There is fuming and tension in the North West regional capital of Bamenda; following news that the region’s historic artifacts, some as old as 56 years, were carted to the national museum in Yaounde on the instructions of Ama Tutu Muna, Arts and Culture Minister.
Some irate elites of the region told our reporter that they feel betrayed and insulted- more so because the minister is a daughter of the soil. The antiquities were carted from the North West Regional Delegation of Arts and Culture in Bamenda.
Tutu Muna has, however, strongly refuted the allegation. Speaking to our reporter by phone, she said the so-called tension was nothing but a false alarm. The Cameroon Journal gathered that the over 1,300 artifacts were moved to Yaounde by a delegation from the ministry of Arts and Culture led by the Inspector General Number at the ministry, Angwafor Gladys, another daughter of the region.
Although the Journal was informed by ministry sources that the orders signed by the Minister effecting the transfer of the artifacts to Yaounde stated that it was just a temporary move; pending the completion of the construction of the North West Delegation of Arts and Culture, concerned elites of the region are afraid the objects may never come back to Bamenda.
When we accosted the North West Regional Delegate of Arts and Culture, Lukong Ernestine, she elected to remain mute on the issue; referring the Journal to the minister.
“You are not the only journalist or North West elite that has questioned me on this issue. Please, the minister would be better placed to answer your question.” She, however, confirmed that the artifacts were transferred on Saturday, May 17.
Ndifor Cletus, a king-maker of Bamendankwe who like other North West elites was fuming with anger, said posterity will not forgive Ama Muna if the art objects are not brought back to the region as she promised in the mission letter. “We can’t be talking about decentralization and at the same time centralizing. It beats my imagination that Minister Ama Tutu Muna who hails from the North West is abusing her people’s identity.” Ndifor said.
He said among the artefacts are some brought in from Enugu, Nigeria, in 1958 when Southern Cameroonians were still in Nigeria. Ndifor said everybody; including the staff of the North West Delegation of Arts and Culture wept profusely when they were being whisked to Yaounde.
An expert in antiquities said if sold, the over 1,300 objects could be over the budget of Cameroon for ten years especially as most of them are over 60years old. He questioned whether it’s a national decision to move all regional
museums to Yaounde or a deliberate decision by Ama Muna to transfer her people’s heritage to Yaounde.
The Journal was told that Muna was aware of the sensitive nature of the issue, reason why the objects were transferred on Saturday - a non-working day.
The minister - Ama Muna, defended her position stating “We had realised that the artifacts were not only abandoned in dirt but were gradually being sold out by some officials of the North West Delegation of Arts and Culture.” She disclosed that more than once, some of the stolen artifacts have been intercepted at the Yaounde Nsimalen airport. Because of this she said, it became necessary to move them for safe preservation in Yaounde.
Asked what will happen with the artefacts in Yaounde, - whether she sees them ever returning to the North West, Muna swore that they will return to the region as soon as a befitting museum is constructed to house them.
“All the artifacts we brought in from the North West have been well labelled and documented...Let me assure you that not even one of them would be missing...they shall all be taken back to the North West when we are through with constructing a museum there.” She assured.
