We have lost the cornerstone, the powerhouse, a brave and dynamic human being with great wisdom. My father, who never called me by any other name than WELLE will be greatly missed not only by me and my siblings but by the entire Batanga clan.
Being the fifth child in a family of 20 children, and 5 wives, I had the privilege to live with my both parents until the passing away of my beloved mother mama Esther Ebala Molukule in 1990.
As a kid, I could remember Mispa, Judith, and myself eating with our father from the same dish, and we would eat all the meat in the food. I remember how he would force us to eat steamed pumpkin and pumpkin leaves – a food that is not common in our area.
Also, my father game hunting (bush meat) for food. He would feed us with viper flesh while deceiving us that it was chicken. We would eat the flesh without any worries until this blessed day when my late senior sister Bridget found out that it was snake meat that he had been feeding us. We were so angry and told him not to give us anymore because our friend would be laughing at us that we were snake eaters. Guess what? He said to us “Viper flesh is the best meat we can ever have”. I now see why he lived so long.
My father regarded me as a male child because of the way I acted and did things. He always said, “I wish she was a male child”. I was a child who could do both female and male chores in the house. I could climb a plum, an orange, guava tree to name a few. He called me “my tiger”.
My father had so much confidence in me that he made me his treasurer. Whenever he collects his salary, he will hand it to me and tell me to keep it away from my mother and I will do just that. I was not only a child to my father but a friend as he sometimes called me “My friend” My mother used to say I was my father’s wife because I would tell him everything was happening in the house. When we needed food in the house, I would be the one to tell my father and make sure he had no rest until he provided money for the food. Sometimes, while persuading him, he would ask if it was my mother who had sent me, and I would say No even if she was the one. I remember how I used to be the judge in the house between my father, my mother, and my stepmother – mama Alice.
My father’s love for me grew even stronger when I brought my first report card from the then GSS Mundemba and I took the 7th position in a class of over 100 students. Being the first daughter of my father to attend college, my father saw that position as 1st not 7th so he spread the news to all his friends especially his Batanga brothers in Ndian Town. I can remember one day Chief Masumbe of Llipenja II (Late) stopped me on the way to ask if I took the first position in my class and I said to him no papa I took # 7. When I got home that day, I confronted my father for exaggerating my position in class. He responded by saying, “To me, that was the first position, and I don’t care what any person thinks”. He went further to say “he had the guts to ask you? I will see him tomorrow”.
My father was so protective of his beautiful girls. He will never let us go on vacation for fear of us being abused. I can remember the first time he took me to Kumba in 1987. He left me at my sister Comfort’s house. During my stay in Kumba, my father visited almost every week; whenever he came by, he wanted to take me back with him.
My father was so proud of his girls, telling everyone how beautiful we were. I can remember one time my father gave some fish to my friend to take to the house. He said to him when you get there, you will see two beautiful women but make sure you give it to the most beautiful one. My friend said as he was about to leave, my father called him again and said, “NOT Florence OOH give it to my wife” That was the day I knew someone had stolen my father away from me thus, I was no longer the beautiful little girl of my father and since that day, life was never the same.
However, my passing the entrance examination into ENAM not only rekindled my relationship with my father but served as the height of his love for me because, being a proud man, I made him even prouder than ever. Our relationship grew even deeper as I became the breadwinner of my father. I can remember while working in Douala as a principal controller of taxes, my father would visit me and live with me for three months without worries. I had a good time with my father until someone took me away from him and that person is no one other than my beloved husband whom my father gladly gave me in marriage but told my husband never to take me out of my job in Cameroon since he lives in the United States. I can remember telling my father that, I am married, and I must join my husband he can not have it both ways, isn’t he living with his wife? why shouldn’t I live with mine as well? It was a hard decision, but I had to do what was right, joining my husband and relocating to the United States. Papa, I know I hurt you in making that decision but as we spoke and reconciled two months ago when I came to visit you before your passing away to glory. I am filled with profound gratitude for reconciling with you for our love rekindled and more importantly, you kept your promise thank you so very much.
My father was an honest outspoken person, a trait I fully inherited from him. He fears no one to tell the truth. He was a peacemaker, a lover of justice, Pa MOLUKULE, the man of the people, the archives of the world, the bulldozer, and the great man of our time, a Patriarch will be missed by many.
Father, remember we love you and you will always have a special place in our hearts. We will miss you dearly. Greet Our mother, your beloved wife for us, you both should continue to watch over us.
Farewell Papa – “A monkey talking to a better man”.
Bua WELLE
