In a touching end-of-year gesture that honored the dignity of labor, promoted road safety, and reinforced calls for peace amid Cameroon’s ongoing challenges, philanthropist Dr. Joseph Mubang (Founder and CEO of the JF Mubang Foundation) made a significant donation to commercial bike riders in Bamenda.
On Saturday, December 31, 2022, His Grace Andrew Fuanya Nkea, Archbishop of Bamenda, presided over a special Thanksgiving Holy Mass at St. Joseph Metropolitan Cathedral in Big Mankon—the second edition of this annual celebration dedicated to the city’s motorcycle taxi operators, commonly known as “bike riders.” The event brought together hundreds of riders from Bamenda I, II, and III Municipalities in Mezam Division, North West Region, along with their family members, friends, and well-wishers—including His Royal Highness King Abel Mokuke Ndive, Chief of Sasse Village, and Dr. Joseph Mubang, a son of the North West Region based in the United States, attending for the first time.
In his homily, Archbishop Nkea expressed deep appreciation for the essential services bike riders provide daily, ferrying people safely across the city despite risks on often difficult roads. He commended their participation in a November 12, 2022, pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Fatima Queen of Peace Shrine in Abangoh, where they joined in collective prayer for the return of peace to the North West and South West Regions amid the protracted armed conflict.
The Archbishop made a historic announcement: henceforth, St. Columbanus—the 6th–7th century Irish missionary monk renowned for his extensive travels across Europe—would serve as the Patron Saint of bike riders in Bamenda, with his feast day on November 23 observed annually. He exhorted the riders to invoke St. Columbanus’s intercession for protection and safety in their work.
The Mass included a special offertory procession in which riders presented cash gifts according to their municipalities, starting with Bamenda I, as an act of thanksgiving for God’s blessings throughout 2022. Riders joined the Archbishop in praying for continued divine protection.
Before the final blessing, Archbishop Nkea announced a generous donation from Dr. Joseph Mubang: over 100 helmets for the participating bike riders. The helmets were solemnly blessed by the Archbishop and distributed individually, equipping riders with essential protective gear to safeguard against head injuries in accidents—a practical measure to enhance safety in a high-risk profession.
The Chief of Sasse complemented the event by donating a modern handicap tricycle to one attending Christian and a cash prize of 50,000 FCFA for New Year’s celebrations.
On behalf of the bike riders, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Berily, the Bamenda Archdiocesan Bike Riders’ Chaplain, thanked the Archbishop and benefactors for the special recognition and support. Liturgical singing was beautifully led by a choir from Regina Pacis Parish in Ndamukong, Bayelle Deanery.
After the Mass, Archbishop Nkea blessed all the riders and their motorcycles in a moving outdoor ceremony, urging collaboration and continued prayers for peace in the NW and SW Regions. The celebration concluded traditionally: the Archbishop was escorted from the cathedral to his residence by a convoy of the blessed bikes, where they received his final episcopal blessings.
Speaking to the press afterward, Dr. Mubang explained his motivation: head protection is paramount for bike riders in the event of accidents, given the daily dangers they face on the roads. This donation aligned with his broader commitment to community welfare, safety, and supporting those who serve others—echoing his prolific 2022 initiatives in healthcare (including major donations to St. Blaise Hospital extensions), education, faith events, and civic improvements.
The maiden edition of the Archbishop’s Mass with bike riders took place on December 31, 2021; this second edition reinforced the tradition, blending spiritual gratitude, safety advocacy, and communal solidarity in a region where motorcycle transport remains a lifeline despite insecurity.
