THE PYTHON COMPASS OF KOM

Migration is an integral part of human history. The movements and splitting up of the Tikar clan, which constitutes a major fraction of the North West Region, account for the present-day settlements of most ethnic groups and villages. These groups migrated for diverse reasons. They moved either in the search of fertile areas to farm on or in the quest for safer terrain with a vantage position where an approaching enemy tribe could easily be spotted in case of an attack as tribal conflicts were common at the time. For the Kom people, at the top of these reasons was the spiritual factor.

It is recounted that many years ago, the Kom people were welcomed by the people of Babessi and both fons came into an alliance. They lived in harmony for years till the fon (king) of Babessi became intimidated by the resilience of the fast-growing Kom fondom. Kom had a strong healthy and energetic male population and this was a sharp contrast to the dwindling male population of Babessi. The latter was diminishing in number, stature and productivity.

The Babessing fon's insecurities transformed to envy and hatred. He was anxious each time he visited the Kom side of the settlement because he knew that in the eventuality of war, they were going to be effortlessly crushed by the Koms. To evade such a fate, he had to come up with a strategy on how to contain the growth of his presumed threat.

Picture by ArtivitySB

With time, he tried to get into the fon of Kom's head. He did all he could to convince him that their thrones were not secure, especially with the many vibrant, ambitious and eligible young men around. At first, the Kom fon, Muni, dismissed this as unfounded fears because he believed in the loyalty of his subjects. But the fon of Babessi finally got into his head when he explained that the increase in the population had brought about an increase in civil disobedience and if the growth rate kept rising, it was going to be difficult for them to rule in the near future.

The Babessi leader then persuaded the fon of Kom to join him in getting rid of all young men who were either potential threats to the throne or a little difficult to manage. Like the fon of Babessi suggested, two thatched houses should be constructed. It was agreed that the houses were going to have just one door each and were going to be fortified by 'medicine' that was going to lock the doors and prevent anyone trapped inside from escaping.

Picture by ArtivitySB

Everything was executed as planned and when the men were trapped in the houses, it was set ablaze. However, not long after the incident, the Fon Muni was shocked when he saw faces of Babessi men that ought to have been dead going about their daily affairs. It then dawned on him that he had been tricked and indeed, he had. His friend had made a secret outlet facing his side of the settlement. So while the Kom people were consumed by flames, the Babessis snuck out without being noticed.

In anger, he hit his treacherous friend's head with his guitar; some say it was a harp. The blow was so hard that it left an indentation on the target's head and this was regarded as a mark of shame. In frustration and regret, he cursed the Babessi people, promising them vengeance. He entrusted his people to his sister Nandong after giving her firm instructions on how to proceed in his absence and committed suicide by hanging.

The drops of water from Fon Muni's decomposed body formed a lake while the maggots that dropped into the pond turned into very big fish. When the Babessi people discovered the lake and informed their leader, he rallied a group of men and they went fishing for the royal family. They were accompanied by eager villagers who wanted to see and even enjoy the fruits of the lake, if possible. A few Kom people followed them but they showed no interest in the fish.

Once the men had caught enough fish for the royal family, their leader permitted everyone to go in and fish but the Koms refused to take part in the activity or go close to the water. When almost everyone was in the lake, it turned upside down and buried the men, women and children. Their fon, who watched from a little distance away in the shade as his people fished, survived together with his subjects who didn't enter the water.

Now that late fon's revenge plan had been executed, the Koms came close to the turned pond to wait for a sign as was promised by the deceased. A python, the spirit of their leader, emerged and they followed its trail under the leadership of Nadong from place to place till it disappeared in Laikom, their present location.

One thing is evident from the Kom migrant history (just as it is common with a good number of clans of the North West Region) – the importance of ancestral beliefs and their influence on migration. So far as the clan’s god had deemed it pertinent for there to be a movement then the folk had no alternative than to move. After all, it’s for the general good of the clan. 

Traditional customs and beliefs are experiencing great modifications especially amidst influence from other cultures. In as much as this influence can’t be avoided, customs that have a link with migration are hardly neglected or handled with a lukewarm attitude. Wherever the gods/ancestors settled the sites are considered sacred and warrant special sacrificial rite(s).

For those who are versed with the annual cultural festivals of the North West, they would know that the sites that host clan gods are usually visited and special rituals and incantations are performed and sung before the activities (which in most clans run for a week) that mark the cultural festivals are launched. Success and achievement are tailored by the gods. So, one takes his god/ancestor for granted.

N.M.