Cameroon gets goddess back

The statue of Ngonnso, a goddess of the Nso people in northwest Cameroon, will be returned to its home after it was stolen by Germans 120 years ago. The campaign to “Bring Back Ngonnso” has been in motion for years, with the Nso claiming that they have experienced calamities since the statue was taken. After being stolen in 1903 by an officer, Kurt von Pavel, it was stored at Berlin’s Ethnological Museum. The decision for its return came after discussions between representatives from the museum and delegations from Cameroon and after the approval by the board of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. The board will also return 23 other artefacts, which include fashion pieces, jewellery and tools, to Namibia. Estimates suggest that up to 90% of cultural heritage from sub-saharan Africa is in Western countries. The restitution of African artefacts has seen a steady rise over recent years. This year, Nigerians celebrated the return of the Benin Bronzes and the Democratic Republic of the Congo reclaimed a traditional mask looted from its country by Belgians more than 70 years ago.