Nwerong Postpones Ngonnso Festival to Cleanse Nso Land

The legislative arm of the Nso tribe in Cameroon’s Northwest Region, known as Nwerong, has postponed the 2024 Ngonnso Cultural Festival, which was supposed to be held from November 26 to 30 in Kumbo.

Nwerong said the postponement is because it wants to cleanse the land and reconcile the Nso people first.

Nso land has been the hard-hit by the ongoing Anglophone armed conflict, which has caused wanton bloodshed in the area.

Owing to the Anglophone Crisis, Nwerong said many traditional issues have not been handled and there is a need to establish order and reconciliation before organising the festival.

Nwerong rescheduled the festival to a yet-to-be-announced date.

The Ngonnso Festival has not been celebrated since 2017, following the escalation of the armed conflict in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions.

Owing to the conflict, some people within Nso land have usurped positions, with some going as far as elevating themselves to Fon, the traditional ruler and highest title in the land.

That, to the Nso people, is a sacrilege.

Also, the Fon of Nso, HRH Sehm Mbinglo I, has been kidnapped once during the crisis; princes have been killed, and some notables have been affected. All these, according to the Nso tradition, is a desecration of the land.

“The Nwerong does not compete for power with another person in the land,” the traditional institution said.

“It is not good to call for an occasion with cleansing. There are times you run and reach your destination and still come back to the drawing board.” 

The festival, Nwerong added, could not have been possible when the paramount ruler of Nso, Mbinglo II, is not around.

The rescheduling was done in consultation with the Fon of Nso, who holds the executive power.

As a result of the discussion with the Fon, the Nso Cultural and Development Association (Nso’da) said a reconciliation strategy for the entire Fondom has been introduced.

“These changes will enable the completion of critical traditional rites as well as ongoing repair and reconstruction works in Nto’ Nso (Nso Palace),” Nso’da said.

“This also allows the introduction of a community reconciliation process that aims to strengthen unity, understanding, and peace in our Fondom.”

According to Nso’da’s statement, the Fon has opened “discussions on reconciliation across the Fondom of Nso, including traditional institutions, Nso village development associations, and social interest groups; finalising critical traditional and reconciliation rites as dictated by our culture.”

However, if the festival is finally organised, it would drum a return to peace in the land of Nso, which has been highly affected by the ongoing armed conflict.

Ngonnso Festival is used to demonstrate the unity, strength, and resilience of the people of Nso.

It is one of the largest tribes in Cameroon, and its language, Lamnso, is spoken across Nso land.