Son of Bum (Fonfuka Trip 2)

We spent the night in the palace, and the next morning talked with the Fon, visited the palace church, preached to the palace residents, had a ceremony for me to become a "son of Bum," and then took a historical tour with the Fon around the compound...

 The Fon on his throne.  He is the paramount Fon over many other sub-Fons and villages of the Bum people.

 Getting a palace robe...

 and cap...

and "blessing" of the fon

The Fon and his new son of Bum.  He gave me a name that means "messenger of the palace."  

 Group shot of some of the palace family and visitors

 

 The Fon is very big into the history of his people.  The Union Jack flag was given to his father when his father was in England fighting for Cameroon independence in 1958.  I also saw an original photograph of Queen Elisabeth II in 1958 with another Fon. 

 Inside this house are buried three former Fons: the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. 

 Meeting the oldest lady at the palace compound

 Eating foo-foo corn, okra sauce, and beef before our long trek back...and of course, I cleaned my plate.

Walking our gift back to Fonfuka...a goat from the Fon

 Trekking back 2 1/2 hours to Fonfuka...this time we got to go down most of the way! 

The guys found one rare cell-phone network spot where we called home for the first time. 

 Loading our goat as we left town

 Men digging the grave of their "brother."  He was buried in the front yard of the house where he was born 40 years ago.  Pastor Julius was able to briefly preach as the men worked, but we had to leave before the burial.  They a ways to go before they were done, and we had a long ways to drive. 

Our friend Roger on the left whose brother died.  This is his father, a sub-chief to the Paramount Fon of the Bum people.  Pray for the people of Bum...close to ten villages.