By Assumpta Ayuk
The Bokis, Anyangs, Ejagham, and Kanyangs (upper and lower) people of Manyu origin in the Republic of Cameroon and now resident in the United States of America will converge on July 6-8th 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia for the 22nd MECA USA convention. Just as they have done in the past 21 years of the association’s history here in the USA, these Sesekous, Lawyers, Engineers, DDS, PA, Nurses, MDs, IT Specialists, Actors, Musicians, PhDs, Nurse’s Aides, Social Workers, Journalists, Business Owners, Physical Therapists, and Teachers will once again come together over a three day period to forge a strategy to help alleviate the socio-economic status of the families they have left behind in their native Manyu Division, Cameroon.
Obasinjom masquerade flagged by Ekpe members
Individually the Manyu men and women in the USA are called upon by their families in Cameroon to assist in feeding, housing, educating, and to provide health care on a daily bases through the remittance of money via the two well-known money transfer agencies. Collectively however, when the Manyu men and women congregate at a MECA USA annual convention, they discuss a common strategic way forward. During these conventions, the agenda is not limited to the economic plight of the left behind Manyu-Division of Cameroon. MECA conventioneers get down and party in a Grande Style as they uphold the tradition and culture which has been handed down from generations to generations. The cultural evening festivity is a sight to behold. The Ngbe/Ekpe, Obasinjom, Angbu, and Monikim dances; poetry in motion are displays of Manyu in all its grandure and leaves any observer in awe.
Atlanta based Ebeny Amstrong aka Tapez Tapez
This July when sons and daughters of Manyu Division meet at the 22nd Annual MECA USA in Atlanta they will be joined by two Cameroonian recording artists; Cameroon based Bate Nico aka Professor of Manyu Folklore and Atlanta based Ebeny Amstrong aka Tapez Tapez. Bate Nico and Ebeny Amstrong each brings a special and unique touch to MECA USA Cultural Festivity with live performance. These artists, with their different genre of music, Bate Nico Manyu folklore and Ebeny Amstrong world music, exemplify the uniqueness which is Manyu Division. An administrative division of 3,693 sq. mi; an area larger than the state of Delaware and twice the size of Rhode Island is home of sixteen indigenous languages, a pride it’s self on being a Cameroon literacy show case.
Cameroon based Bate Nico aka Professor of Manyu Folklore
Air tickets have been purchased. Women are making final round to the department stores and tailors for that special everything to match outfits. Bate Nico has rehearsed and he is en route to Atlanta. Ebeny Amstrong is out of the studio and ready to debut Sophia & Fermez La Bouche two tracks from his soon to be released 2012 Album. Sessekou Philip Tabi Ashutarkang President MECA-USA has invoked the spirits of the ancestors to watch over and guide the conventioneers as they travel from the District of Columbia, states of Alaska, California, Wisconsin, Texas, Oregon, Connecticut and all the states in between to the MECA 2012 Convention, this great family reunion. They travel by road or air to Atlanta, GA because that is where it’s all happening. Where will you be?
