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‘A Symbol of Hope’ 120 Years After It Was Stolen, Germany Is Returning Ngonnso’ to Cameroon

July 5, 2022

The Road to 2023 2023 Election Updates

July 5, 2022
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The Republic
Today in 1967, the Nigerian federal military advan Today in 1967, the Nigerian federal military advanced into Biafra, igniting the Biafran War. #RxHistory⏳

In the early hours of 06 July 1967, the Nigerian Civil War, also called the Biafran War, began with the invasion of the secessionist state of Biafra by Nigerian troops.

The civil war came on the heels of a series of coups and countercoups, which resulted from the corruption and social distress in the First Republic of Nigeria. On 15 January 1966, Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna led a coup which saw the death of important northern leaders including the prime minister and premier of the Northern Region.

A successful countercoup that put General Yakubu Gowon in power later in the year brought about an anti-Igbo pogrom in which 80,000–100,000 Igbo people were killed in five months, forcing almost two million Igbos living in the North at the time to escape back to the Eastern Region.

The Eastern Region governor, Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared the independence of the Republic of Biafra on 30 May 1967 to protect Igbo people from victimization by the Northerner-dominated Nigerian government.

Nigeria’s invasion of Biafra today in 1967 lasted till the surrender of Biafra on 15 January 1970 and had casualties in the millions.

To learn more about the Biafran war, click the link in our bio.
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📝: Adams Adeosun and Ugonna Eronini
📷: 1) Ojukwu, as military governor of Biafra, inspecting some of his troops in 1968. Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix /Alamy

2) Nigerian federal troops during an operation against Biafran forces near the town of Ore, Nigeria, in 1967. Unknown Photographer.

3) Locals in south east Nigeria in 1968 during the peak of the Biafra war. AP-PHOTO/RJS/STF/KURT STRUMPF

4) Biafra Leader, Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, at his desk, circa 1967-1970. GETTY IMAGES
Germany is returning Ngonnso’ to Cameroon 120 ye Germany is returning Ngonnso’ to Cameroon 120 years after it was stolen. #RxNews📡

The Ngonnso’ statue is a female goddess statue that was stolen from the ancient Nso’ Kingdom in northwestern Cameroon. It was brought to Germany in 1903 and donated to the Ethnological Museum in Berlin by German colonial officer, Kurt von Pavel.

On 27 June, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz ((SPK))—a German government organization that manages 27 German museums and cultural organizations—announced that it will return the statue to Cameroon as calls for the restitution of stolen artefacts in the possession of former colonial forces continue to gain momentum.

Cameroon was a colony of Germany from 1884 to 1916. In a statement by SPK, the president of the foundation, Hermann Parzinger, said: ‘The decision makes it clear that the question of returning collection items from colonial contexts is not just a question of a context of injustice. The special – especially spiritual – significance of an object for its society of origin can justify its return.’

Read more about the return by clicking the link in our bio.
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📝: Tomisin Awosika, Junior Editor
📷: 1) The Ngonnso’ statue. LEGIDEON NEWS

2) Cameroonian cultural activist, Sylvie Njobati, at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin, Germany, where the Ngonnso’ statue is housed. Marc Sebastian Eils.

3) The Ngonnso’ statue at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin, Germany. Bring Back Ngonnso / Twitter.
Today in 1962, Algeria declared independence from Today in 1962, Algeria declared independence from France. #RxHistory⏳

On 5 July 1962, Algeria achieved independence from France after a seven-year-long war—one of the longest and most brutal independence wars in Africa. More than 100,000 Algerian and 10,000 French soldiers were killed, along with thousands of Algerian and European civilians.

The war was fought between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front. It started in November 1954 and was characterized by guerrilla warfare, sexual abuse, and the use of torture. The war ended more than 130 years of French colonial rule in Algeria.

During the war, Algerian women played a significant role. More than 10,000 women actively participated in the war. Although a large portion of these women served in non-military roles as nurses, cooks, and laundresses, around 2% of them served as soldiers.

