Ownership Transitions over Span of 800 years as follows
Early 13 Century handcrafted by the Baligan si’in people in honor of their founding fathers and fallen heroes
End of 14 Century was under the Baligashu village for half a century; obtained through severe bloody tribal war over a disputed piece of land diving the two villages.
Early the 15 Century, Returned to the Baligan si’in village through negotiations and interventions from sibling villages.
Mid 15 Century was under the Bafanji Village for a short period of less than 20 years; obtained through tribal war for procession of the βNjiri Mtuuvuβ
Towards the end of 16 Century went back to Baligashu Village for less than a decade; obtained through tribal war for procession of the βNjiri Mtuuvuβ
End of the 16 Century was under the Bamunkumbit Village for almost 6 decades; obtained through and almost decade long tribal war with Bamunkumbit and Baligan si’in against Baligashu Village for procession of the βNjiri Mtuuvuβ
17 Century went back to the Baligan si’in people under Fon Gwarrlav till date through mutual negotiations and intervention of foreign (German) colonial matters.
Note Bafanji, Baligan si’in,Baligashu, Balikumbat, Bamunkumbit are all siblings and descendants of “Mangeh” the ruler of the ancient Mangeh village.
Njiri Mtuuvu Ancient Mythological Ritual Practices And Beliefs
In the past, Its was a well established traditional mythology for over 400 years, that villages associated or in possession of these artifacts practiced Human Sacrificial Rituals with βNjiri Mtuuvuβ , as ancient records shows that during intertribal wars, many rival defeated captured tribe chiefs, war lords and village heads were beheaded on βNjiri Mtuuvuβ for Sacrificial rituals as sign of victory, call for prosperity and ownership control. The βNjiri Mtuuvuβ collection was regarded and worshipped as deities “gods” to the Baligan si’in people and related sibling villages, and had been the cause of many tribal wars and bad blood within tribes for their control and ownership. Local record has numerous human rituals sacrifices being performed on these artifacts for over the first four centuries.
These objects and noble materials are strictly controlled by the kings and have a great cultural heritage on the Baligan si’in people/community. Regarding the history of these cultural relics in question; they are over 8 centuries and has always been considered as a witness of values and legacies throughout North West Cameroon in general “Baligan si’in” people in particular where all these statues have always represented commemorating the memory of valiant warriors who died during tribal wars between clans and neighboring villages.
βNjiri Mtuuvuβ art collection has been inspected, registered and certified under the UNESCO International Cultural Heritage Database with Reg# UNESCO7926-CM in 2012. It is considered the most exquisite and extraordinary artefacts from the West African region by the UNESCO International Cultural Heritage Recently Identification and classification Program. It’s is well known and adored internationally and has attracted the attention of many Western Cultural Art Enthusiast, Cultural Heritage Groups and lovers from all over the world, who visits to witness the Baligan’sin Cultural legacy.
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