The Belinga Foundation

Evening in the Village: Moneko-Yembong Reconnects with Its Roots Ahead of the 5th Edition of the BIA SO MENGONG Festival

Just a few weeks before the 5th edition of the BIA SO MENGONG Festival, scheduled to take place from July 11 to 25, 2026, preparations are gathering momentum on the ground. It is within this context that the “Evening in the Village” event was held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in the village of Moneko-Yembong, located in the Sangmélima Subdivision of the Dja-et-Lobo Division.

This initiative fully reflects the spirit of this fifth edition of the festival, whose theme is “Back to the Roots.” A theme that encourages the rediscovery of cultural heritage, ancestral knowledge, and the foundations that shape community identity.

Led by a delegation comprising Nicole Deschamps Belinga Mfou'ou, Deschanel Emmanuel Eto, Julot Armel Sengane, Emmanuel Abeng, Rochelle Marina Bela, Marlyse Raïssa Menguendane, Hassan Gali Mager, Jean Emmanuel Seme, Jacques Kisito Ndongo Bitye, and Axel Ndongo, the visit received a warm welcome from the people of Moneko-Yembong under the guidance of the village's traditional ruler, His Majesty Nkoto Roger.

From the very first moments, participants were immersed in a world where collective memory continues to be passed down through gestures, stories, and cultural practices. Traditional dances, storytelling sessions, and proverbs punctuated the gathering, offering visitors an authentic immersion into the community’s intangible cultural heritage.

One of the highlights of the evening was the discussion on the lineage and genealogical tree of the Yembong clan. This moment of transmission provided participants with a deeper understanding of the village’s history, traditional family organization, and the values that underpin social cohesion within the community. It was a genuine lesson in collective memory that strongly echoed the “Back to the Roots” theme of the BIA SO MENGONG Festival.

Beyond cultural discovery, the event fostered meaningful intergenerational dialogue between custodians of traditional knowledge and visitors eager to learn from them. The exchanges underscored the importance of preserving and transmitting this heritage in the face of contemporary transformations.

The evening continued in a spirit of fellowship around a convivial meal, symbolizing hospitality and sharing. Through stories, songs, memories, and moments of communion, bonds among participants grew stronger as the night unfolded.

The activities concluded around 1:00 a.m., leaving everyone with lasting memories of a rich and enlightening experience.

Through this initiative, The Belinga Foundation reaffirms its commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage while actively preparing for the 5th edition of the BIA SO MENGONG Festival. More than just a cultural event, the festival is shaping up to be a space for reconnecting with one’s roots, transmitting knowledge, and celebrating collective identity.

Preston Kambou

Bia So Mengong Festival : The Communication Train of the 5th edition Is on the Move

As part of efforts to strengthen communication around the 5th edition of the International BIA SO MENGONG Festival, scheduled to take place in Mengong from July 11 to 25, 2026, the festival’s Communication Director, Henry Fouman Mvondo, coordinated a press briefing on May 23, 2026, at the Grand Bazar in Ebolowa.

The important gathering brought together 18 media executives physically present and 3 others attending virtually. Among them were correspondents from national media outlets as well as journalists from the South Region, including Ebolowa, Kribi, Dja and Lobo. Through their presence, they expressed their commitment to helping make the upcoming edition a major media success.
According to Henry Fouman, the objective is to build an inclusive communication network in which every media organization represented in the South Region will contribute to promoting the International BIA SO MENGONG Festival before, during, and after the event.

The activity calendar is expected to officially begin on Monday, May 15, 2026. Communication professionals involved in the initiative have been entrusted with the mission of raising awareness, multiplying content production, articles, reports, and dedicated programs aimed not only at making the festival widely known, but also at showcasing its full cultural and human potential.

It should be recalled that Bia So Mengong is a cultural and artistic festival that, over two weeks, brings together thousands of festival-goers around art and culture, football through the “Tournament of Fraternity,” hiking activities, village evenings featuring storytelling, dances and proverbs, heritage gastronomy, entrepreneurship through various training sessions, the promotion of beauty and intelligence through the Miss competition, popular education with the Popular University, literature through the mobile library project, and a wide range of activities designed to nurture human development in all its dimensions, in keeping with the enlightened vision of Professor Steve-Félix Belinga, founder of the festival.

The meeting with media professionals, held at the Grand Bazar complex on the left bank of the lake, unfolded in an atmosphere of conviviality and professional passion.
Now that their commitment has been clearly expressed, all eyes are on these media professionals to see their work reflected through reports, feature stories, chronicles, and daily analyses covering the 2026 edition of the festival, held under the theme: Return to the Sources.

Preston Kambou