Cameroon’s Mvet Oyeng, Guruna inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

The fresh milestone is the inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, of the traditional musical instrument, Mvet Oyeng, from the Fang-Beti cultural area and the Guruna pastoral practices from the Sudano-Sahelian cultural area.

News of the inscriptions were announced on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at UNESCO’s 20th Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is currently taking place in New Delhi, India.

Cameroon had submitted applications for the Mvet Oyeng and Guruna to be given for global recognition. The two files were accepted following a thorough examination by the UNESCO committee. 

The Mvet Oyeng nomination was a multinational file jointly submitted with Congo and Gabon, reflecting its shared importance across borders. 

Similarly, the Guruna pastoral practices of the Massa people from the Far North Region were submitted alongside Tchad.

A high-level Cameroonian delegation, led by the Inspector General at the Ministry of Arts and Culture, MINAC, Mrs Ngeh Rekia epse Mbeume, is present at the assembly. 

She is accompanied by the Director of Cultural Heritage, other collaborators and representatives from the beneficiary communities.

Addressing the assembly in India, Mrs Ngeh Rekia expressed Cameroon’s profound gratitude to UNESCO and all who worked towards the successful inscription. 

She reiterated that the international recognition reflects Cameroon’s steadfast commitment to preserving and promoting its living traditions, a priority strongly advocated by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.

“Cameroon’s cultural diversity is essential for peace and dialogue. These inscriptions reaffirm our nation’s dedication to safeguarding the Mvet Oyeng traditional instrument and Guruna pastoral practices. We are committed to transmitting this precious knowledge to future generations,” Ngeh stated.

The Sub-Director of Intangible Cultural Heritage at MINAC, Dr Serge Nounkeu, hailed the achievement, describing it as a “moment of great satisfaction”. 

“A job well done. The ministry provided a conducive environment for collaborative work with the various communities. Today, we see the results” Dr Nounkeu said. 

He said the inscriptions are an opportunity to share Cameroon’s cultural values on a global stage. 

“UNESCO’s seal is a mark of prestige. Recognition on this list guarantees international exposure and will contribute to the socio-economic development of the concerned communities,” Dr Nounkeu explained. 

The MINAC official sounded upbeat that the future is very bright for Cameroon regarding UNESCO recognition. 

“We have recently secured inscriptions for five cultural elements and the file for ‘Achu’ from Bafut is well-advanced. Our objective is to have heritage from all four cultural areas of Cameroon recognized, which will greatly bolster our socio-economic development,” Dr Nounkeu added.

About Mvet Oyeng & Guruna

The Mvet Oyeng is a traditional stringed musical instrument from the Fang-Beti cultural area, functioning as a harp-lute. 

A calabash resonator amplifies its sound. More than an instrument, the Mvet is a cornerstone of the oral traditions of the Ekang - Bulu people. 

It is not merely for producing music but is believed to convey spiritual messages through its rhythms. Initiated musicians and storytellers, known as Mvet players, who undergo over 21 years of training, use it to narrate epics, poems and histories, often acting as intermediaries for ancestral voices. The Mvet Oyeng is also found in Gabon and the Republic of Congo.

Guruna refers to a set of socio-cultural and pastoral practices cantered on livestock, practiced by the Massa people of Cameroon’s Far North Region. 

It is a formative rite of passage where young Massa boys live closely with cattles for an extended period, learning essential pastoral skills, responsibility and community values to be recognized as men. 

Concurrently, young girls participate by preparing food and ceremonial decorations. This practice, which embodies a holistic education system, is also shared by the Massa community in Chad.

By Albert Njebusi

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3652 of Thursday December 11, 2025