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.