West Region: Baleng traditional ruler wants cultural festival on UNESCO heritage list.

The traditional ruler made the proposal during an audience granted him and his delegation by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt. The audience took place in Yaounde.

It served as an opportunity for the delegation to unveil activities of the 420th edition of the ‘Ngu Nghoun Festival’ of the Baleng people.

The forthcoming festival will hold on January 3, at the courtyard of the palace in Baleng.

Speaking during the audience, His Majesty Fo Negou II noted that their meeting had several crucial items on the agenda.

He said prominent among the proposals was a request to inscribe two significant Baleng cultural events on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. 

The monarch said the Ngu Nghoun Festival and the sacred Baleng Lake hold substantial cultural value.

He said their inclusion on the list would not only promote global recognition but also ensure their conservation for future generations. 

Other requests presented to the member of government included the technical and financial assistance for the festival's organisation, the desire for the minister to lay the foundation stone for the Baleng Museum.

The traditional ruler has described the museum project as a breakthrough project that will serve as a hub for the preservation and celebration of Baleng culture and history.

The delegation equally used the opportunity to extend an invitation to the Minister of Arts and Culture, asking him to personally preside over the closing ceremony of the upcoming festival to hold on January 3, 2025.

His presence as well as that of his delegation, the organisers said, will underline the importance the minister plays in supporting the preservation and promotion of the rich cultural values of the country.

According to His Majesty Fo Negou II, the Ngu Nghoun Festival aims to provide a platform for re-appropriating Baleng’s tangible and intangible heritage. 

With the 2024/2025 edition being the 420th in history, the festival has several key objectives, including promoting the Baleng language, fostering local art and craftsmanship, preserving spiritual sites, and training youth and women in traditional cultural practices.

He noted that in addition to celebrating Baleng identity, the Ngu Nghoun Festival serves as a vital forum for intercultural dialogue, harmony, and peace. 

Through the event, the Baleng community, he said, seeks to strengthen connections with other cultural groups and contributes to the country’s diverse cultural landscape. 

The community’s dedication to preserving its heritage resonates with national goals to promote social cohesion and respect for traditional knowledge.

Enter culture minister

Responding to requests of the Baleng delegation, Minister Bidoung Mkpatt, first saluted the traditional ruler of Baleng for all he has been doing for the protection of the rich cultural heritage of the area.

He equally called on all his close collaborators and the technical staff to form a committee with the aim of ensuring that the demands of the Baleng people are met.

Regarding the plea to ensure the festival is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, the member of government stated that a committee will be put start the process for the collection of the document to this effect.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3281 of Tuesday November 05, 2024