National Museum as beautiful inside as outside

Passers-by can’t avoid peeping into the courtyard of the National Museum just to get a glimpse of the attractive grounds.

The National Museum has become a major point of attraction for many Yaounde city dwellers. Located in the premises of the former presidency of Cameroon opposite the Ministry of Public Health, the National Museum cannot be missed by any visitor who comes to Yaounde who wishes to visit it not only for the exhibited pictures and works of art but also for the attractiveness of the yard.

It is common to see passers-by peeping into the National Museum’s courtyard just to get a glimpse of the beautiful surroundings. Before entering the Museum, visitors pay an entrance fee at the gate. They are registered and all personal belongings are left at the cloak-office.

When Cameroon Tribune reporters visited the Museum on Tuesday January 6, 2015, guides were at the entrance ready to receive them. After the formalities at gate, the team was led in a guided-tour around the museum. What first catches the eye of visitors is the exhibition of the great Tikar Bronze statue in front of the National Museum.

The statue depicts the Queen Mother of the Bamouns called Njapndounke. History holds that she took over the throne because the heir who was supposed to be the king was only four years old. She reigned as Queen for 10 years. Behind the statue of the queen mother are statues of her subjects that depict the typical Bamoun Kingdom. On the steps leading to the museum is a bronze spider which is a symbol of hard work and patience.

At the main entrance into the hall are three pictures - the first picture shows the first residence of the French Governor, Major Hans Dominik. Located behind the Ministry of Finance in Yaounde, it has been renovated into a museum. The second is the majestic Governor’s Residence in Yaounde.

Constructed in 1930, it later became the Presidency of Cameroon until 1982. The third picture is the Presidential Palace transformed into the National Museum of Cameroon in 1988.

The gardens of the National Museum are another major attraction. Pictures of men and women who have contributed to the building of Cameroon, are exposed in a strategic part of the garden. On the pictures are written the names of the great men and women and their works.

The pictures include those of Paul Biya (Architect of the new Deal), Roger Milla, Jeanne Irene Biya, Chantal Biya, Germaine Habiba Ahidjo, Solomon Tandeng Muna, André Fouda Omgba, Manu Dibango, Anne Marie Nzie, Rudolf Dualla Manga Bell and Martin Paul Samba, among others.

Also, work is going on for the renovation of 12 pools which serve as fountains as well as traditional houses typical of each of the ten regions of the country.