Hervé Youmbi’s project, Les Trônes Célestes (“Celestial Thrones”) (2019), interrogates notions of governance by reinterpreting the aesthetics of classical Bamiléké thrones from Cameroon.
Trônes consists of five carved seats embellished with colorful glass beads, each floating above a mirror-covered base. Sculpted in the manner of the low ceremonial stools traditionally made for Cameroonian rulers, they represent five different animals: a tortoise, panther, buffalo, rhinoceros, and elephant. With the exception of the tortoise, these animals’ grandeur and/or ferocity are traditionally attributed to political leaders. The tortoise, however, a symbol of patience and wisdom, is a reminder that these qualities are equally indispensable for good governance. The political symbolism of the thrones is underscored by proverbs beaded in reverse underneath each stool and reflected onto the mirrored bases above which the stools are suspended.
Trônes featured in the World Bank’s 10th annual art exposition, Aujourd’hui, curated by Simon Njami, on view from June 21 to February 20, 2020 at the National Museum of Cameroon. Formerly the residence of the colonial French governor and later of the first president of newly liberated Cameroon, the National Museum currently serves as the country’s principal display of art and culture. Its history serves as inspiration for Youmbi’s site-specific work.
At the close of the exhibition, Youmbi planned to present the seats to five chiefs, to extend their function beyond objects of aesthetic appreciation to become also functional ceremonial objects. Today, it remains possible for those stools, now owned by kings and having gone through ritual empowerment, to move from their royal courts to contemporary art venues, provided necessary diplomatic arrangements are made. Trônes thus continues Youmbi’s longstanding interest in challenging frameworks of art that govern exhibitions of African art in Western contexts. and finding ways to bridge the cultures and contexts.
In May 2020, prior the close of the exhibition Aujourd’hui and in the presence of the museum’s director, Hervé Youmbi removed the work “Le panthére” from the installation and replaced it with a label explaining that its ownership had been transferred to His Majesty Gabriel Ndjiemeni of the Fondanti chieftancy, who agreed to receive this throne and to utilize it in a Ku’ Ngang initiation ceremony and in ongoing ceremonial contexts.
On November 27, 2021, Hervé Youmbi gifted “La tortue” in a ceremony to Ngangoum Sylvestre, the chief of Balassié, Bandja district, who is also a lawyer. Tortoises are symbolic of justice in this society. Preceding the ceremony, at an important meeting with the chief and his notables, the chief bestowed on Hervé Youmbi the noble title,Wambé Mbu Lah (meaning “one who elevates the village or country”), in recognition of Youmbi’s ongoing contributions to the community, including electrification, repairing the roofs of the ritual houses, and help to fund road building.
On December 11th 2021, Hervé Youmbi travelled to the capital of the Bapa state for the gifting ceremony of the buffalo throne to the current ruler, Fe Simeu David. The Bapa state was founded in 1675; Fe Simeu David is the 11th fe., having ruled since 1993. In this region, the buffalo is a symbol of victory.