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Game-Based Learning plays important role in teaching by making students to collaborate, communicate, interact and work in teams. Strategic games improve the functioning of brain. Gaming creates a dynamic that can inspire learners to develop skills and build an emotional connection to learning and subject matter. Games designed specifically for the purpose of educating children can motivate self learning and problem-solving skills to a great extent. Game-Based Learning simply means including knowledge matter of subject into games. All types of games are learning processes, be it casual gaming for fun, or something serious. Here is one of such games. The student will be able to identify objects and count them
https://youtube.com/c/TaminangThereseN
https://youtube.com/c/TaminangThereseN
African dishes are becoming part and parcel of most kitchens in the world nowadays. Koki and Ripe Plantain is a typical African dish. It is a dish so abundant in the various food nutrients. This traditional dish has become so popular that it is now eaten in many countries of the world because of its richness. The main ingredients used to prepare a tasty Koki and Ripe Plantain dish are,
- koki beans
- ripe plantains
- red palm oil
- tender cocoyam leaves
- magi
- salt
- pepper for those who eat pepper.
https://youtube.com/c/TaminangThereseN
This video shows us the ingredients to prepare a good dish of Koki and Ripe Plantains. Subscribe and share with friends.
- The beans and tender coco-yam leaves are harvested from the farm or bought from the market or store. All the other ingredients are gotten from the store. Spinach can be used where cocoyam leaves are not accessible.
- Soak the full beans grains for about 2 to 3 hours and wash. If crushed, soak and wash immediately.
- Slice the tender cocoyam leaves.
- Grind the beans after washing.
- Put the paste in a mortar, add a bit of salt and magi and stir or beat it for about three to four minutes.
- Add salt and magi to taste. Stir again for some time until it rises and almost double the quantity.
- Add the cocoyam leaves, and then it is ready to tie in bundles.
- Add red palm oil in each bundle before tying.
- Put in a sizable pot, add water and steam for about 45 mins to one hour.
- After grinding blend the paste very well. Add enough water and then all the ingredients in a bowl and mix together.
- Tie in bundles and steam in a sizable pot.
This video presents to you the complete procedure of preparing Koki and Ripe Plantains.
https://youtube.com/c/TaminangThereseN
Some Health Benefits of Koki and Rip Plantains
- The steaming method used in cooking koki retains a lot of vegetable proteins from the beans that are good for the body.
- Red palm oil gives us vitamins and fats.
- The tender cocoyam leaves give us vitamins and help in building our blood.
- Plantains provide us with calcium and starch.
Corn Fufu and Njyama-njyama is a typical African dish, so rich in the various food nutrients. This traditional dish has become so popular that it is now eaten in many countries of the world because of its richness. The main ingredients used to prepare a tasty corn fufu and njyama-njyama dish are as listed below.
Recipe for Corn Fufu and Njyama-njyama
- corn flour
- vegetables (njyama-njyama} also called huckleberry Other leaf vegetables can be used such as bitter leaf.
- vegetable oil
- tomato
- onion
- magi
- salt
- Pepper for those who like it.
- banana leaves
Method for preparing Corn Fufu and Njyama-njyama
Preparing Njyama-njyama
- Harvest the huckleberry (Njyama-njyama) from the farm or buy from the market. The quantity depends on how much fufu and njyama-njyama you want to prepare.Pick the njyama-njyama by removing the hard stems.Wash thoroughly and boil the njyama-njyama for about 20 to 30 minutes, then remove and slice.
- Slice the tomatoes and onion and fry using the vegetable oil and fry about two to three minutes.
- Add salt and magi, and allow to fry for about two or three more minutes depending on the quantity. Pepper can also be added at this stage for those who like it.
- Add the sliced njyama-njyama and stir well. When it is well mixed with the tomato and onion paste, allow it for one or two minutes, then stir and remove from the gas cooker or fireside.
Preparing Corn Fufu
- Trash dry yellow or red corn and grin it at a grinding mill. You may buy already prepared corn flour from a store.
- Put enough water in a sizable pot, depending on your quantity. Allow the water to bubble. Mixed corn flour with water and put in the bubbling water, then stir continuously for about three to four minutes till the dough is thick and tough.
- Add warm water and using a pestle or a wooden spoon , open the dough and let the water go in between the dough down to the bottom of the pot. Then cover and let it cook for about two to three minutes. open and stir till the fufu is smoother, tougher and looks shinny.
- Use the banana leaves to tie. Where there are no banana leaves, you can use film rolls.
- Serve with fried or baked chicken, fish or meat.
Health benefits of Corn Fufu and Njyama-njyama
Corn Fufu and Njyama-njyama is a dish very rich in food nutrients such as,
- carbohydrates
- proteins
- vitamins
- fats and oil
This video shows how to prepare Corn Fufu and Njyama-njyama. View and share it with friends.
https://youtube.com/c/TaminangThereseN
Achu and Yellow soup is a typical African Traditional dish of the Ngemba clan in Cameroon. It is a dish so abundant in the various food nutrients. This traditional dish, because of its richness, has become so popular that it is now eaten all over the country and in many countries of the world. The process to come out with a tasty dish of Achu and Yellow Soup is in three stages; the preparation, the actual pounding, and the Yellow soup preparation.
The Preparation
The main ingredients for preparing Achu and Yellow soup are coco-yams, banana, red palm oil, cow meat and skin, salt, magi, Limestone (Niki), achu soup spices, and pepper. The pepper is only for those who eat it. In my village setting, the coco-yams and banana are harvested from the farm while the other ingredients bought from the market or store. Of course, in a city, one has to buy all the parts. The traditional plates (banana leaves) are also harvested and warmed over a glowing fire then split in rectangular forms ready for use in the second stage to tie the achu (coco-yam fufu) itself. In a city, we use a dish in place of the leaves.
https://youtube.com/c/TaminangThereseN
Banana leaves
The coco-yam and banana are washed and put in a sizable pot, beginning with the coco-yams, then the banana, and finally some tender or young coco-yams at the top. The pot is then covered with banana leaves or foil paper and allow to cook until the coco-yam and banana are soft enough for pounding.
https://youtube.com/c/TaminangThereseN
Pounded coco-yam and banana
The Actual Pounding
When the coco-yam and banana are well cooked,
- Firstly we peel the tender or young coco-yams and pound.
- Then pound the banana and mixed with the pounded coco-yam. This is done in about two or more batches depending on the quantity. Each batch is mixed up with the previous one to keep it continuously soft and smooth. At the end of this stage, all the pounded coco-yam and banana are well mixed until it is smooth to form a dough.
- Water is added if the dough is too tight; otherwise, it is just fine.
- The softer dough or call it fufu is then removed and tied up in bundles known as bundles of achu.
https://youtube.com/c/TaminangThereseN
Yellow Soup Preparation
While the coco-yam and banana are being pounded, the meat and skin is also cooking on the fireplace.
