Reviving Cameroon’s rich heritage

National Museum opens its doors
A gala was organized in the courtyard of the National Museum, which is lodged at the old presidency building in Yaounde, on Friday 16 January 2015, as part of activities to officially launch and re-open the museum to the public.
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

Baka Pygmies thrilled the attendees

It was a rare blend of both national and foreign dignitaries that attended the National Museum re-opening Gala in the evening of Friday 16 January 2015.
    Some beautiful make-shift structures erected on the courtyard of the old presidency situated at the heart of the administrative quarters in down town Yaounde, provided a veritable venue for the historic event.
    Jointly organized by the Heritage and Arts Foundation (HARTS) and the Ministry of Arts and Culture, the event was placed under the High Patronage of the president of the republic, H.E. Paul Biya. It had as theme “A cultural renaissance in Cameroon.”
    Presiding over the august event, the minister of Arts and Culture, Mrs Ama Tutu Muna, said the Gala “represents the launch of a national cultural initiative aimed to create a movement and moment of communion and empowerment among Cameroonian people; further revitalizing their rich heritage and connecting them to the world.”

    Noting that the HARTS Foundation and the National Museum are symbols of president Biya’s creative vision, Ama Muna said the National Museum also represents the heart, body and soul of the Cameroon nation.
    “It represents the legacy of the best”, Ama Muna said, noting that Cameroonians have waited and anticipated for too long and allowed others to tell their story. She said it was time Cameroonians told their own story.
    “Let us now tell the world our own story,” she underscored, saying that the opening of the national museum is only the first step in a visionary campaign to do a paradigm shift in the way Cameroonians think and act.
    Described by its organizers as “the hottest Africa event in 2015”, the Gala provided a veritable occasion to honour individuals who have made significant philanthropic contributions and stood firm in their commitment to universal peace. Pioneer laureates of the Abbia Awards or the Harts International Foundation Innovative Peace Prize included Cameroon’s William Egbe Ebot-AKo who is chairman of the Coca Cola Africa Foundation; Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis, an Award-winning music composer and producer; Eric Hilton, former chairman Hilton Hotel Corporation; Dionne Warwick, Icon and Global Entertainer and others.   
    The Gala also featured a live auction of jealously kept items like, Serena William’s autographed tennis racket and the boxing gloves of former WBA and WBC boxing champion.
    The National Museum in Yoaunde is a national treasure, a conservatory of Cameroons history, both archeological and written. It covers a land surface of about 5000m3 and houses artefacts, costumes, instruments archives, architecture, some of which date back to 50 years B.C.
    “The museum is a magnificent iconic institution that salutes Cameroon’s country and its people,” noted Ama Muna, who appealed for multi-form support from Cameroonians and friends of Cameroon, so that the National Museum should be sustainable and permanent.
    Attended by Global Affluencers, Diplomats, Trendsetters, celebrities, philanthropists, corporate executives etc, the gala was spiced by entertainment by some global entertainers the likes of icon Dionne Warwick, Maxim Beloserkovxky and his wife Irina Dvorovenko, top Cameroon talents such as X-Maleya, Kareyce Fotso, Andre Manga, Greg Belobo, Enow Stanley etc.