Ngonnso Tee, Nso Kingdom of Cameroon

Modèle portant le tee noir Ngonnso, médaillon imprimé effet broderie au sentier du retour vers les hautes terres, royaume Nso, Cameroon Grassfields collection par Bana Bilaka

Ngonnso · Grassfields Tee No. 03

£34.90

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At the end of the 14th century, Ngonnso left Rifem with the Tikar migration and founded the Nso kingdom, around Kumbo. In 1902, a German expedition looted the palace and carried her statue away to Berlin. Since 2022 her restitution has been promised, and a whole people awaits her return. This piece carries the homecoming path, never the object: you do not wear what must come home. An embroidery-style print medallion on a deep black tee: a trail of ivory dots rising toward the high Grassfields, one five-pointed star above the ridge. What was taken knows the way home.

What it means

Ngonnso is the founding mother of the Nso kingdom, in the Cameroon Grassfields. In 1902 a German expedition looted the Nso palace, and her statue was taken to Berlin. On 27 June 2022 the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation announced its restitution, the first German restitution to Cameroon; the return is still awaited, and a whole people keeps the road open. This emblem shows no statue, no face, no figure: only the path, the ridge of the high Grassfields and one star. For every Ngonnso tee sold, Bana Bilaka gives £3 to the Nso community through NSO'DA, the Nso Cultural and Development Association.

After the textile and royal traditions of the Cameroon Grassfields: Bitoh et al., Art and Design Review, 2023 (toghu symbols); The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Michael Backman Ltd (ndop technique); Wikipedia “Bamum script”, Yale University Library and African History Extra (the Bamum script, 1896 to 1910); Open Restitution Africa (the return of Ngonnso, announced 27 June 2022); Voix des Jeunes (toghu, ndop, Bamenda).

Part of Collection 03 · Grassfields · The Signature. Emblem No. 03. Dikenga opened the house, the Manden gave it its law, the Grassfields give it its signature.

Fabric & Fit

Stanley/Stella Creator 2.0, 100% organic combed ring-spun cotton (GOTS-certified fabric), 180 gsm single jersey, fabric washed. Colour: Black. Medium fit, true to size.