Bebe Manga's Voice Continues to deliver...

By Joyce Ashuntantang 

In life she had no biological children of her own but her death proved that she had used her voice to deliver a mammoth crowd that showed up at her wake yesterday at the Limbe municipal stadium. It is this crowd with persons cutting across every ethnic , age and gender grouping that welcomed the  casket carrying the remains of  the  polyglotic singer born Elizabeth Bessem Manga. Her mortal remains entered the municipal stadium to the sonorous sounds of the brass band churning popular gospel tunes. It was a hair raising moment. By 10.30 pm Elizabeth Bessem Manga alias Bebe Manga lay in state, her body resplendent in a queenly lavenda outfit befitting the grand diva that she was. Her baby face did not lose its charm in death; her beauty still shown through in spite of her earthly transition to the world beyond. Her gilded casket seemed at home amongst the carefully chosen fresh flowers that graced the canopy which had become an instant shrine. As some dignitaries took their turn in viewing the remains of the diva, the roving ambassador/artist Roger Milla flanked by veteran artists Sam Mbende, Sam Fan Thomas, Henry Njoh and Nkotti Francois made their entrance into the municipal stadium.

It was now time for Bebe’s artistic family to mourn her with the rhythms that had formed an integral part of her life. Ms. Mary Mandi opened the way; a consummate guitarist, she tickled the guitar strings and the resulting sounds accompanied her velvety voice in  her hit song “Na Wetin Be Man” to the thunderous applause of the crowd. Her song underlined what The  Preacher had so succinctly captured in Ecclesiastes, “vanity of vanities; all is vanity”. Then came the makossa maestros in succession, Sam Fan Thomas, Djene Djento, Axel Mouna, Charlie Nelle  Emile Kange, Nkotti Francois,  Njoreh, Ann Nollo including stars of other musical genres like Ateh Francis alias Bazore. As each artist hit one of his or her signature tune, Bebe Manga’s children a.k.a her fans went into a frenzy. Like a Greek chorus the fans’ chants, shouts and tears reaffirmed that Bebe Manga had indeed lived a fulfilling life. She had enriched the earth and the earth was already missing her. Some of her songs like Amio, Esele Mba, Djiya Kamba, Na meya made their mark.

From L-R, With Veteran Cameroon Artists Henry Njoh and Sam Fan Thomas at the wake

 I was moved and could not resist joining these artists to celebrate the woman whose  poetic flair had put the kenyang language on a world stage. It was therefore only normal that I should acknowledge her achievement in this regard with a performance in Kenyang. With the band playing Bebe Manga’s Amio in the Background,  I launched into a monologue celebrating the golden voice which had not only given  her the children she did not have but a voice that paved the way and narrowed the African continent as her music  quickly made rounds from Ivory Coast, to Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, Equatorial Guinea etc. 

Bebe Manga (2001) Performing at the Launching of our movie Potent Secrets

By the time I was leaving the stadium, the voice of  Njume Loko trailed me, and Bebe’s casket was now closed and ready for the journey to her final resting place in Tinto, Manyu Division, but the verdict was already written in the early morning sky: Bebe Manga’s voice will live on because it has been trapped in time and will never die!!
    

Comments

[Judith Foyabo]

Thank You Dr. J. for this moving tribute, the whole narrative came to life as I read but of course without BeBe Manga. Did anyone capture this in film?

[Omer Songwe]

Thank you very much Joyce for this tribute to Bebe one of Cameroon's greatest musician. She was truly a mother to millions! She did not have children? She did have them... the artists she inspired and nurtured, the children who lived with her in Douala, the children who will be inspired by her in years to come! She had them all!

She went beyond the mere concept that a child is that who comes from your womb! I knew Bebe and did asked her how she will be loved to be remembered...and she told me " a humble woman!"

When I think of how short the lives of Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Hendrick and others who passed away at 27 was, then we Cameroonians should thank God that we had her for all these years!

If Henry Njoh is the Keeper of the Temple (Makossa) then she was one of the pearls in that temple!

We give thanks to God for her life Doc!

Omer Songwe

[Elvis]

Great tribute!

[modesta tako]

excellent tribute joyce. thanks for honoring one of our own so eloquently.we're proud of you as well!!!

[Batuo]

Thanks modesta! Bebe Manga deserves all the eloquence we can muster...

[Batuo]

Thanks Elvis for this feedback!

[Batuo]

Thanks Omer! Bebe Manga was indeed one of the pearls inside the temple of Makossa and we can't help but count our blessings for her 60 short years on planet earth and their impact!

[joyce Ashuntantang]

@Judith, Thanks for the compliment/feedback. I believe there's a video because I saw a couple of videographers but I do not know how where and how they will disseminate the footage.

[Bate Bessem]

You keep the Cameroon academia alive. Thumbs up! Doc.

[joyce Ashuntantang]

Thanks Bess!

[Enow Bechem Mbuagbaw]

thanks Dr Joyce for this rich tribute.i think i got my first bayang words from her song ''Band a chi chong",which is the only bayang song i can without stopping and understanding what it means.we will continue to support Batuo world for it is worth it.