July 2009
CERCOPAN recently lost one of our much loved staff members following a short illness. Chief Patrick Arong Mbang, 68 years of age, served as security at Rhoko since June 3rd, 2002. Always with a ready smile, Chief was always top of the pack, winning the prize for the least number of sick leave days more than once, despite being one of our oldest members of staff!

Apart from his duties as security, Chief Patrick also assisted as a guide for researchers venturing into the larger community forest on several occasions. An extremely skilled hunter in his youth, his knowledge of the forest and its wildlife was brilliant. His funeral in the village was a very moving experience, attended by many friends and family from far afield. As is traditional in Nigeria, the burial tribute went on for three days - with special celebrations by the  hunters paying respect to Chief's reknowned hunting prowess of his youth.  Claire said of the event

"...Richard arrived from Calabar bearing Chief's coffin and could hear the wailing from the secondary school....When I got there (the next day) people were dancing and the crying subsided for a while. The staff were hugging me and it was up and down for the rest of the day, one minute crying next dancing...They (the hunters) then formed a fire and cooked the chicken and plantain and they were blowing horns and firing guns and sitting on the floor and making shapes with machetes and wearing leaves. The drums then started and there was drumming and dancing the entire night, many people we met had travelled from villages far from Esai and we were amazed just how many people chief  had as friends. We stayed to about 1 in the morning with the whole village still there and then it rained so things stopped for a while and we left. We hadnt been back at camp long when the drums started again and they went on all night. It would seem the burial will continue until sunday. I dont think I have ever seen that much support or emotion for anyone in my life and it was nice to see that everyone loved him as much as we did."

We extend our sincere sympathies to Patrick's family. He will be much missed.