The Fon of Nso, Sehm Mbinglo I, has declared Sunday, October 25, 2026, a Cardinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi Tribute Day, with a mass scheduled in Douala in the presence of the traditional ruler and services planned in churches and mosques.
Sources close to the Nso Palace disclosed the decision this Monday 19 October 2026, describing the day as an opportunity to honour the late cardinal, a prominent son of Nso whose religious leadership and advocacy for peace left a lasting mark on Cameroon.
Cardinal Tumi, who died on April 3, 2021, aged 90, was the first Cameroonian elevated to the College of Cardinals. Born in Kikaikelaki, near Kumbo, in the North-West Region, he served as Archbishop of Douala from 1991 until his retirement in 2009.
His public interventions during the Anglophone crisis centred on dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the conflict that began in the North-West and South-West regions in 2016.
The cardinal also supported efforts to convene an Anglophone General Conference as a platform for discussions on the crisis.
His commitment to peace was tested in November 2020, when armed separatists abducted him and Fon Sehm Mbinglo I while they were travelling between Bamenda and Kumbo. Cardinal Tumi was released on November 6, while the Fon regained his freedom on November 10.
The incident brought two influential Nso leaders into the spotlight, highlighting the risks facing traditional and religious authorities during the conflict.
The tribute comes at a time when the Fon has renewed his call for reconciliation through his 2026 book, The Fon of Nso and the Anglophone Crisis: A Testimony for Reconciliation and Peace. The publication recounts his experiences during the crisis and advocates forgiveness and lasting peace.
The planned tribute will place Cardinal Tumi legacy at the centre of a renewed reflection on the role of religious and traditional leadership in rebuilding trust and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Further details on the programme for the tribute day were not immediately available.
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