Contact: Zenü Network (zenu.network@gmail.com) & ESPERANZA CADE (esfezeu78@gmail.com)
Aware of the debate on the return of objects and artefacts looted during colonisation, civil society organisations met on 18 July 2024 at the Hôtel Jouvence in Yaoundé, at the invitation of Zenü Network and ESPERANZA CADE, to assess their contribution. The subject of the „return of objects“ is symptomatic of decolonisation, a more complex issue that requires the involvement of all players.
Relationship between Cameroon and Germany
The German government is among those strongly committed to the restitution of objects looted during the colonisation of Cameroon. Several missions by the two governments have taken place in the two countries respectively. There is an Inter-Ministerial Committee Responsible for the Repatriation of Cameroon’s Cultural Heritage Illegally Exported Abroad, which has already taken various types of action. Cameroon underwent German colonisation in a harsh and violent manner, which explains the quantity of objects present in Germany. The Germans signed numerous treaties with Cameroonian communities. Most of the heritage held in museums in Germany comes from the chiefdoms. There is an old law on the restitution of property, applied in a discriminatory manner by Germany, and Cameroon has not benefited from it. The current government in Germany is in favour of the restitution of objects, an attitude that could change if there is a change of government.
How the return fits into a wider scheme
It is impossible to discuss the restitution of objects without talking about colonisation. Re-contextualising restitution within the processes of decolonisation can lead to other useful commitments that transcend the current divisions in Western societies and give greater responsibility to Cameroonian actors.
Importance of research
The communities do not have a complete and in-depth knowledge of the history of the peoples or the objects, and are not all aware of the issues at stake in the restitution process currently underway. Some see no value in it, others see opportunities for gain, and still others see it as a gift from the West. It is therefore important to revive the memories of our colonial past and its consequences. Collaboration with universities would enable research to fill this gap.
Role of missionaries
Missionaries were instrumental in collecting valuable objects from Cameroonian communities. The Vatican and Western religious congregations have numerous collections of African objects in general and Cameroonian objects in particular. The restitution process cannot be carried out in isolation from the artefacts taken away by the missionaries.
Role of CSOs
Cameroonian civil society organisations have a major role to play in supporting the restitution process. Information, awareness-raising, mediation, advocacy, dialogue between stakeholders and support for community involvement are all areas in which civil society can play a part in this process.
Opportunities
The restitution process gained momentum with Germany. Today, other countries feel concerned and have begun discussions on the subject: the United States, France, Austria and Switzerland. In Vienna, there are almost 3,514 objects from Cameroon. A Swiss-Cameroonian dialogue on the restitution of Cameroonian artefacts will be held in Basel, Switzerland, from 11 to 15 November 2024. Cameroonian civil society intends to use this forum to continue its advocacy work.
Importance of the media
Generally speaking, the media follow themes with political connotations. On the subject of restitution, few media understand what is at stake; those who do talk about it are interested in the heroes of history. Hence the importance of involving the media and training them so that the subject is no longer trivialised and considered to be classified.
Vocabulary
„Return, Restitution, Repatriation, Reconciliation and even Reparation“ are all words used in this process. Semantics aside, these words have different meanings in different contexts. It is important to understand the different connotations and their implications depending on the actors involved.
Importance of dialogue
The restitution process is long and complex. It touches on several aspects – political, educational, informational, research, etc. – and for it to be successful, there needs to be ongoing dialogue between the various key players. The German government is planning a meeting in Cameroon in the near future with the stakeholders in the restitution process, and also intends to involve Cameroonian civil society.
Challenges to be met
The restitution process involves a number of challenges: political governance, international cooperation, collaboration between the government and the communities, and resolving the conflict between the legality and legitimacy of those who take the initiative. There are activists who influence the process, and not all players have the same level of information. Civil society is committed to helping meet all these challenges.
The meeting identified threats and opportunities, made recommendations and drew up a list of urgent actions to be taken:
Threats
- Prevalence of individualistic and communitarian thinking
- Prevalence of financial considerations at the expense of pedagogical and anthropological considerations
- Lack of interest from certain community leaders
- Self-exclusion of communities due to the trauma suffered by populations during colonisation
- Lack of work on memories, leading to ignorance and misunderstanding of our colonial past
- Duplicity of official discourse on both sides
- Non-application of existing restitution laws, leading to differentiated treatment
- Civil society’s reluctance and amateurism
- Lack of a legal framework on the issue in Cameroon
Opportunities
- Availability of resource persons
- Close links between communities and objects
- The dynamic can trigger other useful processes (Western societies question themselves and are more responsible for their actions, African societies no longer treat the issue as a gift or a one-off act).
- Restitution is a symptomatic way of talking about identity, history, decolonisation, collective political consciousness and so on.
- There is a wind of restitution and we must take advantage of it (several countries are interested).
- The existence of old restitution laws (applied in a discriminatory manner) in Germany is an opportunity to advocate for fair treatment.
Recommendations
- Civil society organisations present must mobilise other members.
- Creating partnerships with international civil society
- Lobbying governments (Cameroonian and German) and international partners
- Implicating also religious organisations and authorities
- Organising consultations with parliamentarians to establish a legal framework on the subject
- Continuing the dialogue with communities to help them reclaim the history of their objects
Actions to be taken in the short term
- A statement for circulation
- Officially transmit the declaration to the Ministry of Art and Culture, then request a hearing to discuss it
- Mobilise other players in society to join the drive
- Meet religious and traditional authorities
- Organise a media training and awareness seminar on the return of objects
- Create partnerships with universities and research centres
- Involve young girls and boys in the subject through CSO activities
Signed in Yaoundé on 18 July 2024
- FEZEU Espérance (ESPERANZA-CADE)
- DJATENG Flaubert (Zenü Network)
- Prof MACHIKOU Nadine (Ayen-Observatoire du politique en Afrique)
- De BANGOUA Legrand TCHETCHOUANG (Member Interministerial Committee representing civil society; Kamerun Haus)
- DADA TAKAM (EVETA BIOFART)
- NGUEA Martial (Arts-en-Ciel)
- FEZEU DAWAK Flaubert (ESPERANZA-CADE)
- MAHINI Bertrand Michel (Ayen-Observatoire du politique en Afrique)
- RAGVENEAU Marine (GIZ SCP)