The first edition of the Yaoundé Cultural Marathon brought together hundreds of runners, cultural performers and spectators at the Esplanade of the National Museum on Saturday, 18 July 2026, in a colourful celebration of inclusion, healthy living and Cameroon’s cultural diversity.
More than 200 registered participants competed in three race categories – a 2km children’s fun run, a 5km cultural run and a 10km race – while many others took part in an inclusive walk that underscored the event’s commitment to ensuring sport is accessible to everyone.
The marathon, conceived by Guinness World Record holder Afowiri Fondzenyuy, widely known as the “Toghu Marathoner”, was organised under the theme of promoting sports for all while showcasing Cameroon’s rich cultural heritage. Participants of all ages, including women, men and elderly runners, competed wearing traditional attire representing the country’s diverse cultural identities.
According to Afowiri, the National Museum was deliberately selected as both the starting and finishing point because of its symbolic importance as a repository of Cameroon’s history and cultural diversity.
“The choice of the National Museum as the marathon’s start and finish hub was deliberate. Its profound symbolism helps display Cameroon’s diverse ethnic identities, which we are all called upon to harness in order to strengthen the country’s cultural tourism industry,” he said.
One of the highlights of the event was an inclusive walk from the National Museum to the Municipal Lake and back. The walk brought together participants from several organisations supporting persons living with disabilities and vulnerable groups, including the Maison Bleue de Julien Autism Centre, the Centre des Jeunes Aveugles Réhabilités du Cameroun (CJARC), led by Dr Coco Bertin, the Association pour la Promotion des Albinos au Cameroun (APAC), and participants using wheelchairs.
The initiative reflects Afowiri’s longstanding commitment to linking every major marathon he participates in with a social cause. Organisers said the Yaoundé Cultural Marathon seeks not only to encourage physical fitness but also to promote autism awareness, inclusive education and equal opportunities for children and adults living with disabilities.
Beyond sport, organisers envision the marathon evolving into a week-long cultural festival capable of attracting participants from all ten regions of Cameroon, members of the diaspora and international runners. The long-term objective is to position Cameroon as a destination for sports and cultural tourism while fostering partnerships with embassies, cultural institutions and diaspora organisations.
Speaking during a post-event debriefing, the Secretary General of the Cameroon Athletics Federation, Charles Kouoh Kotte, commended the organising committee for successfully staging the inaugural edition despite limited preparation time.
“I congratulate the technical, security, medical and communication committees for making history. Unlike many other races organised by the Federation, this event promotes social cohesion through physical fitness, healthy living, cultural celebration and sport for everyone, not just professional athletes,” he said.
Afowiri also expressed gratitude to the various committees and volunteers whose efforts contributed to the success of the event.
The Yaoundé Cultural Marathon builds on Afowiri’s broader campaign to inspire patriotism and national pride through sport. In July 2025, he donated his record-breaking Toghu running gear, worn during the 2024 Tokyo Marathon where he earned a Guinness World Record, to the National Museum’s permanent collection. The donation also included his Abbott World Marathon Majors Six-Star Medal, awarded after completing the six major marathons in New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo.
Following his successful completion of a marathon on his seventh continent in February 2026 at Kilimanjaro, Afowiri says he hopes the Cultural Marathon will encourage greater diaspora engagement, investment and youth participation while demonstrating that perseverance and patriotism can inspire meaningful national development.
Winners
2km Children’s Fun Run
Boys
- 1st: Tchoula Tesso Duval – 6:36.90
- 2nd: Wirba Destiny Landji – 7:42.86
- 3rd: Effa Seraphin Nathan – 8:58.25
Girls
- 1st: Alangha Ashely Mbong – 7:55.26
- 2nd: Phyllis-Khalesi Nya – 10:55.25
- 3rd: Ngeh Dzou Lucrece – 11:09.81
Youngest Finisher
- Zahra Fondzenyuy – 18:34.47
5km Cultural Run
Men
- 1st: Zakariyahu Ibrahim – 20:14.84
- 2nd: Halidou Hamidou – 20:39.75
- 3rd: Amana Engoulou – 20:47.92
Women
- 1st: Otomo Mendouga – 23:48.75
- 2nd: Mai Marceline Ninjing – 24:18.10
- 3rd: Mongo Mbappe Princess – 25:33.59
10km Cultural Race
Men
- 1st: Tchoupteng T. Franck – 34:41.67
- 2nd: Rutto Matheu Kipletting – 35:11.95
- 3rd: Abba Sali – 35:29.85
Women
- 1st: Jepkoech Marion – 37:53.61
- 2nd: Layu Nancy Bih – 38:36.87
- 3rd: Sang Beatrice Jemutai – 39:25.92
Special awards were also presented for the Best Traditional Outfit, Best Autistic Participant and Best Inclusive Walk Participant, reinforcing the event’s emphasis on cultural pride and social inclusion.
