The Fight for Ngonnso: One Woman’s Campaign to Reclaim a Stolen Legacy
A decades-long quest for cultural restitution gains momentum as Sylvie Njobati battles to bring a sacred statue home to Cameroon, challenging Germany to confront its colonial past.
A Sacred Trust Betrayed
The story of Ngonnso is more than a tale of a stolen artifact; it’s a narrative woven into the very identity of the Nso people, an ethnic group residing in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Ngonnso, considered the founding mother of the Nso, wasn’t merely a historical figure but a living presence embodied in a revered wooden statue. This statue served as a cultural cornerstone, representing the history, beliefs, and collective memory of a community for generations.
The theft of Ngonnso during the German colonial period (1884-1916) wasn’t simply an act of plunder; it was a deliberate severing of a people from their heritage. In 1902, German military officer Kurt Von Pavel seized the statue, ultimately donating it to Berlin’s Ethnological Museum. This act, repeated across countless colonized nations, stripped communities of their cultural treasures and inflicted deep wounds that continue to resonate today.
A Grandfather’s Wish, A Daughter’s Resolve
In 2018, Sylvie Njobati received a profound mission from her grandfather: to bring Ngonnso back to Cameroon. His plea wasn’t just about reclaiming an object; it was about restoring dignity, healing historical trauma, and reconnecting a generation with its roots. For Sylvie, it was a deeply personal call to action, a chance to honor her grandfather’s legacy and rediscover her own cultural identity.
“My grandfather was a pastor, a wise man, and my rock,” Sylvie recalls. “His last wish was to return to the ‘big compound’ – the villages that make up the Nso Kingdom – and see Ngonnso returned to its rightful place. He needed my help.” Sylvie realized this mission offered a unique opportunity to learn about a history deliberately obscured during her education.
From Local Talks to Global Campaign: #BringBackNgonnso
Sylvie launched the #BringBackNgonnso campaign, understanding that a successful effort required both grassroots mobilization and international pressure. She began by organizing talks in churches, community groups, and schools, raising awareness about the importance of Ngonnso and the need for its restitution. Recognizing the power of visual storytelling, she filmed a poignant conversation with her grandfather, capturing the emotional weight of his request and the significance of the statue to the Nso people.
“I knew if I wanted my campaign to reach my people and my community, I had to take them to Germany without them having to physically travel there,” Sylvie explains. This film became a central element of her campaign, resonating deeply with audiences and amplifying the call for Ngonnso’s return.
Leveraging social media, Sylvie created an official Facebook page dedicated to the restitution of Ngonnso. This platform served as a hub for information, updates, and community engagement, allowing supporters from around the world to join the movement. She meticulously researched institutions and individuals involved in decolonization efforts in Germany, initiating contact with the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the entity believed to hold ownership of Ngonnso.
Early conversations revealed a significant hurdle: restitution requests could only be formally submitted by the king, the local government, the president, or the embassy – not by individual citizens. This realization underscored the need for broader political support and strategic alliances.
A Moment of Acknowledgment, A Heartbreaking Loss
In 2021, as Ngonnso was slated for exhibition at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin, Sylvie saw an opportunity to escalate her campaign. She traveled to Germany, determined to make her voice heard. During a meeting with the President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, she presented an official restitution letter and shared the moving video of her grandfather.
“I played a clip of my grandfather saying how he would love to see Ngonnso returned. The room fell quiet,” Sylvie remembers. “It was an incredible moment. My request of restitution was finally acknowledged, and I was promised help going forward.”
However, this moment of hope was tragically overshadowed by the passing of her grandfather during that same week. “It was a difficult week, as I’d wanted to bring back Ngonnso before he passed. I felt so mad and questioned whether I’d been too slow,” she admits. Yet, drawing strength from her culture’s belief in transcendence, she found renewed determination. “The passing of my grandfather reminded me that life is fragile. If you have to do something, then now is the time.”
