Pa Tanifum Augustine Ambe
Pa John Chenwi was popularly known to the family and friends as Pa Mbountih, Aloum, John Bafut….etc.
He was more than a father, an uncle, a friend, a community leader and most importantly, a Catechist who orchestrated the opening of the first church in Essimbi in those days. Or served as a leader in the church at Nsoh, Bafut.
To his immediate children, that is: Mado, Chrysanctus, Joseph, Esther, Paul , Rev Dr Gregory, and the other children who went before him, Pa John and the late wife, were role models in hard work, family fostering and strict religious nurturing, cultural acquisition right from infancy. He taught his children the value of staying calm in the face of chaos. Encouraging those in despair, taking care of and being responsive to others’ needs, and being authoritative but lenient. Pa John had a genuine heart that endeared everybody to him. This compassionate heart attracted many people to him, and we can say without any doubt that he was the most popular father in the family. So popular that most of us considered him more as a friend.
Pa John was a skilled blacksmith who worked with metal, iron and steel. He created parts that were used for buildings, vehicles, bicycles, machines, hunting guns and all the like. If he were in a developed country like the U.S., he would have had many patents and maybe won prestigious awards for his craftsmanship and skills.
Pa John was one of the only moving pharmacists in the entire Bafut, Essimbi, Wum, etc. Selling pharmaceutical products that were rare to come by, because there were neither hospitals nor clinics in these localities in those days.
Pa John did a lot. He was a businessman and entrepreneur who had one of the first provisional stores in Essimbi and Nsoh/Bafut, that carried articles that were rare to come by in those localities. Many people flocked to the house to gain from his beneficence and hospitality of him and his late wife mamma Odilia Sirri. Pa’s house in Esimbi and in Nso/Bafut were the guest homes that many people stopped in, whether in transit or looking for a new location to settle.
Both Pa and Ma were also ardent farmers and traders. They would load tippers of foodstuff from Essimbi to Nsoh/Bafut and Mankon Town; and tippers of articles back to Befang, Wum and Essimbi.
Pa was additionally a skillful innovator, whose home served as a modern-day Airbnb. Except that he did all these services for Free. And that’s’ why he earned the endearing titles of Pa Essimbi or John Bafut.
The Tanifum’s family is also fittingly indebted to Pa John Chenwi. Not only did some of us stay with him and he sent us to school, but among other trusted qualities, he was a confidant in the family. It was to him that Papa Gregory Che Tanifum confided many of his wishes that were to be followed when he passed. While we are here moaning, Pa John is in a better place, rejoicing with his sisters (Mamma Rose Manka, Mamma Ludwina Nchang, Mamma Bertha Sirri, his loving wife Mamma Odilia Sirri), Papa Gregory Tanifum, Pa’s children who passed before him and now, Fred Neba, his grandson, who loved his grandpa so much that he decided that he would follow him immediately to the other side.
Pa Tanifum
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Pa Nkweh, Aloum,Pa Mbouuntii, the only remaining uncle and Fred “Bro We Do How" faire well yonder, we love you but God, your creator best know why He has called you so soon, especially Fred. You are omniscient God; we cannot ask any questions. Take all the glory and thanks. Adieu Aloum and Fred.