Jacinta Satia - Online Memorial Website

THE BABY SISTER

Growing up in 1959 Kumba in a compound populated by 22 members of the family and friends of the family, baby sister Jacinta, resolved promptly that navigational skills won’t be sufficient. You have to be demanding, you have to be disciplined.

1959 Kumba  was a time of struggle. Struggle for Independence, struggle for structure, struggle for community; to Jacinta, that was the good stuff.

In keeping with politics of the time, waking up each morning, Jacinta’s first greetings were the clamorous Rhode Island Reds on the periphery of the compound; in pidgin parlance…”kokoloko, duck-fowl big pass you.”

Years of matriculation in the USA confirmed her conviction that every Cameroonian should contribute to eradicate the struggles. The glamour, bright lights and dynamics of the big city, Yaoundé, was a distraction. She fell in love with the good stuff…Mankon.

When Jacinta’s son Philip was 16, this old uncle mailed him 2 magazines to college at Bishop Rogan, Soppo: World Soccer and Vogue with Beyoncé on the cover sporting a cowboy hat. The boy got into trouble in school; I got into trouble with my sister. I had a 45 minute lecture over the phone from Mankon; “You mailed Philip a Beyoncé magazine?” “Is Vogue a Beyoncé magazine?” (the phone call was before cell phones and emails.) Big deal! The whole episode didn’t bother me one bit. It didn’t stop me from sending the boy magazines.

I was always astonished by the bemused look on the faces of Commissioner A.C. Morfor and Uncle Boni Patcha every time Jacinta’s name came up. If you ask, “When was the last time you saw Jacinta?” their first response was “always!”… Why? She demanded regular visits. She will demand.

In Yaounde, AC and I were driving to visit Jacinta. We were meters from her house. AC turned the car around to go get a bottle of wine. “You walk in empty-handed, no telling what she’d say.” And, about that little matter of eradicating the struggle, Jacinta always said, “if you wait until the match is lit to install fire sprinklers, it’s too late”.

Personally, each time I drove from the port city of Victoria (Limbe) where sailors used to come to town (coastal tourist) to Yaounde, as the sun went down and the moon came up, ten miles into Yaounde, I was always comforted by the knowledge that my baby sister had a couch I could sleep on.

Jim Satia

Columbus, Ohio

 I am not good at these, but Auntie Cinta I miss you so much! When I heard the news of your passing I could feel my heart beat stop for a second. It was the absolute worst news for me. I understood how you struggled with your continuous, on and off battle with cancer and I know God relieved you from your pain but I can't help but to be sad because I will never see you again here on earth. It's the memories I hold on to. I can still remember your soft voice and nurturing words you would say to me whenever I was down. "Mimi everything will be OK." I value all the little talks we had and promises made will be fulfilled even though it hurts that you won't be here to witness them. You were my grand-aunt, truly grand indeed and most importantly a true friend to me. I love you Auntie Cinta and I miss you so much! Rest in Perfect peace. Till we meet again.

