The Mvog Manga Festival of the people of the Center region had been officially presented to the Cameroonian population. This was done during a high-level audience granted His Majesty AMOUGOU Serge, 3rd-Degree Traditional Chief and National President of the Anyang Mvog Manga Cultural Association by the Minister of Arts and Culture Pierre Ismael Bidoung Nkpwat on September 16, 2026.
Held in the reception hall of the National Museum, the meeting focused on the official presentation of the Mvog Manga Cultural Festival, a formal request for its inclusion in Cameroon’s National Directory of Cultural Festivals, and a plea for technical support from the ministry.
Determined to safeguard their rich heritage, the Mvog Manga community aims to preserve, promote, and transmit their ancestral customs to future generations. His Majesty AMOUGOU Serge was accompanied by a large delegation of traditional custodians who highlighted the vital importance of registering their identity-defining cultural practices. Beyond seeking official recognition, the delegation presented the active preparations for the inaugural edition of the Mvog Manga Festival while soliciting institutional and technical backing from the Ministry of Arts and Culture.
In response, the Department of Cultural Heritage outlined the strict administrative requirements necessary for inclusion in the National Directory. To qualify, the festival must demonstrate deep historical and cultural roots tied to a founding myth or sacred rite rather than commercial motives. Furthermore, it requires a fixed periodicity, a legitimate traditional organizing committee endorsed by the chieftaincy, and broad community participation.
The event’s content must also showcase living heritage, including original rites, dances, oral arts, traditional medicine, native wrestling, and storytelling in the mother tongue, supported by a comprehensive technical file.
To guarantee effective support for this initiative, the Minister issued firm instructions to the ministry’s technical units. The resulting recommendations mandate immediate structuring to finalize the registration file within the coming week. Additionally, technical teams were directed to conduct an official inventory of all intangible cultural heritage elements associated with the festival. This documentation will facilitate the signing of the official decree and ensure the festival’s inclusion on the ministry’s digital promotion platforms.
The audience ended on a symbolic note with the presentation of traditional gifts to the Minister by the Mvog Manga chiefs. The Minister received a fly-whisk, representing authority, alongside a Mvet, the iconic musical instrument of the Beti culture. This exchange marked a powerful alliance between state institutions and traditional leadership, paving the way for the enduring celebration of Mvog Manga heritage on the national stage.
