In 1985, in continued pursuit of the Tangué’s return, Prince Kum’a Ndumbe III established an organisation called AfricAvenir Foundation in Bonaberi, Cameroon, where the Bele-bele Kingdom is located.
The Foundation exists to ensure that the status of the Tangué as a cultural heritage belonging is reclaimed both physically and legally.
From 1981 – 1997, Prince Kum’a Ndumbe III also sent numerous letters and emails, each with supporting documentation and evidence that demonstrated rightful ownership of the Tangué.
On the 8th of January 1998, after nearly 15 years of attempting to prove his position, authorities from Museum Fünf Kontinente responded with an acknowledgement of Prince Kum’a Ndumbe III as the heir to the Bele-Bele throne, and in turn the rightful claimant to the Tangué.
Currently, the Cameroonian and German governments are engaged in a restitution dialogue. The Tangué remains in the possession of Museum Fünf Kontinente while the terms and conditions of its restitution are being negotiated.
