THE TALKING DRUMS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN SEMINARY IN KUMBA

This is the front cover of the latest edition of DRUM-CALL, the news magazine of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kumba, South West Region of Cameroon.

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DRUM SOUNDS AT THE PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

By Tikum Mbah

The Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kumba (South West Region of Cameroon) is a highly motivating place to visit. It has a number of attractive icons, symbols and images that no visitor could miss. One of them is the drum. Yes, the drum; our African drum.  I found that out when at the invitation of the Dean of the Seminary, I was a guest at the opening of the New Year 2014.

I arrived quite early on that morning and as I waited in front of the Dean`s Office, a young stoutly built and hefty young man stopped by and greeted me. After, he went his way.  Then I heard the loud, distinct and very traditional wooden drum being sounded several times. It was not the type of drum with a piece of hide stretched over the top for beating with the hand. No, this  one was entirely made of wood and was given a roundish rectangular and hollow top that varied the pitches of the sounds and made them sound as if they were actually delivering a clear-cut and definite message to its audience. It was the olden days “village talking drum”, if you like.

After finishing his job, the young man came back my way and I asked if he was the `drummer boy`. He said he was. I asked what his name was and he said “Yoambuo Yoambuo”. I then asked if that meant he was the “time keeper” of the seminary. He said, “No, the time coordinator”. Then I asked whether by drumming in that particular way, he was conveying any specific message to the other student pastors. He said that was just his own way of doing it and his peers understood him. “How interesting!”, I said to myself.

During the service that took place in the chapel, someone spoke about the recent issue of the Seminary`s news magazine entitled, (believe it or not), DRUM-CALL. Another drum! I took a copy of it. It is a 26 page publication with a front cover featuring the new administrative building of the institution soon to be inaugurated as well as a picture of two adults -one male one female – and two little boys playing football. The implicit message here is that the seminary offers training that encompasses the three aspects of education: the intellection, the religious and the physical. Although lecturers have contributions in the publication, the bulk of it remains a typically student affair.

The Editor-in-Chief, Etaka Eyong Elsie – in her editorial, urges readers to make their home a better place. Below the article is a listing with photographs of members of the editorial board: Tataw Lawrence, Loveline Ndeleyen, Enow Michael, Venbdoline Kukeh and Grace Chapman.

Articles by staff members include Genealogy: A Theological Imperative and the Mode of African Identity by the Dean himself, Rev, Dr. Muyo Joshua; Blessed are the Poor, by the Rev. Daniel Pratt Morris-Chapman; My Bible Study: Old Questions, New Challenges, by the Rev. Dr. Epiemembong Louis Ebong (Vice Dean in charge of Academic Affairs). Other staff articles include  If Everything Here on Earth Were to Remind You of God by the Rev. Sis Nfumban Marie Joelle Bongnafti; Let Us Overturn the Tables of Abuse by the Rev Mrs Lambiv Yele who in addition to being a lecturer at the Seminary, is also the Pastor of the Kossalla Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC). 

Student articles cover a wide range of issues. They  include The Body, The Temple of the Holy Spirit. The publication also carries an interview with Dr. Mrs Fon Elizabeth a medical officer who is currently the Littoral Regional Coordinator for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS , by Masaka Delphine Njei. Other articles include  Take Off the Mask: A Reflection on Matt. 23:25-33 by Mufuh Indah Loveline; Prosperity Gospel Versus False Promises by Che Festus Mforbi; How God Operates with Us by Nibasi Paul aAmbe; and When God Shows Up by Yoambuo Yoambuo Ju. There are many more  articles in the publication by students.

Another interesting feature is the inclusion of the photographs and identification of Final Year Bachelor of Theology students, fifteen of them, seven of whom are men and the other seven women. New lecturers are introduced as the Rev. Nyuki Peter Siysi, the Rev. Fomusso Sama Jacob and the Rev Numfor Godwin. All seven Master of Theology Students are presented in a group photograph.

Further details of the magazine can be obtained from

The Editor-in-Chief, Drum-Call, P.T.S. Kumba,

P.O. Box 590 Kumba, Meme Division, South West Region,

Republic of Cameroon. TEL; (+237) 7703 9547

EMAIL: drumcallpts@yahoo.com