The co-authors of the book written by the Fon of Nso, His Royal Majesty Sehm Mbinglo I titled: “The Fon of Nso and the Anglophone Crisis: A Testimony for Reconciliation and Peace,” have reiterated that it is an offer to peace seekers.
The co-authors, Ngalim Eugine Nyuydine and Nsaibirni Warren Lee were speaking at a café press event in Yaounde on June 17, 2026 ahead of the inaugural launch of the book in the nation’s capital on June 25. While Yaah Gladys Shang Viban was the palaces’ message bearer at the event, moderation was done by Patience Wirngo.
In an overview presentation of the book, Ngalim said it is a narration of the Fon’s struggles in the Anglophone crisis that ends up with forgiveness to all those who tried to harm him during the trying moments.
“Given all that he, the Fon endured since the onset of the crisis, his initial response to publishing this book was ‘No!’ He explained that he feared being drawn back into the heart of the conflict. Moreover, our tradition is rooted in oral transmission. No Fon before me had ever committed his thoughts to writing or dared to depart from our ancestral medium of preserving history,” Ngalim reported the Fon’s reactions to their request for the book to be written.
He said convincing the Fon was the most difficult task he has ever undertaken as His Majesty continually emphasised that since the founding of the Nso’ Dynasty, their tradition has been faithfully transmitted orally. He highlighted a number of arguments used to persuade the Fon including the fact that failing to document and publish His Majesty’s experiences amid the divisions that have torn Nso apart would be a grave mistake as unfounded stories have circulated about him, the Fon and will continue to spread unless corrected.
Again, the Fon was told that the history of Nso, up to recent times, has been deeply distorted by hearsay and accounts written by individuals who neither witnessed the events nor gathered firsthand testimony from those directly involved. The testimony, he said, should guide how dialogue is done around culture and history, leaning on cardinal values of truth and integrity.
“By sharing your thoughts on this historic crisis, the essence is for the Fon to contribute meaningfully to the search of solutions. Your testimony will become a lasting legacy, an immortal record for future generations of Nso and Cameroon to understand ‘their’ role through his own words. The world is evolving and we must evolve with the world to better preserve our tradition and history for posterity but not replacing our customary oral transmission of facts,” the Fon was persuaded, Ngalim said.
Ngalim and Nsaibirni who did a presentation on the Philosophical Core of the book, taking off from the founding of the Nso Dynasty by Ngonso, both told reporters that the book is not written to stir emotion for its own sake, nor to reopen wounds that time must heal, but it is written with the deepest honesty the Fon can offer, so that those living today, and those who will come after, may understand what happened, why it matters, and what must never be repeated.
“This testimony is the Fon’s offering to Nso, to Cameroon, and to all who seek peace. It is a call to remember that no matter how deep the crisis, we must never lose sight of the humanity in one another. We must never forget that war, no matter its cause, leaves behind ashes, not answers,” Ngalim stated.
The co-authors said since enthronement, the Nso Fon’s mandate has been to promote peace, and development within Nso, a mission he has faithfully upheld. “This book is intended to serve as a tool for reconciliation and peace within the Kingdom of Nso, Bui Division, and Cameroon as a whole. It is also designed to support the Fon’s Community Dialogue, which will bring together all Nso sons and daughters living both in Cameroon and in the Diaspora. The dialogue is expected to culminate in Nto’ Nso’, where the final ritual of reconciliation and peace will be performed,” it was stated.
Yaah Gladys Viban corroborated that the Community Dialogue will be open to people of all-walks-of-life as the inaugural launch of the book remains a clarion call for reconciliation and peace. She disclosed that communities within and out of Cameroon will be the ones to dictate the pace of the dialogue depending on how they organise and be ready for the events.
The co-authors disclosed that it took them over two years to gather the necessary documentation and testimonies to write the book. They said although the book contains a wealth of material, the 170 pages publication has avoided contradictory information that could regenerate any conflict in Nso’ and Bui.
The book that traces events from the enthronement of the Fon to the genesis of the crisis, recounting what the Fon endured during that period, also contains a recollection of solidarity messages from some of the Fons of Bui. The book is edited by finest editors in Nso’ including Prof. Verkijika Fanso, Dr. Fai Eugene Ndzegham, and Tangwa Canute.
By Nformi Sonde Kinsai