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| Sessekou John Orock |
The Ekpe Society is a highly respected society that originated from the Cross River region of West Africa. Its beliefs, customs and practices are so ancient that they predate Christianity, Islam and most of the ancient European civilizations. Centuries before western civilization penetrated what was considered the "dark continent", the Ekpe society acted as the administrative body that governed the region and covered areas like: Law Enforcement; Healthcare; Education (complete with its own writings and schools); Diplomacy; and the Military.
On Saturday, May 7th 2011, from 6pm to dawn, Cameroonians from Manyu Division in collaboration with Ekpe members from various other tribes ... and nations, will introduce the newest member on their roster who has risen to the highest rank in Ekpe, Sessekou or overall Chief of Ekpe. Sessekou John Tambenchong Orock's public presentation ceremony will be held at: The Blossom Center, 8741 Ashwood Dr., Suite G, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
Sessekou John Tambenchong Orock hails from the distinguished village of Bachuo-Akagbe, where the decision was made to elevate him to the level of Nfor Ngbe .i.e. Chief of Ngbe (aka Ekpe Chief). As the new overall chief of his Ekpe Lodge, he presides of various Ekpe members, including chiefs of various Ekpe specialized branches like Amgbu (the devil catchers), Nsibiri (the dreaded enforcers of the law), Bekundi (the national security advisers of Ekpe) and many others.
Sessekou John Orock's rise to the highest level of Ekpe in his lodge was no surprise to us as he had served as Deputy Chief or Etobotobe Ntui of that lodge for decades. He had been through various tours of duty in Ekpe, including braving the Ekpe bush in 1979 when I was presented to Ekpe as a young boy, and when his direct predecessor moved up to the rank of Sessekou. When his predecessor transitioned, he became acting Sessekou until his formal installation in Bachuo-Akagbe as Sessekou of that lodge.
This Sessekou has been a very respected senior member of the Ekpe USA fraternity for years now, and his activities with us have been surrounded by folklore and legends. One of them is an event that occurred just over a year ago. Chief Orock Tambenchong had been so sick for months that everyone was expecting the worst. His best friend's son, Sessekou Christmas Ebini, contacted his son-in-law, Sessekou Joseph Mbu, to enquire why Ekpe had not formally gone to visit him. By this time, Orock was bedridden, with his daughters holding constant vigil as the community drifted into a solemn mood.
Ekpe was summoned and on that blessed day, they ushered into the living room one-by-one as Sessekou Mbu advised them to speak in low tones so as not to disturb the patient. Nevertheless, as palm wine flowed, cola nuts passed around and the Sacred Tiger devoured the goat, the Ekpe spirit began to take over. The guests became louder, and louder, and even louder ... and then the music started, and that too got louder, and louder, and louder. Eventually, John Orock, who had been unable to get out of bed since their arrival, called his daughter into the room and asked what was going on. She trembled as she contemplated how she would to go back and tell the Ekpe guests that they should leave because they were disturbing her father, but managed to answer that ..."Papa, it is those Ekpe people who came to visit you."
By now, the music had reached fevered pitch and the whole living room was a synchronized mass of girrating bodies dancing to the ancient tunes of Ekpe songs that urged their brother to come back to them, communicating with each other through the centuries old Ekpe sign language called Nsibidi, and asking God to heal their brother and grant them more years with him. Sessekou Orock asked his daughter to call his son-in-law, and as Sessekou Mbu walked in sweating and panting from leading the dance with his notoriously dexterious moves, Orock asked him to help him up. Mbu answered, "but Pa, you have not been able to walk for weeks". Orock screamed, "Help me up and don't be wasting my time". Sessekou helped him up and asked Sessekou Ojong-Orock to come and help, and they both guided Sessekou Orock towards the living room. The closer they got to the music, the stronger the patient got, and as they got to the living room, Sessekou John Orock pushed them away, staggered a bit, and as his eyes beamed, he started dancing.
There are no words in the English language to describe the joy that emanated from the Ekpe members as they came to the full realization that God had handed Pa John Orock back to them with a new lease on life. On that day, after being bedridden for almost a week, John Orock, a septuagenarian, danced like a twenty year old. He moved to the left, moved to the right and on bended knees, glided across the living room in a characteristic Ekpe move as the entire crown went into a frenzy. And then his hands began to move in a manner reminiscent of how our ancestors could converse with one another for a whole day without uttering a word, all in the Ekpe sign language called in Nsibidi. He thanked all of us for being there, thanked God for making him a Manyu man, thanked the almighty for giving him such great friends and had a brief conversation with each Ekpe member as he danced around ... all in Ekpe sign language. We danced on that fateful night, young, old, those with arthritis, those with gout, the despondent, the happy and Pa Orock all danced a rejoiced till 5am that morning as they celebrated the rebirth of Pa John Tambechong Orock.It is therefore an understatement to say we are very thrilled to invite you to join us on May 7th, 2011 from 6pm to dawn as we celebrate the new title of Sessekou John Tambechong Orock at the Blossom Center on 8741 Ashwood Dr., Suite G, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
Sessekou Solomon Egbe, Esq.
On behalf of Ekpe USA.
