bear because I don't know how I will move on. But with God all things are possible and I want to salute my mother again and pay her special tribute. It was a wonderful job she did for this Kingdom before her departure."

HRH Fon Azehfor III drew attention to the crisis situation during which the Queen Mother died. "I had to take into consideration Social Distancing and the usage of face masks, the use of Hand Sanitizers and spraying of the courtyard. I had to do all of that because we cannot lose our mother and risk the life of the population. While mourning our mother, we apply all the preventive measures given to us by the government and other International Bodies. It was so abrupt because when my mother passed on she could not be put in the mortuary because of tradition to permit us prepare.

 At the same moment she had to be prepared, rituals respected and laid to rest. Today we had a Requiem Mass and thank God the Church understood. Almost all the churches were there. The Presbytarians, the Baptist, Full Gospel and even the Apostolics were all represented despite the abruptness. My mother died on Monday in the Evening so we had a very short time to do all these.

 I am praying that God should protect us while we mourn. I also thank all the Royal Majesties who created the time to come despite the short notice and stand by me. It is in difficult times like this that you know who truly loves you. I thank the whole community. Most of them do not even have the program. My mother was a Catholic Christian and member of the Catholic Women Association CWA and I could not stay without organising this mass for her. I am very pleased because I believe that after this mass God will receive her soul."

The mourning process HRH Fon Azehfor III intimated will take seven days and that the community was expected at the palace for the mourning. 

Also present was HRH Fon Afungchwi III of Bambili who said it was a very sad moment for Nkwen. He said Nkwen and Bambili had for long maintained a very close relationship. "In a moment like this, we must rally behind the Fon of Nkwen to show that solidarity and spirit of oneness. Such a moment is time for Bambili to stand behind Nkwen and show that spirit of cooperation and support." He said he had come there on behalf of the people of Bambili to express their sympathy for what had happened to their brother and neighbour.

Miafo Azehfor III ( Ngegha Emmerencia) was born into the family of Azeh Nkwah and Princess Binwie sometime around 1944 at Manda Quater in Nkwen.

About ten Fons were present amongst whom were also the Fons of Akum and the Fon of Bawok.

Edev Newspaper 

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