Biography of Mama Mary Atemnkeng Tazi
Born about 1940, Princess Mary Atemnkeng Tazi was the oldest surviving daughter of His Royal Majesty Fon Fontem Defang and Mama Agnes Nkenglefac Fontem. Of the eight children that Mama Agnes Nkeng delivered, Princess Mary Atem was the first of the three who survived. Her two younger living siblings are Her Royal Highness Mafua Fontem (married to Dr. W.L. Asong of Fiangep Polyclinic in Dschang) and Tanyi Christopher Ajong Fontem of the Cameroon Consulate in Paris. Mary Atem and her sister, Princess Asaba Zingwa, dutifully flanked their father to perform the Royal Alubachaba Dance, in their capacity as his first two daughters. Throughout her life, she was an avid dancer of Nweh traditional dances and modern music.
Princess Atem Tazi married one of Fon Fontem Defang’s most prominent counselors, Mbe Tazi Ate’awung VIII of Njeh-Mweh, who passed away on September 12, 2006 She was the third of his four wives. Their union was blessed with ten children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. In their order of birth, they are Rose Nkong Echi, (Ohio); Julie Efiaboh Lekeaka (Lekong-Fontem); Mbe Tazi Ate’awung (Maryland); Prodencia Nkongho (Ohio); George Tazi (Ohio); Asongacha Tazi (Ohio); John Tazi (Maryland); and Alemngeh Tazi (Maryland).
Their first adult son, Philip Tazi, succeeded his father, becoming Mbe Tazi Ate’awung IX and head of Njeh-Mveh.
Mama Mary Atem loved children with a passion and raised several children along with her eight children. Beginning in 2004, she traveled to the United States at least once a year to spend time with her grand children. It was during this last trip that she met her untimely death when she was hit and killed by a drunken driver. Mama was preparing to return to Cameroon on October 10 to start preparations for the funeral of her mother who died two years ago. Mary Atem was a devout Catholic and a member of the Focolare Movement.
She leaves behind eight children, twenty-one grand children, seven great grand children, two siblings, scores of step brothers and sisters, hundreds of nieces and nephews, her two co-wives, and thousands of people worldwide, to mourn her. In death, she is now reunited in Heaven with her husband, Mbe Tazi Ate’awung VII, her late Father Fon Fontem Defang, and her late mother Mama Agnes Nkenglefac.