Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ When Sylvie Vernyuy Njobati laid eyes on the sacred statue of her Nso people, she was overcome with emotion. The statue, known as the Ngonnso, had been housed in a museum in Berlin, Germany, thousands of miles away from its rightful home in Cameroon. It had been taken from Cameroon by a German colonialist at the beginning of the 20th century and remained in Europe for 120 years. Ms Njobati, inspired by a promise she made to her grandfather, embarked on a journey to bring back the Ngonnso, which held immense historical and cultural significance for her people.
The wooden carving, adorned with sea shells and standing less than a meter tall, was confined within a glass cabinet when Ms Njobati finally came face-to-face with it after three years. This encounter marked the beginning of a transformative quest that would span continents and profoundly impact her life. Moreover, her pursuit would serve as a source of inspiration for others engaged in efforts to repatriate looted artifacts from the colonial era.
Ms Njobati’s determination to reclaim the stolen statue stemmed from her own personal experiences. After relocating from Cameroon’s English-speaking North-West region to a French-speaking area of the country for university, she encountered difficulties and struggled to assimilate. She felt like an outsider in her own country, highlighting the enduring divisions between regions influenced by the British and French empires. This sense of disconnection prompted her to reevaluate her identity, shedding the layers of colonial influence that had shaped her.
Seeking guidance, Ms Njobati turned to her grandfather, who had grappled with his own identity crisis. He regretted not fully embracing his Nso heritage and instead choosing to become a Presbyterian pastor rather than a community leader. Through their conversations, Ms Njobati witnessed not only her grandfather’s personal sorrow but also the collective loss experienced by the Nso people, both culturally and materially, including the absence of the Ngonnso.
According to Nso tradition, the Ngonnso represented the founder of their kingdom, which traces its origins back to the 14th century. After the founder’s passing, the statue assumed immense cultural significance and served as a cornerstone of Nso heritage.
