Boniface Ndemping Wewe (The Ngonyama Ka Brooklyn) was born in Cameroon, West Central Africa. He was educated in Bamenda, Mamfe, Molyko -Buea and the University of Yaounde (Cameroon) and the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA) where he obtained his master’s degree in Library Sciences, on a Fulbright scholarship, in 1991. When he graduated in 1991, he moved back to Cameroon where he headed the Yaounde University Law Library. In 1993, he returned to America.
Wewe, who is currently a Senior Librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library, is the author of two books Witches, Wizards, Ghosts and The Beast of Nyiragongo and Atungsiri's Ghost and Other Tales, and producer of three videos on Africa including Akwaaba… Welcome to Alphabetic Africa and Pay the Dowry/Cameroon – The Africa In Miniature.
Some of his works are set in South Africa. During one of his projects, he filmed the Zulu Royal Reed dance and was singled out by the current Zulu King-Goodwill Zwelithini for a handshake that he declined until when authorized by the king to do so.
In most African traditions, commoners are not allowed to shake hands with the king. Given that rare privilege of handshake with King Zwelithini who is called NGONYAMA (lion) in Zulu and Mr. Wewe’s Brooklyn residence, he awarded himself the title of NGOYAMA KA BROOKLYN which stands for Lion of Brooklyn!
Wewe is a father of one child –Barbara Wewe. He enjoys yam and corn flour served with Okra soup and as well as “pepper soup” when drinking beer! He enjoys jogging almost every other. He loves to travel and when in Cameroon, drinks palm wine (Matango) and eats lots of bush meat especially stewed porcupine commonly called Chuku-Chuku Beef. His travels have taken him to Nigeria, Central African Republic, South Africa, Canada, Dominican Republic and Mexico. He speaks and writes English and French and three African languages as well as broken Spanish.
He has for his mentors the late Hon. Dr. John Ngu Foncha (one of the architects of Cameroon’s unification) and also the late Professor Bernard Nsokika Fonlon –University don and onetime cabinet minister under Cameroon’s first president Ahmadou Ahidjo.
He is also a winner of the 2003 New York Times Librarian Award for outstanding community service.
Ngonyama ka Brooklyn means lion of Brooklyn but in a possessive context, ie Brooklyn is the last name as in Ndemping du Wewe or Ndemping ka Wewe. Ngonyama yase Brooklyn also means the same but in a locational context which I think you are trying to protray.
Enjoy your comments on different issues around the globe esp the Sin-African relations - God have mercy on all of us. No matter how much you can tell people that the greatest Greek philosophers and mathematicians spent time in Africa people will always look down on Afrika.
Posted by: Vuyo | July 18, 2005 at 09:05 AM
Hi Boni,
Thrilled to find out about all these accomplishments of yours . Hope my next trip to New York will provide a better opportunity to bump into folks of your caliber .
extend my greetings to everyone you believe I know .
Best regards
Antoine Tobie/ ex folk from moliko dorm .
Posted by: Antoine Tobie | February 19, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Keep up the good work Ngonyama! You are truly an inspriration to a lot of us. I was once in touch with you while I was still in Michigan.
Cheers,
Bate AGBOR-BAIYEE
Tempe, Arizona
Posted by: Bate AGBOR-BAIYEE | November 28, 2007 at 09:12 AM
Keep up the good work Ngonyama! You are truly an inspriration to a lot of us. I was once in touch with you while I was still in Michigan. Keep up the good work Bro.
Cheers,
Bate AGBOR-BAIYEE
Tempe, Arizona
Posted by: Bate AGBOR-BAIYEE | November 28, 2007 at 09:14 AM