Members of a secret society, masked and dressed in honey-colored robes, hushed conversations entered the court of Foumban, the historic capital of a centuries-old kingdom nestled in the highlands of northwestern Cameroon.
The 20th king of the Bamoun people, Mohammed Nabil Maforifoum Mbombo Njoya, stood from his ornate throne to begin the ancient ritual – a replica of the original, now in a German museum.
In a tradition dating back almost 600 years, he is put on public trial over his rule – an indictment is read out by local chiefs to test his popularity.
This tradition is part of a set of week-long rituals to promote dialogue, harmony and peace.
The ceremony is the first for 31-year-old Mbombo Njoya, who took over the throne following the death of his father in 2021.
If deemed a failure, the king could be fined or removed from office. But if he succeeds, he is given a new mandate and allegiance.
Tourists and officials descended on the remote, grassy region of the West African country last week to take part in the Nguyễn, a set of royal rituals that began in 1384, when the kingdom was founded.
The ritual, which is followed by celebrations, had not taken place in six years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, but was scheduled to be recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in December 2023.
The Bamoun region, home to the ethnic group of the same name, is one of the oldest traditional states in sub-Saharan Africa.
complaints
As the young ruler prepared for the opinions and complaints of his people, the members of the brotherhood, shrouded in secrecy, stuck their spears into the ground.
A legislator from Bamoun told his king in front of the crowd present, “Your Majesty, the people are very concerned about the dilapidation of the state’s property.”
“There is only one queen at court yet at the king’s side,” said another parliamentarian, and laughter and applause broke out.
But the king survived the session and earned the approval of his people.
Warriors and members of the royal guard fired their rifles in the air to celebrate.
role change
Roli Allen, 46, said, “I really enjoyed how it’s a role reversal and how they are evaluated by their people. I thought it would just be a splashy decision, but the decision was really serious, I was surprised.” Was.” The old businessman who had flown in from London to attend.
“There was a lot of good humor and I thought it really showed the genuine love between the state and the king,” said the British tourist, proudly boasting the traditional Bamoun headdress.
For some local people, the ritual is an important opportunity to connect with their culture.
“I am very proud to be Bamoun, these are the moments that allow us to learn about our culture and pass it on to our children,” said Amadou Njoya, a 21-year-old native of Foumban.
Cameroon’s 270 ethnic groups, with different customs and languages, are organized into more than 80 kingdoms and sultanates.
The importance of customary law and the sense of belonging to these chiefs has stood the test of time and remains an important part of life for many of Cameroon’s 28 million people.
“The 20th king’s first nguyễn was an event not to be missed,” said Mariam Poughou, manager of the Bamoun company based in France.
Passionate about tradition, Poghaou described the king as “a great warrior who fights for the preservation of culture”.
Yet the chieftaincy is still unable to find its original throne, said Hamidou Ntiche, an elderly village head in the Bamoun area.
‘Lobbying’ for the throne
Like many African cultural antiquities, the treasured artefacts were taken to Europe under unclear circumstances during the colonization of Cameroon.
Having been transferred to Cameroon during the German colonial period, the colorful, pearl-inlaid wooden chair is now displayed in Berlin’s Humboldt Forum Museum.
The monarch visited it last year – and sat on the heirloom that once belonged to his great-grandfather.
But the Bamoun people are attempting to recover the original, Aziz Mbouho, a communications adviser at the Bamoun palace, told AFP.
In April, the royal family inaugurated the vast Museum of the Bamoun Kings, a building shaped like its grand emblem – a two-headed snake and a hairy spider – and designed to house thousands of objects highlighting its rich heritage. Was done.
Alexis Njiwa Mouliom, secretary general of the Nguyễn Foundation, hopes that UNESCO-listing could provide “publicity” to the Bamoun community and “strengthen the lobbying for the return of the throne”.
