Arts and Culture Minister says National museum spaces would foster peace, unity in Cameroon

Cameroon’s Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Kpwatt, has said that the three newly unveiled exhibition spaces at the National Museum of Cameroon will guarantee the ” acceleration of the drive towards emergence, united in its diversity and strength”.

He was speaking on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023, during the unveiling of the new exhibition spaces in Yaounde.

The newly unveiled spaces are called ‘Units Space’, ‘Cultural Diversity Space’, and ‘Major Figures of Cameroon Space.’

During the ceremony, Prof. Raymond N. Asombang, the Director of the National Museum, explained that the ‘Unity Space presents the four cultural zones in their originality and specificity and is devoted to the most emblematic elements of the creative geniuses of all 10 regions, while the ‘Unity Space is meant to showcase the country’s history and culture, highlighting the shared experiences and traditions that bring Cameroonians together.”

Meanwhile, the third space, which is the ‘Cultural Diversity Space’, represents the elements of geographical, ethnological, heritage, culinary, and clothing diversity associated with these areas,” Asombang said.

In 2014, a Prime Ministerial Decree was signed giving status to the building as an official National Museum. The following year, in 2015, the building officially welcomed its first visitors.

The National Museum showcases approximately 1,000 artefacts.

It is one of the major attractions of Cameroon’s vivacious capital city, Yaoundé. This museum provides tourists with a fascinating look into the nation’s rich cultural and historical legacy. It is located in Yaoundé’s central neighbourhood.

The Cameroonian nation’s art, traditions, and customs are celebrated in a wide variety of exhibitions on display in the National Museum of Yaoundé.

A large variety of items, including traditional masks, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, and musical instruments, may be found inside the museum.

These displays give a rare opportunity to comprehend the cultural variety of the nation and offer a look into the many ethnic groups that make up Cameroon’s population.