Today’s
Enlightening Entertainment
will be presented in Bassa,
French and Mankon,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Italian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Greetings noble viewers
and welcome
to this edition of
Enlightening Entertainment.
Today, we set off on
an expedition to Cameroon
to enjoy the electrifying
rhythms of a popular
traditional dance
called Mankon Mask Dance.
We’ll also discover
the enchanting
musical instrument
called the mvet.
The Mankon Mask dance
has long been
been an indispensable
component of the culture
of the North-West Region
of Cameroon.
As a cherished feature
of the Mankon culture,
the dance
symbolizes unity,
expresses respect
for culture, and
brings joy to people.
The dancers
wear traditional attire
particularly designed
for the dance.
They also put on masks
portraying the faces
of animals to express
the Oneness of creation
and to show that humans
and animals should live
in peace and harmony.
The masks concealing
the identity
of the dancers also add
to spectators’ excitement
about who the dancers
might be.
The instruments used
in the Ngombo
Mankon mask dance
dance include xylophone,
rattles, local trumpet,
and tunephone, which is
locally known as “gong.”
One very peculiar aspect
about the Ngombo
Mankon mask dance
dance is that it can be
performed as a tribute to
a very important person;
in some cases, God.
African philosophy
firmly believes
that there must be
a Supreme Being
who is the Master of
the universe and
who can be viewed as
the pioneering force
of all creation.
This great being
is believed to be God.
In Cameroonian tradition,
God is often glorified
through an exhibition
of traditional dances
and songs.
Now, let’s enjoy
a Ngombo
Mankon mask dance
performance, which
accompanies the song
titled, “God is the Master
of the Universe.”
God is the Master
of the universe
God is on Earth
God is in Heaven
God is everywhere
God is the Master
of the universe
God is on Earth
God is in Heaven
God is everywhere
God is the Master
of the universe
God is on Earth
God is in Heaven
God is the Master
of the universe
God is in Heaven
God is on Earth
God is everywhere
God is the Master
of the universe
God is in Heaven
God is the Master
of the universe
God is everywhere
Next, we are going
to look at the mvet,
an African traditional
musical instrument.
We are very honored
to have Mr. Zicoco,
the musician, storyteller,
and instrument maker
from Yaoundé,
the capital of Cameroon.
He will introduce to us
the mvet, the zither-like
string instrument that can
also be found in many
other countries in Africa,
such as Gabon,
Equatorial Guinea,
Republic of Congo, and
Central African Republic.
Good day Mr. Zicoco
and welcome to
Supreme Master Television.
Good day and thank you.
Please, can you
introduce yourself
to our viewers?
I’m called Zicoco;
I’m a story-teller
and comedian,
a player of mvet,
and maker of mvet
at the same time.
Thanks a lot.
Which materials is
the mvet made with?
The mvet is made with
branches of
raphia (palm tree),
calabashes (gourds),
ropes, a trestle (frame)
and rattan (palms).
It’s regulated
with the rattan.
It’s regulated with that.
Where did you
obtain this material?
It’s from the village,
from the village,
except for the wires.
But before,
the mvet was not
made with wires,
but the mvet was
really traditional.
The mvet occupies
the first place
in our culture,
because the mvet is
the first instrument
for the Ekans, Bantus,
the Bulu people,
Bamouns, Fangs,
Betis, all that, the mvet
occupies the first place.
Thank you.
Can you tell us a bit
about your uniform?
No problem.
There, I’m dressed
as a mvet player.
I’ve got my necklace,
which is made from
the fruits of the village.
This is maracas,
this is bom,
this is also bom,
African traditional wear,
thus from tree barks.
And on my legs,
I’ve got maracas,
because it’s said that
the mvet player is
an orchestra man.
Thus when I move,
then we need to dance.
Right, this is the uniform
of mvet players then?
Yes, this is the uniform
of mvet players.
To become a mvet player,
one must undergo a long
period of intense training.
Holding
a very special position
in African society,
the mvet player performs
as a storyteller delivering
works from a rich repertoire
of original tales.
Where did you learn
how to play mvet?
I learned to play mvet
in the village, and I also
learned how to make
mvets in the village.
I thus exported myself
to town, to render the mvet
known around the world.
I have been playing mvet
for ten years and
I have been making mvets
for 15 years.
Prior to a mvet spectacle,
the mvet player
can spend even
nine days in the bush,
and he must come
with the spirits.
He thus invites
these spirits, which
must accompany him
during mvet spectacles.
Thank you.
And on what occasions
do you play?
We play mvet mostly
to tell stories, during
marriages and funerals.
There are many other
traditional Cameroonian
instruments that can be
played with the mvet.
There is the drum,
which also accompanies
the mvet and which
also invites people
to come and watch
the mvet in the village.
Come everyone
Come everyone
Come everyone
And here, is the keng,
it’s also
an instrument which
accompanies the mvet.
What is it made from?
It’s made from iron,
from iron.
You’re aware that Ekans
are people of iron,
the tribe of iron, Ekans.