Amira Nanji 

My dearest aunty Cinta,

Our loving grandma Thecla, andma Thecla, your mom, loved to gather her grand children around her, therefore growing up so closely knit together you were more like a big sister than an aunty to us. I have such fond memories of our incredibly happy times together. However as we got older, we never seemed to be in the same place for long...our lives criss-crossed but our love and closeness was steadfast. I remember you leading the band at STS, Fiango, Kumba... then you leaving for boarding school while I moved to Buea. You made college life in Okoyong seem so fun, enthralling us during summer breaks with exciting anecdotes and teaching us lyrics to music like 'Going Back West' by Jimmy Cliff. When it was my turn for college it was just natural that I would follow your footsteps into QRC Okoyong and Lourdes House, entering the year you graduated and relocated immediately to the USA. Your return home after 4 years of studies in Seattle University, Washington was carefully orchestrsted to surprise us. I still reminisce about us waking up for breakfast, my mom surprising us with the announcement that you had arrived overnight, and the sheer joy and happy chaos that erupted as we all ran into your room and jumped on your bed, waking you up. I remember you speaking in your acquired American accent, telling me once in that drawl when my mom called from the office "it's your momma." Oh, how we giggled and mimicked you for weeks! I remember you singing and dancing to the O'Jays's 'She Used To Be My Girl,' one of the records you had brought back, with all of us in tow. Not long after that I left for the UK and then America, criss-crossing once again. However, we would spend every Christmas/New Year's holiday together thereafter as I made a point to return home yearly. On those visits I witnessed you blossom into a young professional in Yaounde, taking lessons and eventually mastering French, your time in ENS, the joy of the birth of your two beautiful and devoted children and coming into your own as a leader and woman of faith. We would once again be blessed with extended time together under the same roof during your treatment in America. Along with the bountiful joy on our life's journey we also overcame pain, like the death of our beloved Mami T, our grandma and your mom, your oldest sister and my mom, Mama Mauritia, and our dear Louisa and Asong who was born 'in your arms' in Seattle. However, your battle with cancer inspired us and renewed our faith . You were the bravest warrior, always positive, never complaining, steadfast in putting God first and succumbing to His will. You were a realist, accepting your fate, making no demands and having no expectations of any one,  yet demonstrating boundless gratitude for every kind gesture. You were funny, with a unique laugh I wish I had a recording of. Through it all you came full circle and emulated your mother, advocating for family first, extending your welcoming arms to all, pulling us closer together.  We had been making plans to spend time with you in the summer of 2018 oblivious that God had other more pressing plans. To say my heart is broken, that I am deeply saddened, that I am yet to accept that you're gone, would be an understatement. You left an indelible mark from the time we were blessed to spend with you in Maryland. Your St. Jude magazines and other subscriptions still arrive regularly...keeping you forever physically as well as spiritually present in our lives. We can't watch EWTN without thinking of you and mama. Above all, I am honored to have been chosen by God to call you aunty, sister, friend. I love and miss you so very dearly...now and beyond eternity!

Stellus

TRIBUTE TO OUR PRESIDENT, OUR FRIEND AND OUR MEMBER

GIRL SATIA, K-TOWN BOYS and GIRLS Social Group BAMENDA, received news of the end of your race on earth and your passage to eternal glory with grief. Though grieved by your departure, we remain consoled that you are resting in peace in the Lord.  We experienced a long period of illness with you, being witness to your declining state of health. We lived with you through the pains of your deteriorating health which deprived us of the jokes, fun, advice and your lively dancing styles. Oh! GIRL SATIA, we shall always remember you and your slogan ‘WHEN GIRLS WERE GIRLS’ usually exclaimed whenever you were at the peak of enjoyment, dancing an ‘old timer’ Makossa or Congolese tune.

As one of the founding members of K-TOWN Boys and Girls in 1999, and as the pioneer President of the group, you coordinated the activities of the group for several years until illness took you to the USA for medical attention. You were strict, firm and resolute in the management of meetings. You worked hard to get members understand they were brothers and sisters far away from our home town, KUMBA. You succeeded in your objective and we shall continue to exist as such.

We shall miss you so much but because God loves you more than we do, you shall remain evergreen in our memory. ADIEU GIRL SATIA. May your soul rest in perfect peace.

K-TOWN BOYS AND GIRLS BAMENDA

Dearest Aunty C,

Well, to say I’m heart broken is an understatement. But, to try and emulate something you would say to me in this moment, I’ll tell myself: if the purpose of the heart was to love someone entirely, then it has done its job. I won’t be sad for too long, because I know your heart loved everyone infinitely, and therefore completed its work. I won’t cry for too long because I was privileged enough to bask in that love, and I know I’ll feel it forever. And I will never close the gap between my two front teeth because you told me not to, that gapped teeth represent “wealth”!

Laughing With You Forever,

Kha

My Aunty Cinta, your death was a total shock to me but my consolation is you get to hang out with the angel and saints in heaven. You were an awesome mother, the only person who made me come to bamenda.I remember all the good times we had with Boh in Kumba and Bamenda. You get to be with your best friend Tata Flo, my love to her. May you rest in perfect peace.

Whitney Asaha

Aunty Jacinta,

It is at this moment that I’m coming to terms with your passing away. I still remember visiting you in Bamenda when we were kids, and also in August 2013, when we went to Mamfe with Philip and my dad, your cousin. You gave me a lot of advice here in Kumba and I miss them right now. You were a great woman full of life, joy and happiness. You prayed a lot and I liked you for that.

We loved you so much but, GOD loved you even more. REST WELL MAMA.

Adieu, Desmond NJOTSA

Oh mama! When you moved to kumba I was so happy. We lived happily in love and harmony together. I prayed that we would enjoy more time together but God had other plans. I love you so very much but I came to realize that our Lord and creator loves you much more . I am so greatful for all the surport you gave me and I pray you rest in peace in the bosom of the lord

 Aunty Celine Nkeng