A Tribute Song by Oroko Artists to
President, Iya Dr. Clementine E. Nanje
By Jackson W. Nanje
The only Oroko USA President who has somewhat mirrored the deeds of Iya Dr. Clementine Ebenye Nanje is Tata Louis Etongwe with his epic savior of three Oroko girls who were held captive as slaves for many years. He did not only save the girls but he secured long-term prison sentences for their captors. That was tremendous achievement by an Oroko USA leader until Iya Ebenye mounted the stage as Oroko USA leader. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f1DvvT0dSI
The difference between
her presidency and the others is her degree of selflessness. She cared more about the welfare of others than any other President before her. The name Ebenye,
given to her at birth, mirrors her deeds on earth. The name (drawn from the
Bakweri and Oroko heritage of Cameroon) simply means the mother who protects all of her
children. They say a name follows a child; it could be true for many. But for
her, it is her good nature and upbringing that compels her deeds. It is because
of her deeds that has brought a dozen artists to come together on her way out
as Oroko USA National President, to sing a glorious tribute song for her capturing
her good deeds to mankind.
As should well be the case, Nanje Music Production, Inc, the Premier Production House in Oroko land was contracted to managed twelve talented Oroko artists: Betondi James (Nwan’a Mboka), Mba Mba Louis (Nganga Monene), Evang. Sakwe Jarvis, Paolo de Plaisir, Diomo (Ngia’a Moliki), Janea Fraza, Ikose Noel (White Angels), Zizou le Pro, Ndinga Marvingaye wa Mbakwa Supe, Lady Kate, Efilo, Bebe Clementine, to construct a tribute song for this dynamic lady. We equally contracted the services of M1-Studio (Eng. Ngumbah Emil Molindo) in Buea (free-of-charge because she’d touched him in the past with her angelic hand), to put this musical interlude together for her. The song captures five (5) Oroko genres captured in the musical: Jazz, Dissongo, Boroba, Dinyangi and Amekoko. We selected these five (5) genres because they are typical welcoming vibes which establishes wisdom, achievements and the respectability factor of women in our Oroko society. She’s earned the highest respect given to women in the Oroko land. Even though she’s not been crowned yet, except that of the President pf Oroko Cultural Association in United State of America, as one of the custodians of Oroko Culture in United States, I welcome Sango Ikose Noel’s recommendation of the title of Nyang’a Eromoh (Queen of Oroko land) in the musical.
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| Tribute to Iya Dr. Ebenye |
Tata Efilo opened the
musical with a soft jazz and Diomo and Ikose Noel intersected with the Boroba (typical
strand of the Balue tribe). Then, Tata Janea and Ndinga completed the Dissongo genre,
typical of the Ngolo, Bima and Bakundu tradition of the Oroko land. Tata Nganga
Monene, Paolo de Plaisir and Evang. Sakwe Jarvis did the Dinyangi and Bebe
Clementine, Lady Kate, Betondi James and Zizou le Pro completed the song with a
scintillating Amekoko. I will be remised if I do not mention that in the video
production of the song, we contracted the services of two of the best Oroko
dance groups in the world: Dynamic Duo and Big Six (6) both based in
Buea, who mounted the podium adorned with T-Shirts purposely made for this
tribute project for Nyang’a Eromoh.
I want to thank everyone
who participated in production of both the audio and video and hope we can do
it again some other time. Once again, I want to let the world know that an
Oroko musician is quite capable of working together to achieve a common goal.
This was exemplary.
