Mygrandfathersworld

Papa David was a polygamist as is usual of Cameroonian men of his generation. Pa had a  large family of his own, yet managed to raised and mentored an extended family comprising his brothers’, wives’ and even strangers’ children. Then, there were children like myself, Pa'  first grandchild, from his first child, my mother, Mama Elizabeth Ngnigessie Pufong who having been widowed very young in her marriage to my father Etienne Kinkoue  came to be raised by papa. 

 I was doubly blessed to grow up with my simple and humble grandparents. There were no distinctions in the house about who was or was not his real children. I precepted a lot of my world views from observing the example of this pleasant and unassuming man. My grandfather was uncompromising in his politeness in dealing with the most common person, to the highest personalities.

 Education was very important to Papa Ndeh Mouokouop, and most of his salary was spent in paying tuition for his very large family. He used to tell us that although he did not possess any real estate or money in the bank, he regarded us, his children (without distinction) as being his own treasure. Papa started out his professional career as a teacher. Pa's times have been captured by his autobiograhy - his experiences in the Nigerian administered West Cameroon as a young adult, His arranged marriage to my Mama Martha Nombot, my grabndma, and Pa's  family and professional life.

Papa worked for the Cameroon government as a Sub Divisional Officer or “Prefet”. Despite his highly promising educational background, he never rose above the rank of sub divisional officer. Papa was a deeply religious person who did not flaunt it, and taught us to be ethical and moral in our dealings with others, and always to pray to God for forgiveness.  "Be thankful to God for our blessings," he would usually tell us. 

As a "Prefet", Pa worked transparently and with justice in whatever community that the Cameroon government sent him. People occasionally showed gratitude for his decisions by offering him food products which he accepted (because of his large family), but he never made receiving gratuities a condition for decisions that he took to resolve community problems as is usual with government officials in Cameroon today.

Papa retired to the modest house of mud bricks, he had built in Bagam. He became active in community projects to improve the lives of villagers. Bagam, Galim is a village in Bamboutos, Western Province in Cameroon. It is a village with one of the largest land mass and rich alluvial soil, but have always escaped consideration for any development projects by the Cameroonian government. The people are hardworking and enterprising, but have been beaten down by underdevelopment, lack of any health care, roads, or clean water supply. The life span is very short because of all the neglect by the Cameroonian government.

Papa Ndeh Moukouop taught me to be whom I am by being an example himself. I would like to devote this webpage to raising funds to a project in Bagam in his memory. He loved and cherished Bagam. The scholraship fund for Bagam youth is the first initiative that has been established in Pa's memory.

His autobiography is important because it does not only tell us what he did as a person, it offers us a glimpse into his generation. He was born when Cameroon was a German colony. His father Chief  Fon Pufong  was a strong ally of German Colonialized Kamerun and lost his chieftaincy when the Germans were defeated after the First World War. The beautiful Episcopalian Church that is still being used for worship in Bagam today was built by the Germans. Chief Fon Pufong also invented a Bagam script which he said was revealed to him in a dream.

The role of education in a new Cameroon was apparent. Papa’s autobiography depicts how at an early age, aware of this role, the regent that replace Chief Pufong, Paul Pehuie sent him and all his brothers to the Southern Cameroons (then attached to Nigeria) for an education. His autobiography is as much a recount of his personal quest in search of an education, the portrayal of colonial educational systems and his career as Cameroon transitioned from colonial systems to a new republic.

This is important because it was first hand experience recounted in the manner of Herodotus and not mere secondary history. The social, cultural and political aspects of these times are depicted in Pa David’s autobiography. This website has been created to validate my grandfather’s experiences because he was not just a moral, educational, religious compass for us his children, but touched everyone he came across with in a positive way. This is a validation of my grandfather’s experience for me personally, for his children, great grand children, future generations, the extended Pufong family and the whole world.

A portion of the download fees, donations or even purchases from this website will go to the Papa David Ndeh Moukouop Pufong Fund for Bagam Development (PDNMP Fund). Thanks for your visit.