At audience in Yaounde: Sawa chiefs laud gov’t’s push for Ngondo to get UNESCO Cultural Heritage status.

This was during an audience granted them by Minister Bidoung Mkpatt at the Ministry of Arts and Culture in Yaounde. 

The President of the Ngondo Traditional Assembly, His Majesty Mbappe Bwanga Philippe Milord, led the delegation. Their visit came on the sidelines of a broader institutional visit by a delegation of Sawa dignitaries to the nation's political capital.

At the heart of the discussions was the Ngondo Festival, a significant cultural event for the Sawa people, and its ongoing bid for international recognition.

It was revealed during the audience with the government official, that efforts to have the Ngondo inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity are nearing completion, with the final stages expected to be concluded between November and December this year.

Speaking on behalf of the visiting Sawa chiefs, His Majesty Mbappe Bwanga expressed the deep gratitude of the Sawa people for the support extended by the Cameroon government throughout the process.

"The recognition of Ngondo on an international scale would be a source of pride, similar to the success achieved with the Nguon Festival last year," His Majesty Mbappe said. 

He also laid emphasis on the importance of government involvement in the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage.

The audience provided an opportunity for the Sawa delegation to present the new executive bureau of Ngondo, which will lead the upcoming edition of the festival, set to take place in the coming weeks.

Among the highlights planned for this year’s festival are the traditional canoe races, the Miss Ngondo beauty pageant, and the revered Water Oracle rituals, all of which are key cultural elements of the Sawa people.

MINAC takes commitment  

Minister Bidoung Mkpatt, in his response to the delegation’s request for logistical support, including a mobile stage, car podium, and other resources, established a technical committee to address their needs.

The minister further assured the government's commitment to safeguarding and promoting Cameroon’s diverse cultural heritage.

The Ngondo Festival, officials said, serves as a powerful symbol of Sawa cultural identity and unity, and its impending recognition by UNESCO would further elevate its significance on the global stage. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3255 of Thursday October 10, 2024