Peter Bah Tabi

BIOGRAPHY “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens, a time to be born (Ecc 3:1&2)”. Prince Peter Bah Tabi was born into the royal house of the Zang Tabi Fondom on the 7th of August 1948. He was the first son, though the second child of his mother. He attended the...  see moreBIOGRAPHY “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens, a time to be born (Ecc 3:1&2)”. Prince Peter Bah Tabi was born into the royal house of the Zang Tabi Fondom on the 7th of August 1948. He was the first son, though the second child of his mother. He attended the Government (Primary) School Mamfe where he obtained his first school leaving certificate in 1962. The following year, he gained admission in to the Government Technical College Ombe, after passing the Competitive Common Entrance Examination. Here he enrolled in the Sheet Metal Department. He graduated from the college 5 years later with London City and Guilds Gr 2 Certificate. With no technical high school handy for him to further his education formally, he resorted to taking correspondence courses for the City and Guilds Certificate, Advanced Level. He passed this two years after. Meanwhile he got himself employed to work in the technical section of the then Department of Urban Development, Kumba. He shortly afterwards switched over to next door Public Works Department. Somehow, he settled down to start building his career there, but things were to change as the years went by. It was during this period that he met the Love of his life, in the person of Dorothy. He shyly proposed to her, and they soon got married; their wedding was solemnised and blessed in Presbyterian Church, Kumba-Mbeng. Following this event quick and fast was his recruitment, after exacting selection tests, to undergo training to work in the new born oil refinery, SONARA. For this he, and his other colleagues, underwent 3 years of theoretical and practical courses in Cameroun and Marseilles) France. He qualified as a unit operator on their return to Cameroon he became as it were one of the pioneer skilled employees at the refinery. He worked diligently braving all odds from February 1978 to June 2005 when, for health reasons he asked for and went on voluntary retirement. He loved singing. In fact, from his primary school days back in Mamfe, the seed of making melody had already geminated in him. He stood out during singing lessons in the school; he sang in the English choirs of the Presbyterian Church in Mamfe; he was heard in Ombe through Kumba to Victoria now Limbe. He was devoted to church activities and groups; from CYF to CMF memberships; he was a YP teacher already in Kumba. Wherever he passed it was not uncommon to hear children greeting and chanting his name “MR Peter, Mr Peter!!. He has tutored a host of catechumen for baptism and confirmation. The late Prince Peter Bah was an elder in the PPC for decades and congregational vice/chairman of PC Bota for a number of years. He lived a simple, unassuming defaced life. He spent a lot of his time in the church premises doing one assignment or the other. Even some of his children declared laconically that he lived in the church. He loved his family dearly and played with all his children the way good friends do. He recently renewed his marital vows in the PCC Bota. Two years ago, he stepped down from Leadership church activities. About a year ago, he took seriously ill and spent some anxious days in the hospital. When he felt a little better yet still in bed, he expressed his thanks to everyone for their prayers. Sometime after he was discharged and assessing his much improved health, he resumed catechumen classes with some aspirants who turned out to be the last batch of students he prepared for baptism. Apparently, these activities did not weigh him down but rather gave him so much joy and enjoyment. On the 11th of May 2020 however, he complained that he had a headache for some days and had a taken medications to no avail but reported feeling much better on this day. He said he was fine, his household was safe and healthy and he sounded optimistic. “A time to die Ecc 3:2” On the 12th of May his situation suddenly deteriorated and was rushed to the hospital where he gave up the ghost. He is survived by his loving wife, five children (Akwi, Anwi, Nimba, Ngohnyam and Ndah), brothers and sisters and a host of friends. May he rest in Perfect Peace.