Did you know that revolutionary philosopher, Frantz Fanon, fought in the Algerian war of independence? During the war, Fanon worked as a psychiatrist at a French hospital in Algeria. He later quit his job and joined Algeria’s anti-colonial struggle. He published a series of essays and books on decolonization and the Algerian revolution.

Read more about Algeria’s independence by clicking the link in our bio.
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📝: Ibukun Olokode and Ugonna Eronini
📷: A man waves the Algerian flag along with other demonstrators during a protest in Algeria’s capital, Algiers. 25 October 2019. Ramzi Boudina / REUTERS
Today in 1975, Cape Verde declared independence fr Today in 1975, Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal. #RxHistory⏳

On 5 July 1975, Cape Verde achieved full independence, and Aristides Pereira became its first president with Pedro Pires as prime minister.

Until 1879, when they were split into different territories, Cape Verde was administrated jointly with Guinea-Bissau by Portugal. The island nation, alongside Guinea-Bissau, was recognized as an ‘overseas province’ during the African decolonization movements of the 1950s and its people were granted full Portuguese citizenship in 1961.

Unsatisfied by their new status, Cape Verdeans and Bissau-Guineans united to demand for complete independence and a joint nationalist movement, led by Amílcar Cabral, was born.

Read more about the Cape Verde’s independence in today’s newsletter which goes out at 6 p.m. (WAT). Sign up at the link in our bio.
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📝: Adams Adeosun and Ugonna Eronini
📷: Amilcar Cabral. Unknown Photographer
Did Nigeria gain anything from Obasanjo’s foreig Did Nigeria gain anything from Obasanjo’s foreign policies? #OnSite⚡

Olusegun Matthew Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s head of state from 1976 to 1979. And later, he served as the country’s democratically elected president from 1999 to 2007.

In this online essay, researcher and associate editor of The Republic, Afolabi Adekaiyaoja, examines Obasanjo’s time in office, and how his administrations’ foreign policies affected Nigerians. Adekaiyaoja writes that, ‘Olusegun Obasanjo is one of the most polarizing personalities in Nigeria’s history. To some, he remains the gold standard against which his successors in the Fourth Republic (1999-present) are judged and found wanting. Many others argue that his poor institutional management, domestic policy and attempts to maintain influence post-presidency have greatly damaged his image. Yet, one area that deserves to be studied is his work on Nigeria’s foreign policy.’

But, in what ways did Obasanjo’s foreign policy work benefit Nigeria? Adekaiyaoja highlights, for instance: ‘During his first term as democratic president, Obasanjo carried out 113 foreign trips, aiming to re-establish ties with allies and international organizations and to gain support for the new republic. His diplomatic engagement, and increased investment as a show of faith and support towards this democratic era, contributed to the growth of Nigeria’s GDP from an estimated $36 billion in 1999 to $166.4 billion at the end of his term in 2007. A crowning achievement of Obasanjo’s term was combining diplomatic efforts and economic negotiations, with his economic reform team, led by then-finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in securing a cancellation of $18 billion of the country’s foreign debt. (Okonjo-Iweala is the present director-general of the World Trade Organization).
Despite the domestic challenges, the Obasanjo administration maintained a clear commitment to returning Nigeria to its place among the continent’s hegemons.’

Read the full essay by clicking the link in our bio.
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📝: Afolabi Adekaiyaoja
📷: President Olusegun Obasanjo at the River Entrance of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. May 10, 2001. Helene C. Stikkel. / Wikimedia Commons
Today in 1994, the Rwandan genocide ended. #RxHist Today in 1994, the Rwandan genocide ended. #RxHistory⏳

On 04 July 1994, Paul Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) took over Kigali, the Rwandan capital, finally ending the Rwandan genocide.

The genocide, which saw the death of over 800,000 Tutsis and Tutsi-sympathizers, started in April 1994. In Rwanda, today is known as Liberation Day, marking the end of the national mourning of the victims of the genocide which begins every year on 07 April.

Read more about the Rwandan genocide in today’s newsletter which goes out at 6 p.m. (WAT). Sign up at the link in our bio.
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📝: Adams Adeosun and Ugonna Eronini
📷: A survivor of the Rwandan genocide. GILLES PERESS / MAGNUM PHOTOS
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