A recent study presented by Bénédicte Savoy and Albert Gouaffo, professors at Technische Universität in Berlin and the University of Dschang in Cameroon, respectively, has revealed that German museums hold an astounding 40,000 artifacts from Cameroon. This number exceeds the collections found in any other museum worldwide, including those in Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé.
The comprehensive study, titled “Atlas der Abwesenheit” or “Atlas of Absence,” spanned two years and involved researchers from Germany and Cameroon, with the collaboration of curators from 45 German museums. The research shed light on the extensive presence of Cameroonian heritage objects within German museum storage facilities. Comparatively, Cameroonian museums possess approximately 6,000 objects. The study focused solely on items within museum collections, excluding those held in private collections, natural history museums, and archaeological finds in prehistoric museums.
Germany’s claim of Cameroon as a colony from 1884 to 1920 played a significant role in the accumulation of these artifacts. During this period, Germany employed violent tactics to maintain control over the native population and secure access to the country’s abundant natural resources. “Punitive expeditions” were carried out, during which German occupying forces pillaged villages and farms, resulting in the destruction and looting of cultural heritage. Germany lost control of Cameroon during World War I, after which the territory was divided between British and French rule until the early 1960s.
Representatives from the Cameroonian embassy emphasized their intention to reclaim the objects held in German museums during the study’s presentation in Berlin. Maryse Nsangou Njikam, the cultural advisor to the Cameroonian embassy in Germany, stated, “Germany is full. Cameroon is empty. We must have these objects back. We need them to build the future. Restitution is the cherry on the cake, the goal we are heading for.” Nsangou Njikam also revealed that a restitution commission has commenced discussions with museum directors in Germany, although the process is expected to be lengthy.
The artifacts cataloged in the study encompass a wide range of objects, including ritual masks, textiles, manuscripts, royal thrones, and musical instruments. Notable examples include a beaded stool taken as a war trophy from Bagam, which is currently housed in the Linden Museum in Stuttgart. Another item of interest, a wooden carved drum looted during a punitive expedition, is held by Berlin’s Ethnological Museum.
The findings of the study serve as a call to confront Germany’s colonial past and address the historical injustices associated with the looting of cultural heritage. The Cameroonian government’s pursuit of restitution reflects a desire to reclaim and preserve their country’s rich heritage and cultural identity. As discussions and negotiations progress, the process of returning these significant artifacts to their rightful home will require both political and psychological efforts.
The study underscores the importance of acknowledging the historical consequences of colonialism and working towards a more equitable future in the preservation and appreciation of cultural heritage.