Fon of Nso, Sehm Mbinglo I set to visit Germany to restitute Ngonsso Statue
By Nde Laura
Over four months after the announcement was made by German authorities for the return of the Ngonnso statue to the people of Nso, in the North west region over 120 years after it was forcefully taken, there has been no significant progress made for her return.
It is in this light that the Fon of Nso, Sehm Mbinglo I together with his delegation are set to visit the Humboldt Forum and Linden museum in Berlin and Stuggart in Germany to negotiate and engage actions towards the return of the Ngonnso statue and other Nso royal objects.
The visit is slated for November 12th to 18th in Stuggart and Berlin, Germany.
According to the Fon, he plans on visiting the museum in Linden and putting Ngonsso in a place away from exhibition. He also plans on discussing possible collaborations with the ministries of science, research and arts towards the return of Ngonnso and some 27 other royal objects which were seized from the Nso people.
After an intense four – year campaign led by the Sysy House of fame under Sylvie Njobati, a Nso born and activist residing in Cameroon, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation under the leadership of Dr Herman Parzinger announced the restitution of the stolen artifact to the Nso people.
The Fon’s visit has been organized by the Sysy House of Fame with support from Open Society Foundations.
The organization implores other individuals and communities to advocate for the restitution of their sacred objects, looted in the colonial era and are willing to provide support.
It should be recalled that the Ngonnso statue was taken from the Nso people during the reign of Fon Sehm II, by the German Colonial Commander, Von Houben in 1902 .
The announcement that was made of the return on June 27th 2022 was seen by the people of Nso as a massive victory and a well deserved reunion with their “mother”.
Significance of the Ngonnso statue to Nso people
Ngonsso was the Founder of the Nso Kingdom and is considered their first Queen-Mother. The statue was made in honor of her great strength and valor and her outstanding leadership during her reign.
Ngonnso is a symbol of peace and hope as it is believed that Ngonnso in her lifetime ensured the peace and growth of her people.
The statue represents the very essence of the people, good fortune and their cultural identity. The unrest and ill-luck that is believed to have befallen the people of Nso, spreading to the entire North West region of Cameroon, is attributed to the absence of Ngonnso.
