Ngonnso 2016/2017 celebrated in pomp and fanfare

-Culture Minister and NSODA President General preach peace and reconciliation

By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda

Minister of culture

All roads on December 28, 2016 to January 3, 2017 led to kumbo as Nso sons and daughters likewise lovers of Nso culture converged in Kumbo to celebrate the Ngonnso Annual Cultural Festival which has over the years proven to be a veritable cultural bonanza.

                Celebrated under the theme “Culture and reconciliation” the ceremony which kicked-off at the Nso border town of Vekovi was an opportunity for Nso internal and external elites to showcase their cultural prowess and identity and to prove to the world that they are poised to be in harmony with their ancestors as a blessing towards future endeavours that unite them in progress, development and prosperity.

                Highlights of this extraordinary event included scintillating cultural dances and animation, exhibition of the Nso people's creative and innovative works of art, showcase of their strength in traditional medicine, organised adventurous hunting expeditions, presentation of traditional titles and honours, display of the Nso traditional cuisine, energetic masquerade spectacles, marveling expositions of traditional totems, organised visits to touristic sites, Miss Ngonnso beauty pageant  etc.

                There was also a meeting of the Nso History Society during which new members were admitted into the society and educative papers presented on issues related to Nso Culture. The Nso History Society has the daunting task of writing Nso history which is predominantly oral.

                For the first time in the history of the festival, the Minister of culture was in attendance. Prof, NarcisseMoulle Kombi, while addressing the mammoth crowd at the court yard of the NsoFon’s Palace on Jan 2, 2017 preached peace and reconciliation insisting that Cameroon can only remain strong and prosperous if peace and reconciliation are given a chance.

                The dynamic Minister of Culture who is also a notable in his village was honoured with the title of “ShufaiNgonnso” by the Fon of Nso HRH SehmMbinglo I making him a notable in the Nso Land.

                In his welcome address, the President General of the Nso Development Association, MformiNdzerem Stephen Njodzeka, while thanking the Minister of coming to grace the event underscored the timeliness of the theme of the festival, “Culture and Reconciliation”.

                “Culture has no boundary, culture has no colour, culture has no religion and its timely because through our culture, reconciliation is much more easier. And it comes at a very good time in our country where we have a lot of things separating us. When we have a lot of things that are putting us aside, it can be easier for us to come together as one people with one destiny through culture” he observed.

                MformiNdzerem Stephen Njodzeka also used the opportunity to solicit for the continuous assistance from the Ministry of culture for the success of the Festival.

                In his Royal Message, the Paramount Fon of Bui, Fon of Nso, HRHSehmMbinglo I pleaded with Minister NarcisseMoulle Kombi to help the Nso people in their drive to preserve their culture by providing them with a museum.

About the Ngonnso Festival

               

Ngonnso is the founder of the Nso Dynasty, found in Bui Division of the North West Region of Cameroon. This woman is said to have left Rifem in the Adamawa Region of Cameroon in 1394 with her two siblings. On the way, they had different fortunes and misfortunes. While Nchare moved towards a different direction to found the Bamoun Dynasty and Mfoomban moved his own way to found the Mbam Dynasty in Bafia, Ngonnso moved to found the Nso Dynasty.

                In honour of this woman, who as founder of this powerful fondom, invariably incarnates all that stands for Nso cultural world view, the Nso people under the leadership of their Fon, found it indisputable to baptize their cultural festival, the Ngonnso Cultural Festival.

                Ngonnso Cultural Festival is therefore a cultural jamboree organized in the Fondom of Nso aimed at celebrating and marketing to the world, the cultural heritage of the Nso people.