Seseku Takor Zacheus Besong, of Mgbè Èchòkó, Ègbékàw village. Mamfe, Cameroon.

In the Kenyang language of Bayangi people, 'nèwèn' ‘turtle’ is an instrument of the Mgbè (Ékpè) society, related to the grade Békúndí. The role of Békúndí is to communicate between the living and dead members. Békúndí can communicate through a drum ‘nkah’ or ‘ekpiri’ [derived from 'ekpri' or 'small' in Efik], a turtle shell ‘nèwèn’, iron gongs ‘èbòghò’, or ‘clappers’, called ‘mbíák’. In some lodges, ‘mbíák’ is the rhythmic engine for processions.
When a chief initiated into Békúndí dies, the Békúndí goes to receive the corpse, evoking his spirit, communicating with him, because the belief is that he has not died, but has merely transited to the spirit world. When the Békúndí plays the turtle shell, all are silent in the lodge. Only the Seseku responds to the tonal language of the Békúndí, even if others understand the conversation.
In this video, the Békúndí uses the nèwèn to evoke the ancestors, to alert them that the living members are thinking of them and sharing with them. The Békúndí calls on the spirits to enable the living to have prosperity, food, money, children and long life.
Thanks to Seseku Agbor Benson Besong of Mgbè Àfànghá, of Ègbékàw village, the Secretary General of Mgbè Manyu, for sponsoring this event.

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