Cameroonian Commission for Restitution visits Ethnological Museum
Press release from 10/18/2023
Three members of the recently established Cameroon Restitution Commission (Comité interministériel chargé du rapatriement des biens culturels illégalement exportés à l'étranger au Ministère fédéral des Affaires étrangères) visited the Ethnological Museum of the National Museums in Berlin on 16 and 17 October. The commission's stay in Berlin included detailed discussions and a guided tour of the museum's depot. The visit provided an opportunity for an intensive exchange with museum and political stakeholders on how to proceed with questions of restitution, but also with regard to future collaboration in research and museum work.
Hugues Tchana Heumen, Director of the National Museum of Cameroon and Coordinator of the Technical Secretariat of the Interministerial Committee: "I thank the Ethnological Museum Berlin and the Federal Government of Germany. It was important for us to be here as a first step in the discussion about restitution. It is not only about restitution but also about cooperation. Beyond objects, there are human beings. We are talking about the relationship between Cameroon and Germany."
Lars-Christian Koch said: "We are pleased about the constructive discussions at this first working meeting and look forward to further cooperation. The Ethnological Museum has long been in dialogue with the government of Cameroon and Cameroonian communities of origin - the Commission will now support them in discussions on repatriation."
Hermann Parzinger, President of the SPK, explained: "I am pleased that with the recently founded committee we have a reliable point of contact for all questions relating to the return of cultural artefacts from Cameroon. We assume that we will soon be able to realise the repatriation of the Ngonnso', which the Board of Trustees decided on in 2022."
In addition to Dr Hugues Tchana Heumen, Marie Thierry Edjoa Akoa, Head of the Department of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Arts and Culture (representative of the Ministry of Culture on the interministerial committee), and De Bangoua Legrand Tchatchouang, Director of the Cameroon House Berlin (representative of civil society on the interministerial committee) were also present on behalf of the Cameroonian committee.
Around 5100 inventory numbers in the Ethnological Museum relate to cultural artefacts from Cameroon. The female figure known as Ngonnso' comes from the historical kingdom of Nso' in north-west Cameroon and was added to the collection in 1903. Against the background of its removal in the context of unequal power relations and structural colonial violence, as well as its central role for the Nso', the SPK Foundation Board has agreed to initiate the return of the figurine.
Press photos at:
www.preussischer-kulturbesitz.de/newsroom/presse/pressebilder.html