And here, we’ve got
the pygmy flutes which
also accompany
the mvet player.
Right, we have another
instrument, the sanza.
The sanza does not
accompany the mvet,
but since I’m a maker
of traditional musical
instruments,
and I conduct research
in traditional music,
I’ve also made
the sanza, which is there,
really with bamboo,
a calabash and wood.
Here, it’s really
typically traditional.
And you have small mvets.
In manufacturing
small mvets, big mevts,
I also realized that
we also needed mvets
for children.
Thus, we’ve got here
small mvets,
medium-sized mvets,
mvets for everyone.
Thus, it’s for that reason
that I also made mvet
for all sizes.
Thank you.
Thanks very much.
Now, Mr. Zicoco
will tell us a story about
a boy named Biba Bifanna
through his vibrant
mvet performance.
Please enjoy!
If I say thus, “Ayaya,”
you respond thus, “Ya.”
Ayaya, Ya. Ayaya, Ya.
If I say “story,”
you respond, “Tell.”
Story, tell.
And if I say thus,
“Akilis kwan,”
you respond,
“Akwanlang.”
Akilis kwan,
Akwanlang.
And if I say,
“Asibi tondo be,”
you simply
Respond, “Ya.”
Asibi tondo be, Ya.
Don’t forget,
don’t forget
don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t.
Ayaya, Ya. Ehe.
I will then tell the story
of Biba Bifanna.
So Biba Bifanna was a child
who was wise, kind
courageous and
very very serious.
But Biba Bifanna
had a small flaw,
like all living beings,
you and me.
Ayaya, Ya.
You’re aware that all
humans have a small flaw.
You have all the qualities,
but a small flaw.
Thus, Biba Bifanna
had his small flaw in that
he never ate vegetables.
He eat solely meat.
Ayaya, Ya.
For instance,
hikok – Biba Bifanna
never ate it.
Quem, folon,
bioglo,
Biba Bifanna
never ate them.
Babi Bifanna ate only meat.
Thus, his father,
very angry, realized
that Biba Bifanna
was exterminating all
the animals around him,
called for him
one good day.
“A Biba Bifanna.”
“Papa.”
Biba Bifanna oh, Papa.
Come here! I hope
you’re aware that
the animals in the forest
also have a right to live.
Thus, as from now
henceforth, the forest
has been accursed.
It’s forbidden to hunt
in the forest.
Ayaya, Ya.
Ayaya, Ya
Story, tell.
Story, tell.
Biba Bifanna, since
he was a kind child,
and serious, he thus
decided to obey the
advice of his father.
The fourth day,
Biba Bifanna
was very hungry.
In his room.
Ayaya, Ya.
Biba Bifanna was in
his room, and did not eat
since five days.
Ayaya, Ya. Ayaya, Ya.
Should we continue? Yes.
Should we continue? Yes.
Applaud firstly
for yourselves.
Don’t forget,
don’t forget
don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t
don’t forget,
don’t forget who you are.
Krireeeeee Ayaya, Ya.
Since that day,
Biba Bifanna
became a vegetarian.
He thus started fighting
for the safeguard of
animals and he does not
eat animals anymore.
Ayaya, Ya. Ayaya, Ya.
I’m about to leave.
Okay, go.
To say good day and
to tell you goodbye,
because I’m going already.
They’re waiting for me,
perhaps in À Mvog-bi
or at Nkol Ndongo,
I don’t know,
or at Nkol Bisson.
We thus say
Happy New Year
to all the viewers of
Supreme Master Television.
Happy New Year,
Happy New Year,
Happy New Year
to all the Cameroonians.
Happy New Year
to all the Africans,
Happy New Year
to all the Europeans,
Happy New Year
to all the Asians,
Happy New Year
to all Americans.
Happy New Year,
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year,
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year
to all the Cameroonians.
Happy New Year
to all the Africans,
Happy New Year
to all the Asians,
Happy New Year
to all the Europeans,
Happy New Year
to all Americans.
Happy New Year,
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year,
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year
to all Americans.
Happy New Year
to all the Asians,
Happy New Year
to all the Chinese,
Happy New Year
to all the Koreans,
Happy New Year
to all the Cameroonians.
Happy New Year
to all the Malians,
Senegalese, Congolese.
Happy New Year,
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year,
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year
to all Americans.
Happy New Year
to all the Cameroonians,
Happy New Year
to all the Congolese,
Happy New Year
to all the Sudanese,
Africans,Asians,
Happy New Year!
This concludes our
presentation featuring
Cameroon’s Mankon mask dance
and mvet music.
Our appreciation,
Mr. Zicoco, Cameroonian
dancers and musicians,
for sharing your talents
with the world.
May the colorful cultures
of Cameroon
be preserved and thrive
for generations to come.
Cheerful viewers,
we enjoyed your presence
on today’s
Enlightening Entertainment.
Coming up next is
Words of Wisdom,
after Noteworthy News,
here on
Supreme Master Television.
May we all walk
in harmony to the Divine
inner rhythm.