The newly published book, The Fon of Nso and the Anglophone Crisis: A Testimony for Reconciliation and Peace, authored by the traditional ruler of the Nso Kingdom, His Majesty Fon Sehm Mbinglo I, is not intended to stir emotions or reopen wounds that time must heal, its co-editors have said.
Co-editors Ngalim Eugine Nyuydine and Nsaibirni Warren Lee described the 170-page publication as a sincere account of the monarch’s lived experiences during the protracted armed conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions. The book recounts the traditional ruler’s personal struggles throughout the crisis and concludes with a call for forgiveness, including towards those who sought to harm him during the turbulent period.
Beyond its narrative, the publication contains photographs depicting key events of the Anglophone crisis and significant moments in the history of the Nso Fonship, providing readers with both written and visual testimony.
According to Ngalim, the book was written with “the deepest honesty the 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.”
The co-editors made the remarks during a press briefing in Yaounde on Wednesday, June 17, ahead of the official launch of the monarch’s maiden publication scheduled for June 25, 2026, in Yaounde.
They were joined at the briefing by Yaah Gladys Shang Viban, a daughter of the Nso Palace, who said subsequent presentations of the book are expected to take place in other towns across Cameroon and within the diaspora.
Presenting the philosophical foundation of the book, Warren Lee explained that the publication is not intended to replace oral tradition but rather to complement and preserve it for future generations.
“The purpose of this work is to strengthen oral tradition and preserve for posterity a small but important part of the broader royal narrative and message,” he said.
The book underscores reconciliation as a continuous process necessary for unity and justice. Through its message, Lee noted, the Fon of Nso reminds readers that no community can thrive without peace and that pain should never be worn as a badge of honour or used to justify vengeance.
“His Majesty Fon Sehm Mbinglo I has not invented new paths but has remained faithful to the wisdom of old. He has embraced the power of silence and listening, summoned his subjects to dialogue at every opportunity, and, most importantly, encouraged forgiveness by first forgiving himself and bearing the burdens of the community,” Lee said.
