Nkem Nguasong John Foletia

“Nkemnguasong a.k.a Big John sometimes even when I am having a great time, i can’t help but think of the old times the times when everything was perfect in Washington and else where, my family, my friends, dance, and even us. But now everything seems to have fallen apart, my family, friendships have slowly faded, dance is not a must anymore just something I can barely make time for and us.. we grew apart, went our separate ways, and now we never see each other. And it’s going to be worst considering we are leaving. That means never.. ever seeing each other. I mean unless the future holds that for us but I don’t know.” Adieus

Homage to Nkemnguasong Foletia
As Nkemnguasong’s maternal grandfather, I have relayed the condolences of the Mbe Tazi Family and the Njeh-Mveh community to His Royal Highness Chief Foletia, Nkemnguasong’s paternal grandfather, following the accent to the Heavenly Paradise of Nkemnguasong. Nkemnguasong’s mother, Mama Theresia Ate’awung, was the daughter of Mami Monica Andiambh, a sister to my late father, Mbe Tazi Ate’awung VIII. Following her premature death, Mami Ate’awung’s cry-die was held at her grandfather’s compound in Njeh-Mveh.


In my message to Chief Foletia, I extend my thanks to the Letia Family in America and their spouses for the care they extended to Nkemnguasong from the point he fell ill till when the Lord took him from us. The attention to Nkemnguasong’s physical and emotional needs at this critical time by his family members, their spouses, and friends was well warranted, given the sacrifices that Nkemnguasong made for his family and for many other people that he met during his life.


From the day I met John Nguasong Foletia, I was quite impressed by his welcoming nature. We could sit and discuss for hours, and no issue ever appeared to bother him. What none of us knew then was that he and I came from the same family. Years later, John Foletia and his wife, Elizabeth Bako, had a baby girl. My wife Anyi and I went to “see” the baby, and, when I found out that the baby was named Ate’awung, I told thanked them jokingly for naming the baby after me, as my birth name is Ate’awung. I also joked that she must be from Njeh-Mveh from the greater Mbe Tazi Family, given the prevalence of the name Ate’awung in my family. Big John, as we called him then, told me they named the baby after his mother, Mami Theresia Ate’awung (Mami Tere, as he would say!). A few years later, John and Eli had another baby and named her Andiambh Tiku. Again, I informed them that my father had a sister with that name. Coincidence? John said the baby was named after his grandmother, Mami Moni.


This myth was to become reality when my aunt, Ankwetta Fontem, visited the U.S. and revealed the blood relationship between us. As it turned out, John largely grew up in the coast, while I spent my childhood years in back in Fontem. It took us all those years to discover our common heritage, and in America, of all places.
When Nkemnguasong visited Fontem, he went to Njeh-Mveh to check on our father, the late patriarch of his maternal family, and during Mbo’s two visits to the U.S., he made sure he brought Nkemnguasong the same attention that he brought to us his own children. Now, Nkemnguasong has joined his grandfather and all the Mbe Tazi Ate’awungs and his mother Mami Tere Ate’awung in paradise.


Besides Nkemnguasong, Mami Moni’s grandchildren include Manyi Maggie Forbin and Lady Kate Atabong Njeuma of Maryland, among many others. With them, the Mbe Tazi Clan joins the Letia Clan in mourning Nkemnguasong.
When we first entertained the idea of establishing a functioning Ekpe (Mgbe) Lodge here in the U.S., Nkemnguasong and his wife Eli were among the first individuals to join the Lodge. Because of this allegiance to family, the Mbe Tazi Ekpe Lodge USA will send Nkemnguasong home with full honors commensurate with an Ekpe member. I have also directed the citizens of Njeh-Mveh to go out to Letia during Nkemnguasong’s funeral to honor this son of the family the way only Njeh people can do.


Nkemnguasong loved his wife and his children in ways that cannot be described. He was a best friend to Bako his wife, and a caring dad to his children. His house was always beaming with Letia men and women and their children. His love for Lebang and Lebialem was boundless. He single-handedly revived LECUDO USA in 2001 after it had fallen into a three-year slumber, turning in money he had held on to that no one remembered existed! He and his four friends, nicknamed the Big Five, co-founded one of the earliest and longest-lasting Lebialem associations in the New World, and he fought tooth and nail to sustain the association when certain individuals set out to crush it. Beyond Lebialem, he co-founded the Manyu Cultural Association (MECAUSA) with Sessekou Elias Akwo and others. He was prominent in CAMSA USA, always prepared to dish out his legendary counsel to the often-contentious leadership. Nkemnguasong transcended family, ethnic group, or region. He was born to serve, and he served selflessly.


To Nkemnguasong, I say, bye, Big Bro! Bye, Nwua Mbo! Your warm laughter will always be with me. Adieu! Till we meet again.

