Minister Tutu Muna was in Babungo for the annual cultural festival that ended last Sunday.
February 19, 2012 was a day of celebration in the Babungo Fondom in Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region. The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mafor Ama Tutu Muna presided at the home coming of ‘Nyefuan,’ the ritual statue of the 21st Fon of Babungo that went missing 23 years ago. Its absence from the Babungo Royal Palace led to the adoption of alternative sacrifices during annual rites against disaster, disease and death.
Mafor Ama Tutu Muna who described the return of the statue as a landmark event, hailed the dynamism, devotion and patience of the Fon of Babungo in preserving the culture and traditions of the Babungo Fondom, explaining that her ministry was created to help in promoting Cameroonian culture. She also revealed that she had signed an agreement with Babungo people to create confidence, understanding and promote culture. She encouraged creativity and the production of artefacts that showcase visibility and credibility to take Cameroon forward on the international scene.
His Majesty Fon Ndofoa Zofoa III thanked the government for facilitating the return of the ritual statue, adding that it was a major achievement for Babungo people and their tradition. He appealed to government to facilitate the return of yet another missing precious ritual statue, the ‘Sake Fuan.’
The Babungo Palace boasts over 3,000 artefacts. Unfortunately, they are poorly stored and are exposed to dust and rain because the Babungo Royal Museum can only take 77 artefacts. It is against this backdrop that Fon Ndofoa Zofoa III appealed to government to help expand the museum to protect Babungo cultural heritage.
The Fon offered ten Babungo artefacts for permanent exhibition in the National Museum in Yaounde. The lot consisted of five anthropomorphic and five zoomorphic helmet masks. They include black elephant, chimpanzee, buffalo, rhinoceros and human masks. The traditional rulers of Nso, Bafoussam, Bamendjida and Melong were present at the occasion.
