Following a successful coronation event, CRTV’s Albert Njie Mbonde, now HRM Njie Mbonde, has officially taken over the chieftaincy stool of Bokwaongo, a village in Buea Subdivision, in Cameroon’s Southwest Region.
On June 7, 2025, all roads led to Bokwaongo, as locals, friends, colleagues, traditional rulers, administrative officials and well-wishers from all over Cameroon and beyond, thronged to Bokwaongo to witness the coronation of the CRTV Political Desk Editor and erstwhile Sports Editor. He takes over as the 5th monarch of Bokwaongo village.
Present at the coronation event were traditional rulers from Fako, led by the Paramount Ruler of Buea, HRM Robert Esuka Endeley, who traditionally and officially crowned Chief Njie Mbonde and brought him into their fold as the newest custodian of the tradition of his people and the Bakweries as a whole.
During the event, which was steeped in the Bakweri tradition, various traditional stakeholders took turns to talk to the newly-crown Chief and his people, urging them to work together for the peace, harmony and development of Bokwaongo village.
Locals were urged to give all their support, and follow behind their chosen leader, so that the best can be achieved. To the newly-crowned Chief, he was told to lead his people with love, following in the footsteps of Christ who used the servant-leader approach.
In a speech delivered at the event, the Divisional Officer for Buea, Abba Abdourahman, said the coronation was taking place at a time when the transfer of competencies and resources to communities is being implemented.
He said the coronation, which in effect will put the newly-crowned Chief into the Southwest Chiefs Conference, is coming at a time when: “There’s so much expectation placed in the House of Chiefs; you, therefore, have to live up to these expectations like all other leaders.”
He added that “this is coming in a context where participation in leadership is increasingly demanding a higher quality of our intervention”.
The DO urged the new Chief to act as a primary development agent in his community and to spare no effort in creating unity among all. He was also called upon to manage all land-related issues with justice and tact, given the dicey nature of such issues.
HRM Albert Njie Mbonde now sits on the Bokwaongo throne that was previously occupied by HRM Ekana Molua, who transcended into the world beyond, to join his ancestors.
By Andrew Nsoseka