Mbe Tazi, your grandfather

Nkem,

      your departure was too soon but one cannot question God Almighty.
      From the time i knew you, around the seventies, you have never treated me different from Elisabeth.
i remember some people were confused whether two of us were your wifes.
     Where will i start, what can i say Nkem, the first time i ever attended a night club, was initiated by you. when
you had your poultry farm, every Xmas you made sure that you invited me to come and cacht chicken
i will be unable to catch one and you will do that for me.
     In 1983, when you trave to the US, i and elisabeth went to G.T.T.C Kumba and you made sure that each time you send her something mine was there. your caring attitude for me was countless and would neve be forgotten. when
Elisabeth joined you in the US, there was never a day you came to Cameroon without checking on me.
     During the death of my mother, Nkem and Elisabeth burreid her although my mother had no children
 in the US at that time. You show my family that one's mother is not the person that given birth to. All
 her burial things was from the US. Thank you again for given my mother a belieating burial.
     my coming to the U.S was because of you, winning the D.V lottery in one thing, having a place to stayis
another. i remember the day i and my daughter ody came to the airport, after welcoming us, Nkem said
 "Lulu, you see white man country, machine di take money" we laughed. as soon as we left the airport, after
just a few miles the car breakdowna tow truck was called, i and ody entered the tow truck, Nkem said
"Lulu, you are so great until you enter two cars at the same time". i will always remember your broad smile, laughter and jokes.
    While in the U.S, you treated my daughter ody with no difference. when she feel sick the first person to visit her was you. Nkem you are irreplacable in our lives. right in your dying bed, you were very concern about my health
checking on me all the time. i will continue to follow the advice you gave me.
     who will call me again"hiding of evidence in the country you will be in jail' Through you many people have
came in this country. the number of people that have passed through my house is because of you.
     Your endless help will be remember forever. we truly miss you but we believe you are in a better place.God be with you till we meet to part no more.
                                            lucia and odette

Oh death! Why did you take Nkem Nguasong so soon from us? I think you did not want him to suffer anymore.

Nkem, I am going to miss your phone calls and concern. God has called you to go and rest in peace. Please go and intercede for the rest of the family left behind.

May God grant you eternal rest! Bye, bye Nkem oh!!!!

Nkem is now serving in the army of the Lord. I met Nkem for the first time in the Summer of 2003 when he invited me to  the LECUDO-USA convention in my capacity as the President General of LECUDO. I met a gentleman full of energy and a spirit of sacrifice who was so willing to work for the wellbeing of his people back home in Cameroon. No doubt he has been discribed as one of the founding fathers of LECUDO-USA. He will be remembered for his selfless services and sacrifices to the community. Nkem new how to make things happen. May his recrutement into the Lord's army  lead to more victories and blessings to all friends and family who are yet to answer the Lord's call. Nkem, you were one of those who like Eleanor Roosevelt' knew that " It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness". The candle you lit will live on.
May the Lord Almighty grant you eternal rest!
Adieu!

Dear Uncle Nkem,
 
  Sorry it took me soo long to write, I have been trying to gather up the words to write this passage. I cry as I sit here and write this because I never thought this daywould ever come. Losing you was like loosing a parent and the pain I really can not describe. You were like the "Vacuum" in the African Community. You always wanted and did sweep up all the dirt and drama between us families and made us realize that family is the key to our survival. Even though you are gone you still are that Vaccum that I refuse to get rid of even when it get broken. Your personality and hilarious jokes are what is going to keep me from breaking down everyday and strive to move forward. In times like this I wish witchcraft was actually real so I could just wish for your return back to me and our whole entire family but unfortunately life doesn't work that way. As I finish writing this passage I really want to let you know that every prayer, move, decision, goal will be for you, my parents and my family. You are indeed a father to me, you were always the person I turned to for advice whenever there were issues between me and my parents and you always convinced me that my parents are the most important people in my life. For this I thank you with all of my heart and I will strive to be the best I can be and I truly hope that I am making you proud and continue to do so. So sit up there with the angels and dazzle Uncle Fonya, Uncle Ray, Auntie Constance, and Auntie Odette with you great jokes because they are the ones that get to hear your voice and I'd give anything to have that chance again. I LOVE YOU soo much and I refuse to say goodbye but I will say SEE YOU LATER.

Your truly sad, grieving, lovable neice

Awungjia aka Baby Girl

My dearest bro why did you depart so soon?you were a father,mother to my life.now that you have gone who is going to replace this gap.But since the one that giveth life has called you to join his heavenly choirs who are we to refuse?.Big bro i lack words but i know god will receive you peacefully in his heavenly kingdom.I will live to remember you.adieu papa.
                                                                                             younger bro nkembeng fonya.

big bro it stroke my heart on the 9th of nonovember when i heard your of your sudden death.i took it to be a dream but it was real.Bro why did you have to leave us so soon.we will live to remember you.may your soul rest in perfect peace.adieu.

