Between Two Worlds tells the story of Ndong the only surviving heir to the Quarter Head ofAboa village. His strong Catholic education makes him shun plans to groom him for his traditional responsibilities. He travels to Europe where he is ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. His absence leads to the death of his uncle-the Quarter Head of Aboa who swears to take away Ndong’s life if on his return from the White Man’s land he fails to inherit Abe Aboa and offer sacrifices to their ancestors on behalf of his people. His return provokes a dramatic turn of events that lead to a happy fusion of both religions. Religious clashes, deceit, hypocrisy, witchcraft, the celebration of Cameroon’s culure in general and the Kom culture in particular, combine to give Between Two Worlds the beauty it deserves.
Between two Worlds
Number of pages: 150
Year of publication: 2015
Born into a devout Roman Catholic family in the Kom village of Njinikom, Boyo Division, Ateh Francis, began his academic career at St Anthony’s School, Njinikom. He then went on to Sacred Heart College Mankon, Bamenda and GHS Nkambe for his Secondary and High School education respectively, before proceeding to the University of Yaounde where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Modern Letters in 1 990.
On his return to the North West Region, he taught English Language and English Literature in several schools including St Bedes College Ashing Kom, where he had the opportunity to observe the Kom society that is torn between the desire to respect their culture or practice Christianity.
His training as a journalist at the Advanced School of Communications, Yaounde, provided him with the tools to fine-tune his research in African cosmology and the writing skills to enable him to complete Between Two Worlds begun in 1 992.
Ateh Francis is a popular Cameroonian musician, poet and senior journalist working with the Cameroon Radio and Television Corporation.