Coronation ceremony of Wovia Chief in pictures by Ivo Arrey Mbongaya Colorful traditional rites and moments in the coronation of the Chief of Wovia in Cameroon revisited by Ivo Arrey Mbongaya of African Centre for Community and Development Author Ivo Arrey Mbongaya, Director at African Centre for Community and Development

1. Coronation Ceremony of Wovia
Chief in Pictures
Author Ivo Arrey Mbongaya
African Centre for Community and Development.
P. O.Box 181 Limbe, Cameroon
Copyrights2008 Ivo Arrey Mbongaya. All Rights Reserved.
Emails: arreymbongayaivo@gmail.com or oldboyarret@yahoo.com
http://youtube.com/user/AfricanCentreforCom

2. Summary
• This is a collection of pictures during the coronation ceremony of the Wovia Chief
in the South West of Cameroon. The ceremony was graced with traditional dances
including the Liengu as well as with the presence of dignitaries and other Chiefs of
Fako and Cameroon.
• Traditional rites of this coastal people dating several hundreds of years were re-
enacted again in 2008 to see the effective coronation of the Chief. This publication
is just a summary of pictures highlighting the event as well as the colourful
touristic/cultural dimensions of such ceremonies in Africa.
• It also highlights the broad areas and coverage of the work of the author/African
Centre for Community and Development in documenting and safeguarding African
cultural heritage and sustainable development.
• The organization is accepting in collaboration with Earth Complex Guesthouse
international visitors seeking to get customized cultural and eco-friendly tour
packages including possibilities of getting immersed in local cultural dancing,
foods, development work or businesses.
• That said enjoy the colours and dynamism in the coronation of the Wovia Chief.
Pictures speak louder than words.

3. Ivo Arrey Mbongaya (in black) covering enthronement at Wovia.

4. Bona bile (Bimbia) and Isokolo come to empower the
new chief. Picture by Ivo Arrey Mbongaya

5. Liengu dancers
grace coronation ceremony of Wovia Chief. Picture by Ivo Arrey Mbongaya

6. Head of Wovia traditional council welcomes the throngs of
visitors. . Picture by Ivo Arrey Mbongaya

7. Kingmakers empower new Wovia chief in white at the centre.
Picture by Ivo Arrey Mbongaya

8. A traditional guard hangs on while libation is poured on Wovia
turf.

9. Conclusion
• The Wovia Chief was enthroned and installed this June 2008 in a colourful ceremony at the sea side village of
Wovia amidst villagers, visitors, representatives of companies, civil society and the District Officer for Limbe
Mr Bongo Peter Itoe. The ceremony included the washing away of evil forces with the “Nganya Dance”, the
empowering ceremony which involved other chiefs from neighbouring villages like Bona Bile, Muea and
Isokolo which resulted in the transfer of their own blessings and ancestral powers to the new chief.
• The District Officer called for peace in the village and respect of the ruler who had been selected by the
people themselves and crowned by their own king makers.
• Before this, the “Liengu” dance animated the ceremonial ground in delight and demonstrative of the fact it is
the village that had chosen a dynamic son of theirs working with Fako Ship Company as an expert deep sea
diver and boat pilot to lead them. The spokesman of the traditional village council seized the occasion to
bring to attention the unscrupulous foreign trawlers depriving their people of fish and also destroying their
nurseries and sacred waters which to them has resulted to many calamities in the village including storms,
hunger and destitution just to mention these few. They advocated for a change in fishing gears like twin
trawlers and also for trawling to occur in a safe distance from local fishermen who are the main source of
revenue for most families in Wovia And of course there was refreshment at the chief’s palace . The food
comprised of local varieties like “timbanabusa” made of cocoyams and palm nut soup with dry fish and many
others.
• The air was full of the tattoos of ancient rhythms and vibrant voices which seemed to say livelihoods without
a pinch of cultures where void of their true essence.

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