       Death leaves a heartache no one can cure;
      But love given by the person who is no more leaves a memory,
       No one can steal.
      We pray the love of God enfolds you during your dificult times and it helps you heal with the passage of time.
     Although no words can really help to ease the loss we bear,just know that you are very close in every thought and
     prayers.

        Dear sister Eli ,
         My condonlences to you and
         your family.
        i canot beging to imagine the
        depth of your pain.but i pray you find confort
        In the words of the Lord.
                                               Adieu Nkem.
  
                                               Atem Mary Nkengafeh(Mr Nkeng )as you use to call me.

Homage to Nkemnguasong Foletia
As Nkemnguasong’s maternal grandfather, I have relayed the condolences of the Mbe Tazi Family and the Njeh-Mveh community to His Royal Highness Chief Foletia, Nkemnguasong’s paternal grandfather, following the accent to the Heavenly Paradise of Nkemnguasong. Nkemnguasong’s mother, Mama Theresia Ate’awung, was the daughter of Mami Monica Andiambh, a sister to my late father, Mbe Tazi Ate’awung VIII. Following her premature death, Mami Ate’awung’s cry-die was held at her grandfather’s compound in Njeh-Mveh.
In my message to Chief Foletia, I extend my thanks to the Letia Family in America and their spouses for the care they extended to Nkemnguasong from the point he fell ill till when the Lord took him from us. The attention to Nkemnguasong’s physical and emotional needs at this critical time by his family members, their spouses, and friends was well warranted, given the sacrifices that Nkemnguasong made for his family and for many other people that he met during his life.
From the day I met John Nguasong Foletia, I was quite impressed by his welcoming nature. We could sit and discuss for hours, and no issue ever appeared to bother him. What none of us knew then was that he and I came from the same family. Years later, John Foletia and his wife, Elizabeth Bako, had a baby girl. My wife Anyi and I went to “see” the baby, and, when I found out that the baby was named Ate’awung, I told thanked them jokingly for naming the baby after me, as my birth name is Ate’awung. I also joked that she must be from Njeh-Mveh from the greater Mbe Tazi Family, given the prevalence of the name Ate’awung in my family. Big John, as we called him then, told me they named the baby after his mother, Mami Theresia Ate’awung (Mami Tere, as he would say!). A few years later, John and Eli had another baby and named her Andiambh Tiku. Again, I informed them that my father had a sister with that name. Coincidence? John said the baby was named after his grandmother, Mami Moni.
This myth was to become reality when my aunt, Ankwetta Fontem, visited the U.S. and revealed the blood relationship between us. As it turned out, John largely grew up in the coast, while I spent my childhood years in back in Fontem. It took us all those years to discover our common heritage, and in America, of all places.
When Nkemnguasong visited Fontem, he went to Njeh-Mveh to check on our father, the late patriarch of his maternal family, and during Mbo’s two visits to the U.S., he made sure he brought Nkemnguasong the same attention that he brought to us his own children. Now, Nkemnguasong has joined his grandfather and all the Mbe Tazi Ate’awungs and his mother Mami Tere Ate’awung in paradise.
Besides Nkemnguasong, Mami Moni’s grandchildren include Manyi Maggie Forbin and Lady Kate Atabong Njeuma of Maryland, among many others. With them, the Mbe Tazi Clan joins the Letia Clan in mourning Nkemnguasong.
When we first entertained the idea of establishing a functioning Ekpe (Mgbe) Lodge here in the U.S., Nkemnguasong and his wife Eli were among the first individuals to join the Lodge. Because of this allegiance to family, the Mbe Tazi Ekpe Lodge USA will send Nkemnguasong home with full honors commensurate with an Ekpe member. I have also directed the citizens of Njeh-Mveh to go out to Letia during Nkemnguasong’s funeral to honor this son of the family the way only Njeh people can do.
Nkemnguasong loved his wife and his children in ways that cannot be described. He was a best friend to Bako his wife, and a caring dad to his children. His house was always beaming with Letia men and women and their children. His love for Lebang and Lebialem was boundless. He single-handedly revived LECUDO USA in 2001 after it had fallen into a three-year slumber, turning in money he had held on to that no one remembered existed! He and his four friends, nicknamed the Big Five, co-founded one of the earliest and longest-lasting Lebialem associations in the New World, and he fought tooth and nail to sustain the association when certain individuals set out to crush it. Beyond Lebialem, he co-founded the Manyu Cultural Association (MECAUSA) with Sessekou Elias Akwo and others. He was prominent in CAMSA USA, always prepared to dish out his legendary counsel to the often-contentious leadership. Nkemnguasong transcended family, ethnic group, or region. He was born to serve, and he served selflessly.
To Nkemnguasong, I say, bye, Big Bro! Bye, Nwua Mbo! Your warm laughter will always be with me. Adieu! Till we meet again.

Mbe Tazi, your grandfather