Once upon a time in Ilai-kom, the seat of the Kom Fondom, Foin Njinabo sits with his family at night to pass on the wisdom of sages who came before him and to ponder life’s big questions. One evening, Fulai Nange, the Fon’s 3-year-old daughter, looked up at the night sky and asked, “Where do smiles come from?”
A hush fell over them. Then Nange’s grandmother Nini Mbel-Chia smiled and breaking the silence, she said, “Nange, smiles come from many places. When the moon smiles, it lights up the night sky and fills us with wonder. When the earth smiles, it blooms with beautiful flowers, lush green trees, and chirping birds. And when people smile, it warms our hearts brightens our darkest nights. Even the universe smiles, you know. When it does, the heavens are filled with its dazzling stars like tonight.”
Nange’s father, the Fon, chimed in, “Let’s not forget, animals like Titi the cat and Ngong our dog, fill our hearts with love and laughter, when they smile. When this happens, our faces light up and our cheeks form a dimple that makes other people do the same. We call this a smile. All this, reminds us of the simple joy in the world around us. And that’s how smiles came to be.”
From then on, Nange understood that smiles are all around us, making the world a brighter and happier place for everyone. She promised to always smile to make the Fondom happy and colourful.
The next day, Nange went into the Aku (forest). Everywhere she looked, she saw the earth smiling back at her through vibrant blossoms, the shimmering sunlight piercing through swaying trees, and the playful animals. Nange realized that these natural wonders were a testament to the earth’s radiant smile. This reminded her to appreciate the simple joys in life and made her smile too.
As Nange grew older, she realized that every smile had a story. Whether in moments of triumph or hardship, a smile showed resilience and hope. When she saw strangers sharing smiles, it filled her with warmth and hope. In her quiet moments, Nange, imagined the universe smiling down upon her, reminding her of its vast wonders and mysteries waiting to be discovered. This cosmic smile reminded her of the awe and inspiration that lay beyond the confines of her everyday world.
Nange also found comfort in the smiles of the family pets. Their loyalty and genuine affection taught her the value of simplicity and love. Whether it was the wagging tail of a dog or the purr of a cat, she felt the unconditional love in their expressions, free from the worries of human emotion.
Smiles were everywhere, she would remind herself – in the celestial dance of the moon, in the nurturing embrace of the earth, in the empathy of the human heart, in the divine wonder of the universe, and in the pure, heartfelt joy of animals. She understood that each smile was a piece of the divine, a manifestation of love and light amidst life’s intricacies.
Glossary:
Foin (synonymous with The King), is the first declension of Fon. When someone says King Njinabo, in the Kom language it will be Foin Njinabo. So, “The King”, becomes, “The Fon” or simply “Foin”. Fons rule over Fondoms.
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Stephen A. Kube is a humanitarian leader and creative writer with over 8 years of experience in human resources (HR) and policy development for non-profits. He serves as Secretary-General at Family World International for the empowerment and safeguarding of children and women. He served as HR and Administrative officer for USAID’s KIDSS Project for Orphans and Vulnerable Children with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and its Malaria Project in Buea, Cameroon. As a YALI Alumni and Director of Channelling Intellectual Potential, Stephen empowers African youth through personal and professional development programs. Stephen’s interests extend to writing, poetry, research, presentation, climate change, emancipation, mechanics and philosophy.
Read – A Letter to My Son – A Children’s Literature by Immaculate Ajiambo, Kenya