- Firstly, slice the meat and skin and wash it thoroughly.
- Secondly, put in a pot and add enough water, salt, and magi.
- Then, allow to cook until it is soft enough. This can take about thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on the type.
- Mixed the red palm oil and “Niki” in a bowl or pot till it turns pure yellow.
- Drain the stock from the meat and pour it in the bowl or pot. Use a second bowl to mixed the soup well by turning it from bowl to bowl till it is pure yellow and thick enough. You can also use a blender to blend if you have one otherwise continue mixing for about two to three minutes, depending on the quantity.
When these three stages are accomplished then, Achu and Yellow Soup is ready for the table. Yummy!
https://youtube.com/c/TaminangThereseN
Some health benefits of Achu and Yellow Soup
Considering its ingredients, Achu and Yellow Soup is very rich in
- Carbohydrates from the coco-yams.
- Proteins from the meat.
- Vitamins from red palm oil and vegetable.
- Fats oils from the red palm oil.
- Calcium from the yellow soup
- The yellows soup also fixes minor stomach upsets.
The search for recipes has become top of the day, as we see in many search engines. Many people have turned to domestic cooking than ever before because of the quarantine. This attitude, of course, has helped to reduce their family expenses drastically. On my part, in addition to the realization of my backyard garden, I have also discovered that my home skills just got better thanks to the quarantine. I have been able to come out with some typical pastries before I thought only experts could do them well. I also had time to prepare some of my traditional dishes. Here are samples of my homemade stuff during this period of quarantine. My grandchildren have attributed all to grandma, hahaha! Take a look!
Grandma’s yummy bread
Grandma’s yummy cookies
Grandma’s yummy biscuits
Grandma’s yummy banana cake
Grandma’s yummy pancakes
Grandma’s yummy beans and pof pof (Mǝku nǝ̀ ǝkarǝ̀)
Grandma’s yummy barbecue (Ǹnà ǹtonǝ)
Grandma’s yummy roasted fish/chicken and bobolo (Nǝ̀bye bwo ǹgwu ǹtonǝ̀ nǝ̀ mǝ̀nyondo’o) .
Grandma’s yummy achu and yellow soup (Ə̀ku’u nǝ ǹjya- nikǐ)
Grandma’s yummy corn fufu and njama-njama (Ə̀banǝ̀ nǝ̀ ǹjyǎ-nkaŋǝ)
Grandma’s yummy water fufu and eru (Ə̀banǝ casarǝ bwo erù)
Grandma’s yummy boiled cassava and vegetable . (casarǝ̀ nǝ ǹjyǎ-nkaŋǝ̀)
Grandma’s backyard garden (ǹsùŋǝ njyâ ndzǝ̀mbarǝ̀)
In every disappointment, there is a blessing. Dear friends, endeavor to make the most out of every stressful situation like the one we are experiencing. If you don’t have what you cherish, cherish what you have. We have found ourselves in a case whether we appreciate it or not, we have to live with it so long as we have not got a solution. Step by step, day by day, until God‘s plan, is fully revealed. Let us embrace and fight it positively.
My view
When I look at the whole world as it was some months ago and in the present, I see a promising future where hopes shall be restored, fears disappear, social and public life curbed, businesses well managed, international relations well supervised, world health secured and good home discipline not left out of the great transformation that probably will sprout out of the situation we are living now. With great combat on COVID-19 presently, the future seems promising. Surely these advantages will come to realize if we continue to cooperate in the fight against COVID-19. Up till now, everyone is so conscious and so vigilant of every bit of thing happening around them; however, some people are still to realize the necessity of continuous combat on this virus. So, in seven ways, I have examined this beautiful dream.
- A future with restored hopes.
- A future with no fears but confidence in the ways things are done.
- A future with new approach to social and public life.
- A future with well managed businesses.
- A future with well supervised and improved international relations.
- A future where home security and discipline will be more focused on.
- A future with a well secured world health.
For more on the points above, watch the video.
My view
When I look at the whole world as it was some months ago and in the present, I see a promising future where hopes shall be restored, fears disappear, social and public life curbed, businesses well managed, international relations well supervised, world health secured and good home discipline not left out of the great transformation that probably will sprout out of the situation we are living now. With great combat on COVID-19 presently, the future seems promising. Surely these advantages will come to realize if we continue to cooperate in the fight against COVID-19. Up till now, everyone is so conscious and so vigilant of every bit of thing happening around them; however, some people are still to realize the necessity of continuous combat on this virus. So, in seven ways, I have examined this beautiful dream.
- A future with restored hopes.
- A future with no fears but confidence in the ways things are done.
- A future with new approach to social and public life.
- A future with well managed businesses.
- A future with well supervised and improved international relations.
- A future where home security and discipline will be more focused on.
- A future with a well secured world health.
1. A future with restored hopes.
It is but right that what we have all seen and passed through months ago and are still in it now has affected many of us negatively and left many without hope of a better future. There’s no need to be hopeless; in any disappointment, there is a blessing. Looking at how things are unfolding, like the continuous combat on the corona virus, opening up to normality being carefully initiated with everyone involved, the poor and the rich, the old and the young, the governments and lay institutions, we can say there is great hope for the future. If everyone continues to be involved in the fight against this virus, then the advantage is that hopes shall be highly restored and the future brighter.
2. A future with no fears but confidence in the ways things are done.
Fear still lingers in the hearts of many as a result of the present situation. Those who are sick, those who have lost dear ones or have relatives and friends who are suffering, feel hurt. Those working on the front lines and their families, the government, and private business owners, in a nutshell, nearly every one of us carries along a degree of fear in heart because of this situation we find ourselves. Due to the fear, we turn to do one thing or another with a lot of vigilance and care. Thus, when all these daily routines become a habit, a new way of life will surely emanate. When the new way of life is mastered, and new societal norms formed, our fears shall all disappear since we shall be like new people living in a changing society. We shall then leave our homes in confidence to go to a clean, well-organized store, supermarket, orchestra, Church worship, school, wedding ceremony, and what have you. The leverage here maybe that man shall overcome fear, develop more vigilance and confidence in his relationship with neighbors and others, and do simple things well.
3. A future with a new approach to social and public life.
Social life has been so vast and varied that many good and ought things have also happened within making its definition so tricky. It seems gone are those days when human beings had to move too close to one another in many different ways such as friendships, love relationships, infatuations, marriages, lesbianism, homosexuality, public worship, public games, school life, and what have you. These relationships and places brought humans too close to one another, but now a lot of care is being taken thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing, face covering, hand washing, and other measures put in place due to this situation, in the future, people might turn to go very close mostly towards those they highly trust, thereby ensuring respect and care for others.
