The Fon of Nso Declares 2026 in His End-of-Year Speech as a Year of Love, Unity and Restraint amidst the ongoing Anglophone Conflict in Cameroon
The Fon of Nso is the Paramount Fon of Bui, a locality in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. The Nso people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Cameroon, based in the Northwest Region of Cameroon with their cultural capital in Kumbo. They are renowned for their rich traditions, Lamnso language which is spoken in four subdivisions of Buea division, and a history rooted in migration from the Tikar people of Adamawa under the leadership of Princess NgonNso, their founding mother of Nso. Below is the message from His Royal Majesty Sehm Mbinglo I. Source: De Lavmfu
NTONSO NSO PALACE
NSO FONDOM
PRESS RELEASE
Fon of Nso’ Declares 2026 as the Year of Love, Calls for Unity and Restraint
His Majesty, the Fon of Nso’, delivered His end-of-year message, urging His people to embrace love, unity, and resilience as they enter the new year. Speaking with the authority of tradition and the spirit of peace, the Fon reminded the Nso’ community of the heavy toll of the ongoing crisis and called for restraint, reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to ancestral values.
In His message, the Fon emphasized the importance of caring for displaced children, honoring the dead with dignity, and rejecting hatred and division. He lamented the losses suffered over the past decade of conflict, noting that “there is no gain in war, only pain and sorrow.” He urged the youth and elders alike to learn from the bitter lessons of the crisis, so that future generations may avoid the path of destruction in Nso”.
Declaring 2026 as the Year of Love (Kikonnen), the Fon called on all Nso’ people to love one another sincerely, collaborate harmoniously, and put the years of war behind them, while looking forward to a peaceful resolution of the crisis. He reminded His people that Nso’ is one whole, without boundaries, and that division among leaders only serves to nurse animosity. “I am a King of Peace, not a warlord,” he affirmed, calling for ceaseless prayer and collective effort to rebuild the Nso’ world of tomorrow.
The Fon also lamented that war has deprived Nso of its traditional openness to external families, such as Nigerians who once found Nso to be a second home. This, he noted, is among the most painful consequences of conflict: the loss of hospitality, trust, and shared prosperity that once defined the Nso spirit.
The Fon also encouraged His people to take pride in their professions, excel in their work, and uphold the values that have long defined Nso’ identity. He warned against the destruction of markets and livelihoods, urging instead for resilience, neutrality, and the rejection of violence. “Keep hatred away, and love ceaselessly, so that together we may restore Nso’ to be more beautiful than it ever was,” he declared.
The Fon’s New Year message for 2026 coincides with the commemoration of the transfer of the Nso’ capital from Kovifem to Kimbo (1825-2025), marking 200 years of continuity and resilience in Nso’ History. It also comes shortly after the Fon announced the release of His new book, The Fon of Nso’ and the Anglophone Crisis: A Testimony for Reconciliation and Peace, a work that bears witness to the trials of the past decade and offers a vision of unity and healing for the future.
On the sidelines of this message, His Majesty further announced the creation of a royal printing press and other projects designed to improve access to school materials for children at all levels of education across Nso’. He prescribed the building and care of all major compounds in Nso’, underscoring their role as centers of family strength and cultural continuity. In addition, the Fon called for increased collaboration among Nso’ traditional leaders, reinforcing the bonds of unity and shared responsibility that safeguard the community’s future.
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Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
