In an attempt to assist the Bishop of the Diocese of Kumbo to carryout his charitable works, the Sambas of St. Peter and Paul Parish Simbock-Yaounde and Bonaberi-Douala and Kumbo have raised a colossal sum of FCFA2.5m. The fundraising occasion took place at the Kumbo Cathedral Church, Sunday, August 24 as Samba Simbock Yaounde celebrated its 5th anniversary.

Samba, it should be noted, is an emerging church group with its roots in the Kumbo Diocese whose intention is to propagate the faith.

According to Samba President Simbock Yaounde, Abel Wiysanyuy Wirngo, the fundraising ceremony which started sometime ago, has always intended to enable the Bishop of Kumbo give someone a future.

“Our intention is to help the Bishop of Kumbo give someone a future he doesn’t know and we ourselves who are assisting the Bishop don’t know who the Bishop is sponsoring. We are convinced that the Bishop is doing a good job as testified by one of the beneficiaries who accosted us in our Samba group in Yaounde,” Wirngo declared.

The Samba President, however, regretted that very few elite support them in the fundraising for the Bishop’s charitable works. “We have very few elite from Bui really coming. The list of supporters we have is dominated by non-elite, some coming from Southwest, the North and the rest of the world. Our elite are still very resistant,” the Samba President said.

For Ernestine Tomla Lukong, female Samba member Simbock Yaounde who is the Northwest Regional Delegate of Arts and Culture, the group started as a joke but expressed joy that they are able to make an impact on someone’s life through the Bishop. Describing the assistance to the Bishop as “Give someone a future” Project, she said it has been running for five years.

Lukong, who was clad in her traditional attire, said ‘Samba was operating in the spirit of Ecclesia in Africa- the church the African way’. Kumbo Bishop and fund manager Mgr George Nkuo described the Samba Simbock as one with a difference.

“It is not just a Samba where people eat and drink and make noise; Rather, after Mass, the members sit down to reflect on the word of God and how to influence and change the life of someone”, the Bishop said.

He expressed satisfaction with the funds raised and testified that he is a product of a benefactor who assisted him some 50years ago and he knew her only when he was ordained Bishop.

“I am where I am because somebody who never knew me more than 50years ago sent me to school, sponsored me, and here I am in Kumbo. When I go around the Diocese I see lots of children out there who will never have a future, unless someone from outside assists. That is my inspiration”, Mgr George Nkuo declared.

Samba Bonaberi Douala President paid tribute to Samba Yaounde for initiating them into the project, promising greater achievements.

During a Mass that preceded the fund raising, Samba thrilled the congregation with typical cultural songs and dance in the spirit of the enculturation.

The occasion that ended in merry-making witnessed the handing over of the Kumbo Diocesan Samba Chaplaincy from Fr Cornelus Safe to young Fr Rene Wirnkar.