What began as the launch of a book quickly evolved into a national conversation on peace, reconciliation and historical memory as the Paramount Fon of Nso, His Majesty Fon Sehm Mbinglo I, unveiled his maiden publication, The Fon of Nso and the Anglophone Crisis: A Testimony for Reconciliation and Peace, on Thursday, June 25, in Yaoundé.
The event drew an audience that reflected the significance of both the publication and its message. Members of government, parliamentarians, diplomats, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society actors, development partners, academics, corporate representatives and members of the Nso diaspora gathered to witness the launch of a book many speakers described as more than a literary work.
Instead, it was presented as a platform for truth-telling, dialogue and collective healing at a time when Cameroon continues to grapple with the consequences of the nearly decade-long Anglophone crisis.
Presenting the book, editor Ngalim Eugene framed the publication as an opportunity for history to be told by one of its principal witnesses.
"Until the lion tells his story, the hunt will always glorify the hunter," he said, quoting an African proverb that would become one of the defining messages of the ceremony.
He disclosed that persuading the Fon to write the book had taken more than two years. The monarch had initially resisted the idea, insisting that Nso's history had always been preserved through oral tradition and questioning whether a written account was necessary.
According to the editor, it was the growing circulation of conflicting narratives surrounding the crisis that eventually convinced the traditional ruler to document his experiences.
"This book is the Fon's testimony. It is not written to stir emotions for their own sake, nor to reopen wounds that time must heal. It is written with the deepest honesty a Fon can offer so that those who live today, and those who will come after us, may understand what happened, why it matters and what must never be repeated," Ngalim Eugene said.
The 170-page publication chronicles the Fon's reign from his enthronement through the Anglophone crisis, recounting the challenges faced by both the monarch and his people. It also reflects on his abduction during the conflict, acknowledges those who stood by him during difficult moments, and concludes with a royal call for reconciliation, peace and national healing.
For the President-General of the Nso Cultural and Development Association (NSO'DA), Shey Tadze Adamou Mbiydzela, the significance of the publication lay not only in preserving history but in offering practical guidance for rebuilding fractured communities.
He described the book as a gift to Cameroon and the wider international community, arguing that extraordinary times demanded extraordinary responses.
"This book is not a departure from our tradition. It extends it," he said, explaining that documenting the Fon's testimony complemented Nso's rich oral heritage while ensuring that future generations would have an authentic historical record.
Rejecting any political interpretation of the publication, Shey Mbiydzela insisted that the book represented a framework for peace anchored on five principles: testimony, truth, dialogue, reconciliation and peace.
"His Majesty refuses to be confined by bitterness. Where many might have fought back, he has chosen the path of peace. He has transformed personal suffering into a guiding vision for national healing," he told the gathering.
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He challenged governments, development partners, peacebuilding organisations and civil society to transform the book's message into concrete action by supporting community dialogue, trauma recovery, mediation initiatives and programmes that rebuild trust among conflict-affected populations.
"Let this occasion become more than just a book launch. Let it become the beginning of a unified, broad-based partnership for enduring peace," he urged.
The launch also received strong endorsement from the North West Regional Assembly.
Travelling from Bamenda to Yaoundé for the ceremony, the President of the North West Regional Assembly, Prof. Fru Angwafo III, described the publication as a courageous intervention in the search for peace.
Representing the diverse populations of the North West Region, he praised the Fon for using the authority of traditional leadership to promote reconciliation.
"This joins a region-wide process of peacebuilding. It is a call to the sons and daughters of Nso, to the North West Region, to Cameroon and indeed to humanity," he said.
Prof. Fru Angwafo III observed that the region had moved beyond fear and isolation and now faced the responsibility of translating reflection into action.
He encouraged traditional and spiritual leaders across the region to sustain similar conversations in their communities, stressing that peacebuilding should become a daily commitment rather than an occasional event.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers repeatedly returned to the central theme stating that peace cannot be achieved without truth, honest dialogue and the courage to forgive.
Rather than dwelling on the pain of the past, they called on Cameroonians to embrace reconciliation as the foundation for rebuilding relationships and restoring confidence in communities affected by years of conflict.
The event also reaffirmed the continuing relevance of traditional institutions in national peacebuilding, highlighting indigenous mechanisms of dialogue and consensus as valuable tools for addressing contemporary challenges.
During his presentation, Ngalim Eugene summarised the spirit of the publication with words that resonated across the hall.
"A book does not help you find who to blame; it helps you see whom you need to forgive. For indeed, peace is the first justice."
With additional launches planned across Cameroon and within the diaspora, the publication is expected to extend the conversation beyond Yaoundé, inviting communities to reflect on the past while embracing dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence as the path towards a more united future.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices web
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