Saturday, March 21, 2020, 101-year-old Nfon Mukete abdicated and ceded the crown to Ekoko Mukete in an unprecedented ceremony at the Bafaw Palace in Kumba.

Senator Nfon Mukete removed the traditional beads and crown and placed them respectively on the neck and head of Ekoko Mukete in the presence of kingmakers and custodians of the Bafaw tradition. The centenarian also handed a bible among other traditional paraphernalia to the one who will henceforth perform traditional rights as Nfon.

“One thing is remaining, the chieftaincy staff. It will be handed to you on the day of your installation in the presence of the administration. From today, you have full powers to perform duties of chieftaincy. You have full powers to continue as the traditional ruler of Kumba Town and the Bafaws from today in the name of Christ our Lord,” Senator Nfon Mukete told Ekoko Mukete amidst cheers and ululations.

55-year-old Victor Ekoko Mukete is Vice President of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts (CCIMA) as well as Turkish Honorary Consul in Douala.

Senator Nfon V.E. Mukete was born on November 15, 1918 in Kumba. The Bafaw patriarch attended Government School Kumba from 1926-32. In 1933, the centenarian won a five-year government scholarship to study at the government college Umuahia in Nigeria. Upon completion, the senator gained admission into the then lone science-based institution in Nigeria, Higher College Yaba. From 1948 to 1951, he studied at the University of Manchester in England.  Senator Nfon Victor Mukete proceeded to the Cambridge University from 1951-1952.

Senator Nfon Victor Mukete was trained as a botanist and an agriculturalist. He became paramount ruler of Kumba and the Bafaws in 1968. He was appointed Senator on May 14, 2013 and is currently serving his second five-year mandate.

The agro-industrial entrepreneur and politician is author of the book, “My Odyssey: History of the reunification of Cameroon”.