Cameroonian king, Fon of Akum, George Ngwashi Ndikum II who has been on the throne for over 6 decades arrived in the UK for a ten-day tour, to raise funds to assist persons who have fled the separatist conflict to settle in his small kingdom.
The Fon of Akum is a monarch in one of two English-speaking regions where an insurgent rebellion by Ambazanian forces has been raging for the last six years. The conflict was sparked by those in the two Anglophone regions who have long felt marginalised by the country’s French-speaking majority.
Akum, a lush agrarian village is battling to cope with the influx of those who fled human rights violations, slaughter, attacks, and war crimes, according to Amnesty International’s report a few days ago.
The monarch’s visit coincides with the first Akum General Convention, which has people attending from across the world. London’s Cameroonian community welcomed the Fon of Akum on Wednesday with ceremony and pageantry.
Events during the monarch’s visit are focussed on raising funds for displaced children to give them access to education and to provide food.
“Every contribution, no matter how small, holds immense power. Like the drops of rain that come together to form a river, our collective efforts can create a powerful current of change,” said Charles Mambo, UK president of the Akum Welfare Association.
Mambo stated this during a party that brought hundreds of people from around the world for the first Akum General Convention.
Many attending the event on Saturday wore beautiful woven designs from the North-West region known as “toghu”
“As the Akum people say, ‘A tree is only as strong as its roots.’ Let us strengthen the roots of these children, allowing them to grow tall and strong, capable of weathering any storm that comes their way,” he said.
The Fon’s visit continues in London, where he is attending various events, until this weekend.