Public worship presently is experiencing some transformation, an indication that worship procedures shall never be the same again. There is a lot of vigilance and ethical rules put in place that may be maintained when things come to normality. Many people now use social media to worship and praise God. This act may bring about a wider Spread of the Gospel in the future.
With this beneficial tool of social distancing and if this degree of sanity and respect for others is maintained continuously, then shall social and public life curbed positively. Achieving this can help us become creatures of high integrity in the years to come when we must have gotten rid of the situation at hand.
4. A future with well managed businesses and discoveries.
Even though people physically distance themselves, they are using technology in a new way to connect with others. This phenomenon has given rise to the discovery of different techniques of doing things that are good and may continuously improve for a better future. Managers and business operators during this era of COVID-19 have developed very high standards and techniques for handling their businesses. The hygiene and sanitation nature, entrance and exit norms, more online sales, and delivery methods are signs of a better future. Considering the advantage of this change no one may want to go back to old ways. All these are indications that business life seemingly shall never be the same again but improve.
Working from home has been seen to be even more productive and stress-free than before. This experience has also helped to reduce the cost of depreciation and maintenance of office equipment, ensuring a better future for businesses. The cost of these types of equipment may also decrease in the future due to the reduction in their uses. This experience might influence both employers and employees to love and schedule more work from home in the future than now. Some people may also gain online jobs thereby fostering development and employment.
In the line of education, the advantage is that there are hopes of more online teaching/learning, and more techniques and discoveries in doing this in the future than ever before. School staffs have also discovered different ways and techniques in meeting their kids online, even down to kids 1 – 12, a discovery that might have come to stay for a better future. Online classes and zoom meetings have been the order of the day and seen to be comfortable and productive. Connecting with the world online in any form of business is more accessible than ever before, as at-home media consumption has increased dramatically, influencing all aspects of life. More students may turn to take online courses effectively in the future rather than going into the classrooms.
5. A future with well supervised and improved international relations.
The movement now from one country to another is well supervised than ever before, thanks to COVID-19. These measures might only continue to improve because of the hard lessons governments have learned from this ugly situation.
Screening and checks at the airports and seaports, if continuously intensified, shall be able to control better, further outbreaks of viruses that may spread this wild.
More help is now directed to developing countries, thus ensuring more world health and peace. The vast world powers shall tend to think “world,” not just states or continents for COVID-19, in its manner of spread, has taught the global world that one man’s problem is everyone’s problem.
6. A future where home security and discipline will be more focused on.
Parents have developed more delight in tendering their children at home than before. Parents who sometimes feel relieved and rested when their kids are out to school have now with joy preferred to keep them at home and follow them up as long as it is safe without complaining. Family members are seen doing more household crafts like baking and cooking than before. They understand that health comes first for health is life. This mentality ensures less restaurant expenditures, more unity, love, creativity, and understanding within the family now and can be more in the future.
Christian life shall surely experience a boom because children are now learning a lot of sound Christian doctrine and practices right in their homes since home prayer life has intensified with the use of social media.
With the experience of COVID-19 in mind, a second thought might be given to the construction of houses where a quarantine section shall be considered necessary for other health issues, not necessarily COVID-19. Such an achievement might help to control the spread of infections at family level thus ensuring good family and societal health in the future.
7. A future with a well secured world health.
As routines and schedules change to meet the demands of isolation, many people have turned to workout programs and indoor games. Some now focus on taking care of their own physical and psychological needs and those of friends and loved ones. Many seek ways to cope with stress and to keep themselves busy when bored. All these guarantee a better world health in the future.
Conclusion
We shall all realize and enjoy all these advantages if only we continue to combat COVID-19 using all possible means for its complete eradication. Let us all cooperate in quarantine, face covering, hand washing, ethical business norms, care, and respect for one another to secure a future full of hopes, confidence, integrity, good health, well organized businesses, discipline, more discoveries and employment.
Someone I know, a colleague and a friend,
Taminang Theresia N. (a colleague and friend)
A Priests and a Teacher, on 24/7,
A born Teacher, a dutiful Teacher,
A born Priest, a pure Priest,
Lovely to kids, loved by poor children,
Simple with colleagues, always the play way,
Here he comes, Kwa kwa! he goes,
Kwa kwa! they respond the old and the young, with wells of smiles and jokes.
Let’s go meet him, here he comes,
The kids would scream, and leap and say,
I want to touch your head, I want to climb on your back,
Carry me Father, let me see your fingers.
Let me touch your ears, … the kids always on demand.
Yes! Yes! Aha! Aha! is always the response.
How they loved you Father, how we loved you too!
Where are you? Let’s go get him now!
On his way to Mbelem, oh no!
On his way to Mboung, oh no!
On his way to Mbelewa, oh sorry!
On his way to Nebung, oh sorry!
On his way to Manda, let’s see!
On his way to Menteh, maybe!
On his way to Nkwen Palace, oh no! No one saw him this day.
Where could he be? I know! I know!
There he goes, the weary pilgrim, now marching in with the Angels and the Saints.
With shouts of joy and dancing, as the angels sound the trumpets, he matches on and on and on, towards the throne of grace.
BYE BYE FATHER ANGEL, we all say at last, with all the hope in mind, that one day we shall gather again in the city of God. Pray for us and we for you.
Forever in our hearts and in the hearts of our children. RIP Father Angel
You served God as a very good Piarist Priest in our Village Nkwen, in Cameroon – Africa for a long time. Thank you.
WHO IS SHE?
Born on the 2nd of January 1873 at Alencon in France, she was baptized two days after, on the 4th of January same year. When she was growing up, she thought she would be a nun. She received her First Holy Communion on the 8th of May 1884 and was confirmed on the 14th of June the same year. On the 9th of April 1888, she entered the Carmelite Monastery at Lisieux as a Postulant, at the permission of her Father. She practiced the virtues of humility, evangelical simplicity, and firm confidence in God. She is my Patron Saint, Therese of the Child Jesus, also known as Saint Therese of Lisieux and The Holy Face.
HER INTERIOR SCHOOL
Therese of the Child Jesus is well known throughout the Church’s history as a doctor of souls. I once visited her school of holiness when I read her autobiography and decided to be a student in her school. This gentle soul in her interior school of holiness is awesome and can be very instrumental in the life of any Christian who turns to her intercession. I love reading her story again and again. Her prayer life as a whole, her schedule, and simple constant communion with God must have been the classroom where all teaching, learning, and research work took place for her to come out with her mission. Of course, her teacher being the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother her model.
HER MISSION
I’m always touched when I think of the kind of deep love Saint Therese had for God so much that in her last moment here on earth she declared her mission saying,
“I feel that I am about to enter my rest … but I also feel that my mission is going to begin. My mission to make God loved as I love him, to give my little ways to souls. If God grants my desire, my heaven will be lived on earth, until the end of time. This is not impossible since from the very heart of the beatific vision, the angels watch over us”.
