Sultan (king) Nabil Mbombo Njoya of the Bamoum people asked the German authorities to return a throne that was stolen from the Bamoum people in colonial times. This happened during his royal tour that took him to different countries in Europe.
After spending a few days in Paris, France, the Sultan went to Berlin, Germany, to meet and offer blessings to the members of the Bamoun community.
During his stay, he visited the Humboldt Forum Museum, which houses the “Mendhu-Yenu” Throne of the former Bamoun kingdom. The throne was originally commissioned by King Ibrahim Njoya in the 1880s and presents an elaborate beaded work for which the Bamoun people are known.
Although many people were led to believe that it was a gift from King Njoya to the German emperor in 1908, many historians claim that it was in fact stolen by the German army during colonization. During the visit to the museum, King Mbombo Njoya refused to sit on the chair that the museum reserved for him and instead sat on the throne that belonged to his great-great-grandfather. His decision was celebrated by those who were able to attend and through videos shared on social networks. Because, he is the first king to sit there in 115 years.
It was hailed as a historic moment for the “Bamoun people and all of Cameroon” as well as the repatriation movement, the return of stolen artifacts to their country of origin.
A member of his entourage told how, for many years, Cameroon asked for the return of the throne. A request rejected by Germany. “But they will continue to ask for it, especially now that King Mbombo Njoya has sat there”. There has not yet been a response from the museum, but based on past requests, many people do not believe that the German authorities will return it.
For many years, Cameroon and many other countries have asked European countries to return their artefacts and property. Among these,”La Tangue”, a sculpture by the Sawa chiefdom, which is also still on display at the Humboldt Forum. Another is a sculpture by Mamfe Division at the Autenstrauch-Joest Museum in Cologne, Germany. Although the museum wanted to return it in 2022 due to Germany’s complicated repatriation process, it could not do so.
For many years, Cameroon and many other countries have asked European countries to return their artifacts and property. Among these, “La Tangue”, a sculpture by the Sawa chiefdom, which is also still on display at the Humboldt Forum. Another is a sculpture by Mamfe Division at the Autenstrauch-Joest Museum in Cologne, Germany. Although the museum wanted to return it in 2022 due to Germany’s complicated repatriation process, it could not do so.
Last year, the Fon de Nso was also in Germany to request the return of “Ngonnso”, the artifact considered the founder of the Nso people, which has not yet been obtained.
In order to make a return request, a member of a country or community must first identify what the object is and where he is being held. Then, they must prove ownership of the object, which is difficult if there are no written documents, photographs or sculptures or objects of a similar style to show.
Although there is evidence to show that the throne belongs to the Bamoun, there was no explanation as to why it was not returned.
This is another example of the tension between countries trying to recover their artifacts, especially those with religious and cultural significance, and other countries that believe that these objects legitimately belong to them because they have been in their possession for decades. Communities continue to ask themselves the question of the meaning of these objects for people. If it is more important for countries to return everything to their legitimate owners or if it is more important to leave them in museums because it allows people to discover different parts of the world.
