Cardinal Tumi’s Mother posthumously hounored again
at burial
By
Njodzefe Nestor
Yaa
Catherine LahkaTumi fondly known as ‘Yaawo Jos’ and ‘Mami Cardi’ was
posthumously decorated during her final farewell at the Kumbo St Theresia
Cathedral on Saturday June 27.
Before
the Medal of the Officer of the Cameroon National Order of Merit was affixed to
her casket by North West Governor Adolph LeleLAfrique, the mourners were
entreated to a military parade, from elements of the National Gendemarie usually
reserved for important state and official events and burials.
The
posthumous decoration brought to two, the decorations the deceased had received
from the state in less than three years. The first was on May 20, 2013 in Kumbo
during which she was awarded the medal of Knight of the Cameroon Order of Merit.
From
English to Latin and French, Christian Cardinal Tumi, who was chief celebrant
at the final funeral mass at the Kumbo Cathedral made the Eucharistic
Celebrations more edifying.
In
his close to 27 minutes homily, Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo said the decease
loved the church with passion and was united with Jesus in the Sacraments of
the Church. He explained the church in thanking God for her life is burying her
in the part of the Cathedral Cemetery reserved for priests, religious and early
Christians. This he indicated was the execution of the wish of the decease,
which his predecessor, His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua handed to him.
Bishop
Nkuo told Cardinal Tumi it was a blessing for him to bury his mother and not
otherwise. He said Yaa Catherine’s age was extra-ordinary and a gift from God.
The prelate described Yaa Catherine Lahka Tumi as someone, who did not listen
to news but, whose conversations were often with vivid personal details.
At
the close of the Eucharistic celebration, which was void of the usual tears of
sadness, which characterize funeral masses, His Grace Samuel Kleda, President of
the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, NECC and Archbishop of Douala
reminded Christian Cardinal TumiYaa Catherine Lahka was mother for all. He said
the presence and participation of the Douala Archdiocese at the funeral is
testimony of their attachment to the decease.
Christian
Cardinal Tumi, who spoke on behalf of the family said he received the news of
his mother’s passing onto glory from His Grace Samuel Kleda while attending a
meeting in Ghana. He said the first thing that came to his mind was to thank
God for life and death of his mother.
The
Cardinal expressed gratitude to the Holy See and President of the Republic of
Cameroon and wife for their condolence messages and concerned. He told the
mourners President Paul Biya was the first to send him a message of condolence.
He said contrary to what people think, he and President Paul Biya are not
enemies. He explained he has always told the president what he thinks is right
whenever they meet.
Among
the sixteen Bishops and Archbishops that took part in the Eucharistic
Celebration was Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea,
PierroPioppo, former Arch Bishop of Yaounde His Grace Victor TonyeBakot and the
retired Bishop of Mamfe, Mgr Francis TekeLysinge.
The
Social Democratic Front, SDF National Chairman, Ni John FruNdi, the Special
Adviser of Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Francis Fonye, local administrative,
municipal and traditional authorities and a cross section of the population
also came out in their numbers to bid farewell to the decease.
Before
the burial, the state did not only make security dispositions but had also
rehabilitated the stretch from Kimbo Squares through St Augustine College, SAC
Junction to Kikaikelaki. Unfortunately, the heavy rains that day rendered the
road mud-cursed.
The
authorities of ENEO had also dispatched a huge contingent of technical team not
only to avoid power cuts but most importantly to install streets lights in
Kikaikelaki during the vigil Mass Kikaikelaki Parish.
In
a close to thirty minutes homily at the vigil mass, Bamenda Auxiliary Bishop
MgrAgapitusNfon said Yaa Catherine was the Mother of Cameroon by virtue of her
faith and age and given that she was the oldest Catholic Christian in the
country. Her diverse background, he said could be responsible for her long life
on earth. North west Governor and wife attended the vigil among other
dignitaries.
Biography
Yaa
Catherine was born in 1897 around the Kikaikelaki area into a polygamous
family. She was last in a family of seven; four girls and three boys. Her
father was a migrant from Bamoun and a descendant of Royal Family and her
mother was from Nkor in Noni Sub Division. In the 20s she married to ThomasTumi.
They gave birth to their first daughter OdiliaGhaila as pagans. Yaa Catherine
was baptized December 17, 1926 together with her daughter.
After
Baptism, Catherine and Thomas got married as Christians on December 20, 1926.
After their marriage, the husband left for a business trip to Nigeria and after
a long wait she decided to join him there. In Nigeria she gave birth to three
children all girls. Of her seven children, only three are alive including
Christian Cardinal Tumi’ who is the first to be baptized in the Kikaikelaki
Catholic Church. Yaa Catherine lives behind three children and over 150 grand, great, and great, great grandchildren.