My mission is love P.9.
She developed a lot of confidence in God as I see in most of her writings, like this very heartfelt one,
“O my God, Blessed Trinity I declare to love you and make you loved.”
Therese of the Child Jesus
I can see that she had a passionate desire to make God loved as she loves him or as they loved each other, a precious skill she must have acquired only in her interior school. Her self discipline and openness in little things fostered a more significant encounter between God and herself that she intended to serve God even hereafter. I also learned that Therese’s mission actually started after her death, her mission to spend heaven on earth, if God grants her desires, to make God loved. She is one of the most loved saints nowadays because she keeps on fulfilling her mission: Making God’s children love him through her intercession – making Love loved. This Aspect of hers truly amazes me.
HER PRAYER LIFE
I’ve always thought prayer is “talking and listening to God” until I discovered more about prayer when I reflected on what my patroness wrote as a definition for prayer from her experience of prayer.
“A glance directed towards heaven, a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trials and joys.”
Therese of the Child Jesus
In her last conversation with her spiritual mother, Therese recounted a moment she encountered God’s glory. She said,
“…well I was beginning the way of the cross and all of a sudden, I was seized with such a violent love for God that I cannot explain it except by saying that it was as if I had been totally plunged into fire. Oh! What fire and what sweetness at one and the same time! I was burning with love and I felt that one moment, one second longer, and I could not have supported its ardor without dying. I understood what the saint said about this state that they had experienced so often. I experienced it only for an instant, and then I fell back into my usual state of dryness.”
Therese of the Child Jesus
Therese’s attitude in prayer was that of abandonment. Even when it was difficult for her to meditate or reflect due to her health, her simplicity, peace of mind, and honesty in little things saw her being carried along by God’s love as a child carried in her Father’s arms. She longed to do great things, but her health could not permit her. In prayers, She was in-between being predominantly active and passive; thus, with no strength of her own, she left her heart predominantly open for the love of God to manifest itself to the fullest. How did she do this? By doing little things in extraordinary ways. We can learn from Therese that we can’t depend on our power to do things or to pray but on the grace of God’s love.
Another amazing thing in her was her way of praying. Therese never cherished vocal prayers or could not stand a wearisome reiteration of words, but she prefers to silence all her personal circuits to give deep attention in listening to God. She realized that it is when she was in silence that God speaks to her, a very important aspect of her interior school. She wanted to be real as much as possible not to be drawn into ready-made prayers, but however, she said she loved the Divine office.
I also learned that Therese usually recites the ‘Our Father‘ prayer very slowly during her moments of spiritual dryness as she said,
“Sometimes when my mind is in such dryness, that it is impossible for me to draw one thought to unite myself with God I recite very slowly an ‘our Father’ then the angelic situation, this prayer carry me away, they nourish my soul so much more than if I had recited them quickly one hundred times.”
Therese of the Child Jesus
This simply means she took her time to get all the meaning and sweetness of every word, phrase, and sentence of the prayer. And this exercise usually carries her out of dryness into a soul-nourishing experience. Amazing!
HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VIRGIN MOTHER
Her relationship with the virgin Mother was so real that she said,
“The Blessed Virgin shows me that she is not displeased with me and never fails to protect me as soon as I invoke her. I turn towards her and she always takes care of my needs as a tenderness of a mother.”
Therese of the Child Jesus
This shows that in her interior school, Therese never despised the Virgin Mother she learned from her and obtained her benefits. She confirms she took care of her needs, which means her prayers through the Virgin Mother were always answered.
HER EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE
Her radical faith and trust in God must have emanated from her early childhood experience of separation from her family. At the age of 3 years, due to ill health Therese was separated from her family and was only reunited after eleven months. This experience made her clung to her mother with a lot of passion. She could not endure being outside her mother’s presence. After her mother’s death, she clung to her family with the same zeal as she said,
“I could not bear the company of strangers and found my joy only within the intimacy of the Family.”
Therese of the Child Jesus
It is fantastic too that as Therese entered the convent, she clung to God in the same way she clung to her family. This childhood experience was just a glimpse of the interior school she came to establish as a nun, a preparation of what will come to pass in her life as a nun. Her unshakable or radical faith and dependence on God has gotten a significant contribution from her childhood experience.
HER ILL HEALTH
In sickness, Therese knew she had no strength to support herself but believed God would support her soul without her support. She believed she leans on a rock that holds her life and that she holds not the rock, but the rock holds her. This attitude of hers actually astonishes me.
In her interior institution, while learning a lot from God, the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and Mother Mary, Saint Therese in some of her poems taught us many lessons such as abandonment, love, and self-sacrifice, fortitude, tenderness, purity, etc. To understand and imitate her life is to make us men, women, brothers, and sisters of faith. Just as she taught her novices with her words and examples, so she is teaching us today. Here are two of her amazing poems:
A GLOSS ON THE DIVINE
“Without support, yet with support.
Living without light, in darkness,
I am wholly being consumed by love.
I have no other support than my God.
And now I proclaim what I value near him.
Is to see and feel my soul
Supported without any support.”
Therese of the Child Jesus
When I read this poem the first time, I was like startled, and then I asked myself, “what is the meaning of ‘gloss’?” From my dictionary and got it,
gloss
/ɡläs/
noun
- 1.shine or luster on a smooth surface.
I was so moved as this definition made me understand the poem better. Amazingly, I see how this gentle soul describes her smooth leaning on God, her self abandonment in God’s hands, especially in moments when her heart was willing, but her body could not take her to where she wishes to reach in her calling due to her ill health.
LIVING ON LOVE
Living on love is giving without limit.
Without claiming any value here below.
Ah! I give without counting, truly sure.
That when one loves one does not keep counts!
Overflowing with tenderness, I have given everything.
To his divine heart… lightly I run.
I have nothing left but my only wealth
Living on love.
Living on love is banishing every fear.
Every memory of past faults.
I see no imprint of my sins.
In a moment love has burnt out everything.
Therese of the Child Jesus
Wow! what a love song. If there is a word in the whole wide world so difficult to define, it is “LOVE,” but here is a very simple, very true definition of love from a pure heart. Amazing! “Giving without limit, without counting, overflowing with tenderness, banishing fear, etc.”
CANONIZATION OF SAINT THERESE
After her death on the 30th of September 1897, at the age of 24, Saint Therese was declared venerable by Pope Benedict XV in 1921. In 1923 Pope Pius XI promulgated a decree which beatified Therese, describing her as the “Star of his Pontifical reign.” Finally, on the 17th of May 1925, Therese Martin, also known as Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, was canonized at St. Peter’s Basilica in the presence of thirty-four cardinals, more than two hundred Arch Bishops and Bishops, innumerable priests religious and others. The Basilica was decorated with garlands of roses. She was also proclaimed a doctor of the Church.
