Leopard Watch

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` Langaa Research and Publishing Common Initiative Group PO Box 902 Mankon Bamenda North West Region Cameroon In beautifully constructed verse, JK Bannavti’s LEOPARD WATCH tells the story of a Fon who out of greed and veiled impiety devastates the land over which he rules. The Fon, The King of Bamkov is in a perpetual state of slumber while an illusive beast drives terror into the heart of the kingdom, killing children as well as cattle. Neither the cries of the people nor pressure from the notables seems to have any effect on him. The population of the clan diminishes daily while the Fon sleeps, snores, and drools in the day, and growls, chews, and laps in the night. When finally the notables join the youth vigilante group to hunt down the beast, they come face to face with the devourer who narrowly escapes. A day later, one of the notables, Gwei, in a drunken state encounters and kills the leopard at night as he returns from the market. Amidst jubilation and in honor of Gwei the Fon collapses off his horse and dies. His carcass lies in the same state as that of the dead leopard. “YET IN SPITE OF ITS RATHER SERIOUS OUTLOOK, LEOPARD WATCH DEVELOPS A MEASURED SPRINKLING OF HUMOR THAT ENHANCES BOTH STRUCTURE AND CHARACTER.” Dr. Emelda N. Samba, Theatre Lecturer, University of Yaoundé 1 “AS MANY OF US TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE FOUNDATIONS OF LOCAL ART IN OUR INDIGENOUS CULTURES, PRODUCTS LIKE LEOPARD WATCH HELP TO BRING PARTS OF OUR CULTURAL HISTORY TO LIFE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXPLORE LEGENDS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE DISAPPEAR.” Shey Stephen Shemlon (PhD), Somerset, New Jersey, USA JK BANNAVTI is a freelance writer based in the United States. His artistic life started in Cameroon where he worked with Lontum Theatre, The Master Key Theatre, The Flame Players and The Yaoundé University Theatre. He has taught English in the Bronx Community College of the City University of New York, and Maritime College of the State University of New York. ...