Folklore music star, Shey Lontum Yov, has apologized to Ngwerong, the traditional regulatory authority of the Nso people of the North West Region, for disrespecting the tribe’s royal attire in his musical art.
The singer, who earned the prestigious traditional title “Shey” from the Nso Fon years back, said he did not mean to undermine traditional authority when he repeatedly dressed in apparel that is traditionally reserved for royalty. He received a message from the Ngwerong on March 22, warning him to “desist from wearing things that are reserved for royalty and special Nso people”. Lontum clearly understood what the message was pointing at, although it did not specify the particular aspect of his dressing that undermined tribal customs.
“After verifying that truly Ngwerong authored this warning, I come in all humility to submit to the Ngwerong declaration pertaining to my use of royal cultural habit and articles in the practice of my art,” Lontum wrote. “I accept this call to order and recognize the authority and responsibility of Ngwerong to ensure the strict respect of our cultural heritage and protocol regarding the use of insignia and moreover, items attributed to royalty.”
In most of his music videos and pictures that have circulated online, Lontum’s dressing typically consists of an overflowing garment, usually sewn with the “Toghu” traditional fabric, and accompanied by a traditional cap, bangles and a necklace. This also happens to be the attire most traditional rulers in the North West Region typically use for official or traditional ceremonies. This traditional apparel is usually sewn with the Toghu fabric, a cultural material that was traditionally reserved for royalty.
However, in Cameroon today, Toghu is no longer worn by royalty only, because people from all walks of life have been using the popular fabric to create all sorts of stylish attire. Toghu has also been used on several occasions to represent Cameroon culturally during international events. Shey Lontum Yov is just one of many Cameroonians who have created different shades of designs using the Toghu fabric. While many traditional institutions tolerate their natives dressing this way, the Nso traditional authority is stricter about it. “As a true cultural promoter and one whose art leans almost entirely on the Nso culture, I have tried to stop at nothing to promote the culture through my music. “Whereas in some instances I might have used things reserved for the Fon, the Highest Authority of the Great Land of Nso, it was in no way an expression of me standing parallel to my father or undermining the traditions,” the singer wrote.
Shey Lontum has captured the hearts and minds of many Cameroonian culture lovers with several hits, including Last Hour, Ngeh (Nkeleng Nkeleng), and Ten Ten. He combines the Nso language with pidgin English to produce musical pieces that promote the Nso culture
Mimi Mefo