In fact, I’m impressed at the number of people present at her canonization, which indicates how Therese had touched the lives of many with her simple ways. This inevitably came to pass as a result of her dedication to her interior school, where she listened, communicated, and acted according to God’s will for her. She is said to be one of the most loved saints of this century because she keeps on fulfilling her mission. She is the woman most loved by the world after the mother of God. A doctor has done a lot of research, passed several exams, and is an expert in his work field. So was Saint Therese in her vocation. She did little things in extraordinary ways showing us that it is not only in doing great and mighty things that one deserves this title. Yes, she died but still lives and has visited so many countries of the world, something she wished she could do while on earth but limited by health.
Her Intercessory Power
I was so astonished when I read about her intercessory power and decided to seek her intercession one time I had a difficulty. I prayed the “Glory Be Novena to Saint Therese.”
I was standing in front of the whole school that morning, conducting morning devotion. The latecomers had been stopped from running in except the kindergartens who were allowed to join their mates on their line. Suddenly, up came one of the latecomers, my class kids, Tumi, running directly towards me with a flower in hand. He must have harvested it on his way to school, for he lives on a hillside two kilometres from the school compost. The other pupils watched with amazement, eager to see what Tumi will be up to. Innocently, he offered me the flower saying, “Madam, take your ‘fiawer’. ” The whole school burst into laughter. 😁😁😁 Tumi was so happy😀as I received the flower, carried him up, and embraced him. No one could understand what this was all about, but I who have read that Saint Therese usually indicates answered prayers with flower signs. This happens the first time I took the novena. I thought it was a coincidence, but my second experience made me actually believe.
I was kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament on the 9th day of my Novena to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, and as I was meditating, my eyes caught the bouquet of flowers that was standing at the altar. Just of a sudden, a rose left the bouquet and fell on the floor. This again to me was a confirmation of answered prayers through Saint Therese, and this made me believe that what is said of her is true that when you seek her intercession, she mostly shows signs of answered prayers with flowers. No doubt, she is also popularly known as “The Little Flower of Jesus,” or only “The Little Flower.“
Truly my patroness amazes me, and I’m proud to be a student in her school. She is one of the greatest saints of modern times.
On a farm plot, you will clear the grass, till the soil, form the garden beds, apply manure, and nurse the seeds. This is not the same as my backyard garden when I have to improvise. I go to the shop, buy the containers, the soil, some seeds and seedlings, and some manure. Back home, I fill the containers with the ground after poking holes underneath. I manure it, nurse the seeds and transplant the seedlings then set them in order at the backyard. My seeds here are huckleberry and seedlings; pepper, tomato, water leaf, and basil. With a watering can, some water is sprinkled to give the soil moisture, which, together with warmth from the sun rays, will enable germination. The seeds then take at most ten days to germinate and give roots, respectively, depending on the weather. This is always at the beginning of summer when the snow has all disappeared, and the weather becomes warmer.
This is how the garden will look like after planting.
I keep doing watering especially on days of no rain, making sure I don’t put too much water since the soil is not that deep as on a farm plot. This video shows how it looks like in three weeks. I will then add organic or artificial manure to enrich the soil for the vegetable to have more nutrients and continue growing. By five to six weeks, depending on the weather, I should be expecting fresh vegetables also called “Njama-njama” in my Local language.
By the sixth or seventh week my vegetable is fully ready for harvesting. The tomato and pepper usually take a bit longer. By the second or third harvest of the huckleberry, they will also be ready.
This is the end result. Vegetable is ready for the table. O yes! “We eat to live.”
My pepper plant is always awesome. it will continue to blossom till winter comes and winters it.
And this is how my backyard garden came to reality. All thanks to God for the mystery of plant growth. I did the preparation, I nursed the seeds and did some watering but I do not know how the plants grow. I just see them germinate and increase in size everyday. God will never stop doing miracles.
Do well to watch the video below.
My COVID19 Pentecost Quarantine Mass Experience
Pictures and names of Animals
Pictures and Names of Birds
Pictures and Names of Insects
As early as 5:30 AM that morning, I got up, hurried with my morning chores and got myself ready because I never wanted to miss any bit of the Mass. This quarantine style of Mass with my Bishop on Pentecost 2020 was first of its kind in my life as a Christian and as compared to the past when I will follow a one week Pentecost Week program which usually ends with a big Pentecost Mass. My Bishop on TV with a multitude of Christians watching all over the world, tells me, “With God everything is possible”. I preferred the screen at the basement because it was the largest in our home and as usual I started following the Mass deeply as though I was in Church with no knowledge that my daughter was observing me and taking some snap shots with her cell phone.
After the Penitential Rite and the proclamation of the word, came the invocation of the Holy Spirit in a song by the singing minister. As I kneel listening keenly and reflecting on the lyrics of the song, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit right in me. Then I prayed asking the Holy Spirit to also touch my family, friends and Christians all over the world who are having the same quarantine experience as I do and bring a powerful solution to the crisis brought upon human beings by the Corona Virus.
The Bishop proceeds with a very lively sermon filled with the spirit of Pentecost. He invites everyone to be open and receive the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit as of the first Pentecost for the renewal of the whole world. I was filled with awe as I sat listening to his heart searching sermon.
The beautiful ending of the Bishop’s sermon, “COME HOLY SPIRIT! COME HOLY SPIRIT! COME HOLY SPIRIT!”, was another spirit filled and touching moment that was like the Bishop just pulled the Holy Spirit out from heaven to earth and I felt His powerful presence in the room.
Kneeling before the altar; as I see through the TV, at Consecration, I surrendered myself, my family and the whole world to the Holy Spirit. As I followed the Eucharistic Prayer, I was touched that much was being said about the Holy Spirit that I understood more than before.
Then Came the moment of Spiritual Communion when I recited the prayer with passion, opening the door to let Him enter, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with me”. Rev 3:20
During Announcements I decided to celebrate Pentecost with my Bishop in this way. His announcements were full of good news on how gradually the Churches are going to open their doors again for Christian worship as a community. Remember, one definition of the Church is “A Community of Christians” and not individual Christians in their homes.
Even Though Christians were not in Church physically, they were Spiritually as you can see our Bishop blessing us as he exits the physically empty Church. There’s a song that says, “One thing I ask of the Lord, one thing I long, to live in the house of God everyday of my life”. Yes, this longing eats up every true Christians at this moment of the Coronavirus pandemic when the Church’s doors are physically closed.
So long as the Spirit lives and moves and renews the face of the earth, so will Mother Earth continue to produce her fruits and take care of her up springs, even though she mourns and groans waiting for the right moment that she will open her mouth and swallow the ugly Corona virus, leaving no trace of it, “The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth”. (Rev. 12:16) As you can see, Seeds have sprouted on my quarantine backyard garden. They are growing and flourishing assurance of life and continuity.
