Biography for Papa Tanyi Ake Francis
The late papa Tanyi Ake Francis, generally referred to as “Otong”, (meaning “teacher”), by his people, was born in Kekpoti, a village in the upper Bayang sub division in 1945. He started his primary education in the only standard two primary school in Kekpoti. He later left to attend standard 3 and 4 at Widikum and Standard 5 and 6 at Bachuo Ntai, Mamfe, where he earned his First School Leaving Certificate. He was baptized into the Catholic faith in Widikum.
The Educationist
In 1966, he was admitted into the Teachers’ Training College (SAJOCOL), Nchang, Mamfe. At SAJOCOL, Tanyi Francis was the Ronkali dormitory prefect. He was a very popular student at SAJOCOL and was nicknamed “Ma Njong Aja” meaning “man of the people.” Tanyi Francis was a fervent Mass server in the college. In 1971, he graduated with a Grade One Certificate. Upon graduating in 1971, he was recruited as a Catholic school teacher and posted to Moquo in the Tiko sub division. After two years in Moquo, he was made the headmaster of the school. It was in Moquo, where he met the young tall beautiful-looking Angela Bikelle Tanyi. With a pig from his style, Tanyi Francis married Angela Bikelle in 1972 and the marriage lasted fifty years. The couple got their first child, Magdalene Tanyi Nanga, in 1973. Angela Tanyi bore him six children over the years.
In 1977, the late Tanyi Ake Francis was transferred to St. Joseph School Tiko, where he served under Pa Foreke. After his stint at St. Joseph’s school, the late Ake Tanyi was transferred to St. Mary’s school Tiko in the early 1980s. From St. Mary’s, he was later transferred to St. Joseph’s school in Mutengene as a headmaster. In 1989, he was brought back to St. Mary’s school in Tiko as a senior teacher. In 1993, the mobile Tanyi Francis was sent to head the Catholic School at Ekondo Titi. He spent ten years at Ekondo Titi. Because of the many years he served as a headmaster in different Catholic schools, he was also popularly known as “HM.” He was a disciplinarian and oftentimes did not spare recalcitrant pupils. That explains his “Guillotine” nickname by his pupils.
Papa Tanyi was an educationist. As such he took the so-called sandwich courses at the University of Calabar, Nigeria, from 1987 to 1991 and graduated with a BA in Education. Papa Tanyi was passionate about the intellectual development of the human person, especially the poor from his community. Many family members were brought from the village to be educated in the Tiko subdivision under his tutelage.
Tanyi Ake Francis was business-minded. During his spell as the headmaster of St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Mutengene, he opened the famous drinking spot known as the Teachers Canteen. In Mudeka, he established an off-license where most activities in Mudeka were held at the time. He was also a landlord in Mudeka. Together with his longtime wife, Mama Angela Bikelle, they established drinking spots in different places in Tiko. He made a lot of money for the Catholic Church in Tiko during bazaars where he ran many creative activities.
Community, Love and Family
The late Tanyi Ake Francis was a very peaceful man. He always wanted peace to prevail at all cost, and most often at his own expense. He befriended people who had previously wronged him and shared meals with them. One of his last words to mama Angela were, “Stay in peace with your children when I am gone.”
Tanyi Ake Francis is survived by his wife for fifty years, Angela Tanyi. In the last four years of his life on earth, Angela Tanyi selflessly took care of her ailing husband. He is also survived by his children, Raphael Ndem Tanyi, Lilian Tanyi, Ake Tanyi, Loveline Tanyi, John Tanyi, and Baiye Tanyi. Tanyi Francis left behind twenty grandchildren.
In 2019, papa Tanyi and his wife traveled to the Sweden and Norway to visit their children. It was there that his health started deteriorating. The deceased defiled all odds and sojourned on for the next four years. The late Tanyi Francis finished the race in the early hours of February 24, 2023 at the Buea General Hospital. May God grant him eternal rest. Until we meet again Papa Tanyi.