King of Cameroon at Lynn’s City Hall

LYNN – It’s not often that a member of African royalty pays a visit to City Hall.But on Tuesday, the King of Cameroon, Foreke Asongtia, toured City Hall dressed in traditional garb and learned about local culture and the way of life in Lynn.City Council President Timothy Phelan, who is filling in as mayor for the week while Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. vacations, welcomed Asongtia to the city.”We extend our best wishes and good fortune to the people of Cameroon,” he said.Asongtia, the ruler of Essoh-Attah and Provincial Delegate of Social Affairs in Cameroon, will conclude his four-day visit on Thursday, following a tour of the city, a soccer game at Manning Field and breakfast at the local Little River Inn.”Thank you immensely for welcoming and giving me an opportunity to visit your lovely city,” he said. “I hope to continue to be in good standing, and I am honored to be the host one day to you in the not-too-distant time.”Phelan said he just might take Asongtia up on his offer one day.”There are many people from Cameroon that live in the city of Lynn and we are proud to have you here,” he said. “We have an open door policy in the city and we look forward to working with you in the future.”Asongtia presented Phelan with two traditional, handmade totes from Cameroon, and in a similar gesture, Phelan gave Asongtia a formal citation from the city.Part of the Lebialem Division of Cameroon, Asongtia said Essoh-Attah’s population of roughly 160,000 people embody a rich culture that has been preserved and passed on for generations.Local resident and member of the African royal family, Fualehndem Nkeng, arranged Asongtia’s visit, who also recently traveled to Tuscon, Arizona, where a large population of Cameroonian’s reside.”My family and I were drawn to the community of Lynn in 1999 from a friend who lives here and we have been enjoying the city ever since,” he said. “We came from nothing in Africa and now we own houses here?we are doing very well.”Asongtia said he plans to inform his native people about the cultures and democratic values that he learned from his trips to Lynn and Tucson.