Come to think of it, why have we to go through all this quarantine thing? The blame is all on the devilish COVID-19 pandemic. But, remember, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God”, not even the ugly Corona-virus for “… in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us”(Rom. 8:35-37). Let’s keep trusting God.
Mastering the Alphabet 3; Double Sounds; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Mastering the Alphabet 2; Sounds in words; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Mastering the Alphabet 1 Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Mastering The Alphabet 1, 2 and 3; Enabling Reading For Slow Learners E-book Series
Days of the week and months of the year in Nkwen
Pictures and Names of Insects With high combat on COVID-19 the future seems promising (Advantages of COVID-19)
There are very many grass types found in the various regions of the world influenced by their different climates. Here are some types found in Nkwen.
Grass Types And Vegetables
Pictures and names of Animals
Pictures and Names of Birds
Pictures and Names of Insects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXBTPJCtQLQ&list=PL_ihUsy6_PLKYRhQJ1B65SZ5XN1sLjNBk
Mastering the Alphabet 2; Sounds in words; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Mastering The Alphabet 1, 2 and 3; Enabling Reading For Slow Learners E-book Series
Different Grass Types And Vegetables
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Trees found in Nkwen
Grass Types And Vegetables
Pictures and names of Animals
Pictures and Names of Birds
Pictures and Names of Insects
What is a fraction?
A fraction is a piece of a whole. For example:
A fraction is made up of two parts; the numerator and the denominator. For example:
Ǹgha Mǝnkwènǝ dzwi a nǝ̀ Ǹjwe Nǝ̀fǎ
A week in Nkwen is made up of eight days
Days of the week in Nkwen Language : Ǹjwe Məmə̀ Ŋ̀ghà
Months Of The Year in Nkwen Language: Bə̀ŋorə Bә ÀLùŋə̀
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Even numbers are divisible by 2 while odd numbers are not.
Even Numbers end with 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8
Odd Numbers end with 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9
Long Division With And Without Remainder
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eBOOKs
Even and Odd numbers up to 20
Even and Odd numbers up to 20 will enable your child pick up calculating skills easily. After viewing the video, pay and download a copy of “Basic Division With and Without Remainder” for your child. E-book only
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Basic Division With And Without Remainder Long Division With And Without Remainder Basic Division With And Without Remainder
Basic Division With And Without Remainder
Mastering The Alphabet 1; Enabling Reading For Slow Learners
My grand-daughter in 4k (Nursery 2) can read so well as she follows lessons in Mastering the Alphabet books 1, 2 and 3. Pay and download a copy of Mastering the Alphabet 1 for your child. E-book only.
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Adding Numbers In Columns; Place Value My Traditional Dish, Achu and Yellow Soup
Mastering The Alphabet 2
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Mastering The Alphabet 3 Double Sounds
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Basic Mathematics Adding Numbers In Columns; Place Value Adding Numbers up to 20
Types of Food Crops in Nkwen Advantages of COVID-19 for the future. With high combat on COVID-19 the future seems promising.
Collective, Uncountable and Abstract Nouns in Nkwen Language With high combat on COVID-19 the future seems promising (Advantages of COVID-19)
Long Division With and without Remainders
After viewing the youtube video above, pay and download a copy of Long Division With and Without Remainder for your child. E-book only.
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Mastering the Alphabet 3; Double Sounds; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners Corn Fufu and Njyama-njyama. African Dish. Recipe and Preparation
Adding Numbers In Columns; Place Value
Adding Numbers up to 20
Basic Division With and Without Remainder
After viewing the youtube video above, pay and download a copy of Basic Division With and Without Remainder for your child. E-book only.
$4.00
Basic Division With And Without Remainder
Mastering the Alphabet 2; Sounds in words; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Basic Division With And Without Remainder
Long Division With And Without Remainder
Mastering The Alphabet 1, 2 and 3; Enabling Reading For Slow Learners E-book Series With high combat on COVID-19 the future seems promising (Advantages of COVID-19)
Adding Numbers up to 20
After watching and viewing the You video above and copy below, buy and download a copy of Long Division With and Without Remainder for your kids. E-book only.
$4.00
Long Division With And Without Remainder
Mastering the Alphabet 1 Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Mastering the Alphabet 1
My grand-daughter in 4k (Nursery 2) can read so well as she follows lessons in Mastering the Alphabet books 1, 2 and 3. Mastering the Alphabet books 1, 2 and 3 will enable your child pick up reading skills easily. After viewing the video, Pay and download a copy of Mastering the Alphabet 1 for your child. E-book only.
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Adding Numbers In Columns; Place Value
Mastering the Alphabet 2; Sounds in words; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Mastering the Alphabet 2
Mastering the Alphabet books 1, 2 and 3 will enable your child pick up reading skills easily. After viewing the video,. Pay and download a copy of Mastering the Alphabet 1 for your child. E-book only.
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Mastering the Alphabet 3; Double Sounds; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Mastering the Alphabet 3
Mastering the Alphabet books 1, 2 and 3 will enable your child pick up reading skills easily. After viewing the video, Pay and download a copy of Mastering the Alphabet 3 for your child. E-book only.
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Mastering the Alphabet 1 Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Basic Division With And Without Remainder
Basic Division With and Without Remainder
Basic Division With and Without Remainder will enable your child pick up calculating skills easily. After viewing the video, pay and download a copy of "Basic Division With and Without Remainder" for your child. E-book only.
$4.00
Mastering the Alphabet 3; Double Sounds; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Long Division With And Without Remainder
Long Division With and Without Remainder
Long Division With and Without Remainder will enable your child pick up calculating skills easily, After viewing the video, pay and download a copy of "Long Division With and Without Remainder" for your child. E-book only.
$4.00
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Mastering the Alphabet 2; Sounds in words; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Adding Numbers up to 20
Basic addition of numbers that sum up to 20
Basic addition of number will enable your child pick up calculating skills easily After watching the video, pay and download a copy of "Basic Division With and Without Remainder" for your child. E-book only.
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Adding Numbers up to 20
Adding Numbers In Columns; Place Value
Adding Numbers In Columns
My grand-daughter in 4k (Nursery 2) can already do the four rules; Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division so well as she follows lessons in this website and on its youtube channel. After viewing the video above, pay and download a copy of "Adding Numbers In Columns" for your child. E-book only.
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Mastering The Alphabet 1, 2 and 3; Enabling Reading For Slow Learners E-book Series
Fractions; Definition and Types
This book defines fractions and states the different types. After viewing the video, pay and download a copy for the benefit of your child. E-book only.
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Even and Odd numbers up to 20
Even and Odd Numbers up to 20
This book defines Odd and Even numbers. After viewing the video, pay and download a copy for the benefit of your child. E-book only.
