Preserving cultural heritage: Indigenes celebrate pioneer Kom language lamentation contest.

The competition was aimed at promoting a rare form of ritual singing that Kom people resort to in times of sorrow and joy. 

Co-conceptor and chief judge of the competition, Dr Alasambom Nyingchuo, said it was rare for such an artistic expression to be organised as a competition. He, however, said the organisers wanted to ensure it does not die.

“We have realised that it is dwindling because many Kom youth associate it with mysticism and people who are primitive and uncivilized, which is not the case and is usually spontaneous born-out of an experience that touches someone like extreme sorrow or joy,” Dr Alasambom said.

The competition involved old and young people who master it, selected from Komland as well as those who leave out of Komland in places like Bamenda, Buea, Limbe, Douala and Yaoundé. 

The motivation to host the competition, according to the chief judge, was to keep their culture alive even as most of them now live out of the village. 

The competition started with a pre-selection stage where participants recorded themselves and shared with the organisers before ten finalists were selected. The finals included free style on singing with instruments and another without instruments. 

The other segment had thematic areas touching on life in Kom like sachet whiskey, the crisis, traditional wedding, and degradation of culture and the negative ramifications on the population back home. 

At the end of the first edition, Tohmukum Richard, emerged top followed by Michael Timti and Chuh Gabriel in second and third respectively. 

The winner received a cash prize of 150,000 FCFA. The second and third had 100,000 FCFA and 50,000 FCFA respectively. The last three runners-up in the final all received 25000 FCFA each.

Speaking to the press at the end of the competition, Dr Alasambom Nyingchuo, expressed joy with the level of success recorded throughout the competition. 

“I am extremely satisfied with the performance of all the participants because at the beginning we did not even know we would have people ready to participate, but the turnout and the caliber of artists was great,” he noted.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3458 of Wednesday May 28, 2025