Following her grandfather’s death, momentum accelerated. Workshops were held, findings were compiled, and by June 2022, the decision to return Ngonnso to Cameroon was officially confirmed.
Sylvie shared the news with the King and, upon her return to Cameroon, visited her grandfather’s grave, delivering a message of triumph. “I knew he was smiling, wherever he was – he’s still smiling at me right now.”
A Nation’s Shifting Priorities and the Path Forward
Four years after the campaign’s inception, Cameroon now recognizes restitution as a national priority, establishing a commission dedicated to recovering illegally exported goods. However, the physical return of Ngonnso remains stalled, entangled in political negotiations between Germany and Cameroon. “Ngonnso is still not back in Cameroon, and it’s all to do with politics,” Sylvie explains. “It’s frustrating, as a lot of other people have passed without being able to see this happen.”
Sylvie’s journey has been one of profound learning and transformation. “I’ve learnt a lot from participating in this campaign and travelling to Germany. I have walked through museums, reliving the experiences of my ancestors. It inspires me to continue the fight, as I can reimagine what it was like then.”
What does it mean to reclaim a cultural heritage stolen during a period of colonial domination? And how can international cooperation ensure that such injustices are never repeated?
Reshaping the Narrative: Beyond Restitution
Sylvie views the campaign for Ngonnso’s return as part of a larger movement of colonial resistance, a fight for restitution, reparations, and a refusal to allow history to repeat itself. For her, restitution isn’t solely about the physical return of objects; it’s about reclaiming narratives and empowering communities to tell their own stories.
“Reparations aren’t seen as a two-way street,” she observes. “Survivors and victims of these colonial crimes are having to fight for reparation, while the perpetrators…fail to take any kind of initiative. We need to make space in our hearts to repair and heal, otherwise these conversations won’t amount to anything.”
Sylvie emphasizes the importance of reparatory justice extending beyond material compensation to include access to information and community-level awareness-raising. She highlights her participation in the Wakati Wetu Festival, alongside organizations like Amnesty International, as an example of building grassroots support for these conversations.
Despite facing setbacks and the loss of fellow advocates, Sylvie remains hopeful. “Sometimes, I feel as though I have exhausted all avenues…but it just reminds me that I need to push harder. It can be exhausting at times, but I feel hopeful that Ngonnso will be returned in 2026.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the #BringBackNgonnso Campaign
What is the significance of Ngonnso to the Nso people?
Ngonnso is considered the founding mother of the Nso people and the statue representing her is a vital cultural cornerstone, embodying their history, identity, and spiritual beliefs.
When was Ngonnso taken from Cameroon?
Ngonnso was seized by German military officer Kurt Von Pavel in 1902 during the colonial period and subsequently donated to Berlin’s Ethnological Museum.
What is the current status of the #BringBackNgonnso campaign?
While the decision to return Ngonnso to Cameroon has been confirmed, the statue has not yet been physically repatriated due to ongoing political negotiations between Germany and Cameroon.
How can I support the campaign to bring Ngonnso back to Cameroon?
You can support the campaign by sharing information about Ngonnso and the #BringBackNgonnso campaign on social media, contacting your political representatives, and donating to organizations working on cultural restitution.
What role does the Humboldt Forum play in the Ngonnso restitution case?
The Humboldt Forum, where Ngonnso was previously exhibited, became a focal point for the campaign, prompting Sylvie Njobati to engage directly with the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation to advocate for its return.
To mark International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Amnesty International is launching a series of Perspectives titled ‘Voices of Reparatory Justice’. In this series, we speak with artists, activists and leaders who share their stories of repair and resilience in fighting against the negative impacts of historical injustices, slavery, and colonialism. Despite existential challenges, their journey to secure dignity and rights of racialised groups, restores hopes for our collective future, humanity must always prevail. This is one of those stories. Find out more about our work.
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Share this story and join the conversation. What steps can be taken to accelerate the return of stolen cultural artifacts and promote genuine reparatory justice?
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