$2.00
Grass Types and Vegetables
Even and Odd numbers up to 20
Sensitization on Covid 19 in Nkwen The Past Tense in Nkwen Language
Grass Types and Vegetables
This book presents pictures and names of grasses and vegetables. After viewing the video, pay and download a copy for the benefit of your child. E-book only.
$3.00
Pictures and Names of Insects
Grass Types And Vegetables Nouns in Nkwen Language
Pictures and Names of Insects
This book presents pictures and names of insects. After viewing the video, pay and download a copy for the benefit of your child. E-book only.
$3.00
Pictures and Names of Birds
BLOG Advantages of COVID-19 for the future. With high combat on COVID-19 the future seems promising. Collective, Uncountable and Abstract Nouns in Nkwen Language
Pictures and Names of Birds
This book presents pictures and names of birds. After viewing the video, pay and download a copy for the benefit of your child. E-book only.
$3.00
Pictures and names of Animals
Long Division With And Without Remainder Corn Fufu and Njyama-njyama. African Dish. Recipe and Preparation The quarantine is doing more good than harm. My home skills just got better
Pictures and names of Animals
This book presents Pictures and Names of Animals. after viewing, buy and download a copy for your kids. E-book only.
$3.00
Basic Division With And Without Remainder
Mastering the Alphabet 3; Double Sounds; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Mastering the Alphabet 1 Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Basic Division With And Without Remainder
Long Division With and Without Remainder
My grand-daughter in 4k (Nursery 2) can already do the four rules; Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division so well as she follows lessons in this website and on its youtube channel. After viewing the youtube video above, pay and download a copy of Long Division With and Without Remainder from the link below. E-book only.
$2.00
Mastering the Alphabet 3; Double Sounds; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Long Division With And Without Remainder
Mastering the Alphabet 2; Sounds in words; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Mastering the Alphabet 3; Double Sounds; Enabling Reading for Slow Learners
Long Division With And Without Remainder
Basic Division With And Without Remainder
My grand-daughter in 4k (Nursery 2) can already do the four rules; Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division so well as she follows lessons in this website and on its youtube channel. After viewing the youtube video above, pay and download a copy of Long Division With and Without Remainder from the link below. E-book only.
$3.00
This publication aims to help pupils who, after passing through level one (Primary 1&2), reach levels two and three (Primary 3 – 6) without knowing how to read a simple text. They can give correct answers to oral questions but cannot read the questions themselves. This makes them fail their exams, not because they are dull. Some teachers also hurriedly teach the alphabet without taking into consideration some basic principles. This class of pupils is merely slow to understand and needs gradual guidance to the art of reading. This book answers to the difficulties faced by these pupils at all levels. Parents and teachers are advised to use this book for a better result in the performance of the Slow Learners. My grand-daughter in 4k (Nursery 2) can read so well as she follows lessons in Mastering the Alphabet books 1,2, and 3.
Mastering the Alphabet 1 Enabling Reading for Slow Learners Basic Multiplication by 2 and 3
Mastering the Alphabet 2
My grand-daughter in 4k (Nursery 2) can read so well as she follows lessons in Mastering the Alphabet books 1, 2 and 3. Download a copy of Mastering the Alphabet 2 for yourself using the link below.
$15.00
Àbàa ntəǝ nə̀ kàa nluu. An Advice bag never gets full.
More on Wise Sayings in Nkwen Language
| S/No | Nkwen | Free Translation |
| 1 | Àbàa ntəǝ nə̀ kàa nluu. | A bag of advice never gets full. (You continue to get advice or learn till your last day, even in events you think you are an expert.) |
| 2 | Boŋə m̀bì’inə̀ kàkə atyə̌ chyà. | The shoulder can never be above the head. (A slave, “worker, student, wife” can never be above his master “boss, teacher, husband”.) |
| 3 | M̀bàŋə nə̀lwenə̀ ə̀ bə moo. | An old age walking stick is a child. (An encouragement for parents to take good care of their children and to children who take good care of their old aged parents.) |
| 4 | Moo tə̀ zu’u ǹtèe mya kù zhə̀ nsansə. | A child who never listens to mother’s advise shall face his/her doom. (A warning to recalcitrant children) |
| 5 | Ngwo nə̀ kǎ moo ngwo dàŋə njwe. | A dog cannot give birth to a different species. (Said when a child grows with the good or negative qualities of a parent) |
| 6 | O tə kuu moo ŋù ò jwe wwò. | When nursing another man’s child bring yours forth. (Said in situations where an adopted child despises his/her caretakers) |
| 7 | Fya azuŋə ambwo ŋù wuma a zhi ǹdwènə̀. | Give something to one who knows the value. (Said in a situation where someone takes good care of something) |
| 8 | À̀wuŋə nə̀ tə kwi afò a ǹnà kàkə̌ m̀yə̀. | A hunting session does not end because animals are finished in the bush. (We do not stop an activity because the enjoyment or pleasure is not still there but because we have to keep time.) |
| 9 | Boŋə ò ka kù’u bǔ ŋù tòŋə ò kàkə̌ ǹfὲ’ὲ njya zhì zhi. | If you’ve never eaten achu’u with someone you’ll never know how he consumes the soup. (If you’ve never lived with someone, you’ll never know his/her attitude.) |
| 10 | Ǹchə̀ ngwo dzwi nə ngwo. | A curse on a dog remains with it. (Said when we need not revenge a bad act from someone but leave it to God’s judgement.) |
| 11 | Boŋə o ka ndya dzwi bə bǐtə̀ ǹjyǎ zhə̀ nə̌ nkyǐ. | If you are not present water will be added to your soup. (If you are not present, you’ll always be cheated.) |
| 12 | Bǝ̌ tyə mbenə mə ndya bə nə̀ ngrə-məkwε. | Fighting within the household is done with the elbows. (Infighting within siblings should never be done fiercely) |
| 13 | Ǹdya tə̀ sa’anə̀ bə awε̌ ŋu. | A family with no quarrels is the absence of people. (Said as a consolation to a family or group of people who are quarrelling or fighting) |
| 14 | Àbwo bikàkǝ̌ ntsù adàŋə̀ dàŋə nku’u. | An empty hand never goes to the mouth. (Said when someone needs a reward for a service or when someone has to feed on what is available and not what he likes) |
| 15 | Ə̀tyə bya boŋə nchya zi mo’o. | Two heads are better than one. (We need to journey or reason with others for we are not perfect) |
| 16 | O tə tòŋə akù’u ò zə̂ ǹjya zhi za’a. | See the achu’u soup first before boring it. (Foresee before embarking on any project) |
| 17 | “Mə̀ nkə̀ la zhi” ǹtsə̀mə zoŋə bə ndzə̀̀mə̀. | “Had I known” is always the last. (Said when an omission brings negative results) |
| 18 | Mə̀tànə ŋù bə nə̀li zhi. | A man’s choice is his eyes. (Said when one has to make a personal choice or decision.) |
| 19 | Ndyâ bikàkə nə bǝ̀ nshwe. | A house cannot burn with people inside. (A problem can’t go unresolved when people are present.) |
| 20 | A ka mətanə kə ghə o kə mbəŋə nə ala’a shu’u. | If you can’t go to the market don’t wish the rain on people. (Do not sabotage if you are not talking part in something) |
| 21 | Tə zhi ntsǝ̀mǝ̀ mbu’u. | An innocent person is in God’s grace. (Said when someone is not guilty of something or is accused when he/she is not guilty) |
More on Wise Sayings in Nkwen Language
Nkwen Language is a Mother Tongue spoken by the Nkwen people of Cameroon in Africa. It is one of the many Cameroonian Languages at the verge of development. With many aspects already developed, further research is still recommended towards a full development and preservation of this language and the culture of the Nkwen people embedded in it.
