Chief Ayamba “Memorial Foundation” set-up

Transition of HRH Chief Ayamba Ette Otun – SCNC National Chairman

‘HE WOULD FOREVER BE REMEMBERED’

His Royal Highness Chief Ayamba Ette Otun, traditional ruler of the Onaku people in the Eyumojock sub-division and National Chairman of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) would forever be remembered.  On December 31, 1999, Chief Ayamba alongside retired Justice Frederick Alobwede Ebong, Pa James Sabum entered into the folklore of Southern Cameroons history as they joined a determined team of members of the Southern Cameroons Youth League (SCYL) in the seizure and proclamation of the independence of the former British Sothern Cameroons over Radio Buea.  This brazen act of courage ended the late Chief and his compatriots an 18 month detention without charges and or trial. After his unconditional release and following the death after a protracted illness of the then National Chairman of the SCNC and former Vice Minister of Education of West Cameroon Dr. Martin Ngeka Luma, Chief E.O. Ayamba assumed the responsibilities of leading the SCNC. His remarkable dedication to the struggle for statehood was capped with his vowed never to shave his noticeable long-grey beard until that day when the Southern Cameroons would be totally free. And though he never lived to see that day, he never betrayed his solemn oath.

As one-time General Manager of the defunct Societe Nationale Camerounaise (SONAC), the late traditional ruler, activist and leader of the SCNC played a pivotal role in the birth of the now famous SONAC Street in Bamenda, named after the private firm for which he managed. A fervent member of the Baha’I Faith, Chief Ayamba believed in the power of prayer which was part of his daily routine at 4:00 am each day. He also holds strong to the long-held knowledge that water is the source of good health as he drinks five liters a day in his famous ‘water therapy’.  

Like all other true African patriots, the late Chief Ayamba was focused, steadfast and courageous even in the midst of treachery and betrayals from close associates. He was never a perfect human being but his imperfection humbled him to see the greatness of the human spirit and refused to succumb to financial offers from the Biya regime for the purpose of negotiating the destruction of the struggle to which he has sacrificed so much for. Chief Ayamba Ette Otun would never be forgotten for his straight talking with a soft voice. He would always be remembered for telling the Yaoundé regime that “even at my age, no amount of your harsh treatment, threats and detention would force me to stop working for the independence of the Southern Cameroons…Yes, I am just an old man who wants a better future for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I want them to know when I am no longer there that I did not betray them; that as a human I did my best so that they should one day live in a country that would not be free by the letter of the books but by everyday encounter and experiences”.

Goodbye Chief, goodbye Chairman, goodbye dad and grand-dad and we hope to meet you someday when our turn will come. Goodbye and safe journey. But as you begin this trip, always bear in mind that you are in our hearts forever.

The Chief Ayamba “Memorial Foundation” has been set-up. Additional details & funeral program will be released later.

For more information, please contact:

Ayamba Celine (Mamfe)                   +23775264614

Ayamba Mildred Manyi (Germany) +4915216763401

Tahiri Bessem Ayamba (Germany)   +4915210615894

Ibrahim Ayamba (France)                 +33758245449

Prince Larry Ayamba (Belgium)       +32465908509

Click here to view memorial website.

“BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART

FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD” MATTHEW 5:8

Prince Larry Ayamba for and on behalf of the Ayamba family

Death snatches SCNC’s Chief Ayamba

Cameroon Headlines, Buea, June 20 - The Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC separatist group has lost its leader, Chief Ayamba Ette Otun. He reportedly died, Thursday, June 18, at the Full Gospel hospital in Mamfe.

Information about the cause of his death is still sketchy, but unconfirmed sources say the Eyumodjock Chief who passed away at the age of 91, was  sick for a while.

Before Chief Ayamba’s demise, many citizens who did not know why he kept a bumpy long grey beard simply considered him a strange figure with a “frightful” beard.


Ayamba, who hails from Manyu division together with Justice Ebong, and another SCNC leader commonly called Pa Sabum, should be recalled, seized Radio Buea on December 31, 1999 and proclaimed the independence of Southern Cameroons. They were subsequently arrested at the Limbe Centenary stadium and taken to the Yaounde Kondengui prison where they spent about two years in detention.


Upon release, Justice Ebong fled to Nigeria and later to the United States on self exile. Chief Ayamba stayed and became National Chairman of SCNC. He replaced the late Dr. Martin Luma who died April, 2003. The interim Secretary General, Mbunwe Patrick was assassinated same April, 2003.

Ever since, he vowed never to shave his beard until the Southern Cameroons was completely free. But today, he is no more.

The courageous Mamfe elite had prior to his death, fought a hard leadership battle with Nfor Nfor Ngala, another diehard SCNC activist. He dies when the leadership crisis is unfortunately not yet resolved.

According to Martin Nfor Yembe, human rights activist and SDF first deputy mayor in Ndu Sub division, North West region, the battle between Ayamba and his vice president was all a misinterpretation of

action and misunderstanding of views following an Oslo meeting that called for a United Southern Cameroons Patriotic Coalition Front (PCF) that was made up of a Youth league, SCAPO, SCNC, and the Civil Societies in the struggle.

He holds that it was the designation of Mola Njoh Litumbe to handle the home front of the coalition that sparked off the fire that was to consume the leadership of SCNC and pull the struggle to a heavy but slow gear.

“As soon as Nfor Nfor started collaborating with the Front, with Mola at the head at home, Chief Ayamba’s close aides wailed wolf! They claimed and continue to claim that there was a hidden agenda to sideline Chief Ayamba and usher in Mola Njoh Litumbe.”

Lots of polemics were raised that have nothing to do with the struggle. Nfor Nfor, unwittingly accepted to take the mantle of leadership of the SCNC as National Chairman, and not only that, he alone eventually became three in one: National Chairman, Vice National Chairman and Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee.