Anxiety Heightens As Ngonnso's Return Flight Awaited

 By Tarhyang Enowbikah Tabe

 

Members of the Nso Community home and abroad are more and more anxious over plans for the return of The Ngonnso’ from Germany.

Sources in Cameroon say talks will be launched in the days ahead for the return flight of the Ngonnso’ Statue.

According to Reuters News Agency, Germany is set to return the statue that was stolen from Cameroon 120 years ago as part of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation growing trend to give back artifacts taken during the colonial era.

 “The date of return is not yet known, it has to be done bilaterally, first with Cameroonian Government through the External Relations Ministry for it to be granted safe return. Other agreements need to be fixed, once it is done, a date will be announced. But as of now, the date is not known” A Nso Prince, Mbinglo Gilles Yumo Nyuydzewira told The Advocate.

“He added that the anxiety is rising as everyone is excited. More than 120 years, there are generations that have never had the opportunity to see it as it is” The Prince added.

Speaking to Reuters, Mbinglo Gilles Yumo Nyuydzewira, said “the news was received warmly in Cameroon.”After more than 120 years, we can only remain happy for it is a moment to commemorate and come closer to our ancestral links with love and togetherness."

"The message remains that of reuniting spiritually and ancestral wise with the mother and founder of this great dynasty,” Prince Nyuydzewira told Reuters.

The female figure, known as Ngonnso', will be returned to the kingdom of Nso' in northwestern Cameroon. It was taken by colonial officer Kurt von Pavel and donated to Berlin's Ethnological Museum in 1903.

"Bring Back Ngonnso," a civil society initiative, has been campaigning for the statue's return for years, as the Nso people say they have suffered numerous calamities since the statue was stolen

One of the frontline members of the Bring Back Ngonnso movement, Sylvie Njobati, in an interview published on The Guardian Post, said the return of the deity will boost relations between the Fon and the people of Nso. She also recounts what the process will look like and possible demands to be made. In the interview conducted by Giyo Ndzi Sylvie Njobati highlighted the possible impacts of the return of the artifact.

"The return of Ngonnso is not just a win for Nso people. It is a win for Cameroon because it is going to be the first restitution case ever in Cameroon. It is also a big win for Africa because it goes a long way to prove that we all, as Africans, have the right and power to go out there and fight for restitution. All you need to be is an African. You don’t need to be a popular person or the daughter or son of a leader. You don’t need to be a leader. As long as you believe in the return of what is rightfully ours, you have the power to go out there and win. I hope that this inspires somebody somewhere or communities that are asking that would love to ask for restitution to go out there and ask for restitution." Sylvie Njobati said.

According to reports, “The Ngonnso' has a central role for the Nso', as she is considered a mother deity and that the artefact was not removed by war looting from Kumbo, the capital of the Nso kingdom. However, Pavel was accompanied by armed soldiers in Cameroon, which would have intimidated the Nso People before taken away”