Amongst the many aspects that have been worked on are:
THE NKWEN LANGUAGE ALPHABET (Second Edition)
The first edition of the Nkwen Language Alphabet was established by PROPELCA (Operation Research Project for the Teaching of Cameroonian Languages) together with the then Nkwen Language Translation Committee of the Catholic Mission Futru Nkwen in their Summer Linguistic Courses in Aghiati Bafut in the mid 1990s. It was reviewed by S I L (Société International de Linguistique) and some members of the Nkwen Language Committee in a Summer Linguistics Serminar organized by S.I.L. in July 1999 at CBC Nkwen Bamenda. Thus, this second edition of the Nkwen Language Alphabet is made up of 31 sounds as follows:
/a/ /b/ /c/ /d/ /dz/ /ɛ/ /ǝ/ /f/ /g/ /gh/ /i/ /j/ /k/ /kh/ /l/ /m/ /n/ /ŋ/ /ny/ /ɔ/ /r/ /s/ /sh/ /t/ c /ts/ /u/ /’/ /w/ /y/ /z/ /zh/
THE SOUNDS IN THEIR UPPER AND LOWER CASES
/Aa/ /Bb/ /Cc/ /Dd/ /DZdz/ /Ɛɛ/ /Əǝ/ /Ff/ /Gg/ /GHgh/ /Ii/ /Jj/ /Kk/ /KHkh/ /Ll/ /Mm/ /Nn/ /Ŋŋ/ /NYny/ /Ɔɔ/ /Rr/ /Ss/ /SHsh/ /Tt/ /TSts/ /Uu/ /’/ /Ww/ /Yy/ /Zz/ /ZHzh/
Analysis of the Second Edition of Nkwen Language Alphabet
This second edition of the Nkwen Language Alphabet is made up of 24 Consonants (M̀mi Mǝ Abɔ̀ŋnǝ̀), 6 Vowels (Nji-àbɔ̀ŋnǝ̀) and 1 glotal stop:
The Nkwen Language Consonants.
/b/ /c/ /d/ /dz/ /f/ /g/ /gh/ /j/ /k/ /kh/ /l/ /m/ /n/ /ŋ/ /ny/ /r/ /s/ /sh/ /t/ /ts/ /w/ /y/ /z/ /zh/
/a/ /ɛ/ /ǝ/ /i/ /ɔ/ /u/
/’/
This second edition of the Nkwen Language Alphabet has double consonant sounds and some strange sounds as compared to the English Language Alphabet.
The double consonants in the Nkwen Language Alphabet are considered as single sounds but are made up of two letters each. When they come at the beginning of a sentence or in proper nouns the two letters are written in caps. They are seven of them as follows.
/dz/ /gh/ /kh/ /ny/ /sh/ /ts/ /zh/
The Strange Sounds are four in number;
/ɛ/ /ǝ/ /ŋ/ /ɔ/
/e/ /h/ /p/ /q/ /v/ /x/
The /ɛ/ and /ǝ/ are more suitable than the English /e/
The letter /h/ does not stand alone but is always supported by other sounds as in /gh/ /kh/ /sh/ and /zh/, in
Ghǝ̌ – to go
khǝ̌ – to run
shǝ̂ – to weed
zhǎ – to comb
The letter /p/ is replaced by /b/ mostly in borrowed words like:
bɔ̀bɔ̀ – pawpaw or papaya.
bàbà – papa or father
Bità – Peter
sounds closer to the /q/ are spelled with /k/ as in
kwatǝ – to repeat
Kwa’atǝ – to knock
kwǎ – to open
Kwintà – Queenta
The /v/ and /x/ are not found at all.
| Aa àbà’à (a door) | Bb Bàtə (calabash) | Cc cì’i (to shake) | Dd dədͻ’ͻ (a frog) |
| DZdz ǹdzàà (an axe) | Єε fεrə (a ring) | Əə ə̀lwεnə̀ (a name) | Ff Fͻrə (a rat) |
| Gg gàŋə (to hold) | GHgh Ghəghanə (butterfly) | Ii àliliŋə (a bat) | Jj Ǹjijì’ì (a fly) |
| Kk kaa (a crab) | KHkh ŋ̀kha (a fence) | Ll lə̀ŋə (to stir) | Mm mma (mother) |
| Nn ǹnà (meat) | NYny nyə (to drink) | Ŋŋ Ŋͻrə (moon) | Ͻͻ Ǹtͻ̀ (a pot) |
| Rr ə̀làrə̀ (a bridge) | Ss Sǔ (to wash) | Sh shə̂ (to week) | Tt tanə̀ (five) |
| TSts tsà (a hall) | Uu àkù (foot) | ‘ Àtɔ’ɔ̀ (a tin) | Ww Wàrə̀ (a hawk) |
| Yy Àyiyὲ (a weaver bird) | Zz Zə̀ŋsə̂ ( to bend) | ZH zh Ǹzhà (a cumb) |
Recent Review on the Second Edition of the Nkwen Language Alphabet.
It should be noted that the above second edition of the Nkwen Language Alphabet has been recently revised by CABTAL together with some members of the Nkwen Language Committee in a workshop which was aimed at developing the Nkwen Language in the lines of Literacy and Bible Translation . The few changes they have made this time , different from this second edition are:
The open /ɔ/ is now full /o/ eg . mɔɔ – moo (child)
The English /e/ has been added to the list of vowels making them seven in number; /a/ /ɛ/ /ǝ/ /e/ /o/ /u/
/c/ is now /ch/
Some of the double consonant sounds are now considered as sub-sounds except /gh/, /ts/, zh and /ch/ that are still double consonants .
The nasal /ŋ/ should not precede some consonants eg ŋ̀tarǝ̀ – ǹtarǝ̀ . This entails subsequent writings in Nkwen Language will bear these changes.