THE STONING CEREMONY
On Tuesday, 7th June 2022, the Mankon people congregated at the village palace plaza in multitudes from far and near. After the missing fon, Fon Angwafo III had been mourned and the new fon revealed, one of the necessary and highly symbolic ceremonies that followed was the stoning ritual. Seeing the newly crowned fon run while being chased and shot with some objects was quite a spectacle. Many found this intriguing and couldn't comprehend why a fon would be shot at by his subjects and kingmakers. The motive of this ceremony is interesting and it observes specific guidelines with respect to traditional rites and rituals. The central figure during this ceremony is the new leader. Once the missing king has been put to sleep by the powers that be and the kingmakers, royal children and some clan heads "catch" and enthrone the new fon, a date is then picked for the mourning and revelation and presentation of the newly enthroned fon to the public. During the revelation, the st...