Afowiri Kizito Fondzenyuy, aka the Toghu Marathoner, has made history. The Cameroonian endurance athlete and social advocate successfully completed the Mount Kilimanjaro Summit Marathon, becoming one of the few Africans to run a marathon on all seven continents.
The achievement, realised on Africa’s highest peak, represents the culmination of a remarkable global journey that has taken the man known as the “Toghu Marathoner” from the icy expanse of Antarctica to the streets of major world cities.
Held at an altitude of nearly 6,000 metres, the Mount Kilimanjaro Summit Marathon is widely regarded as one of the most punishing endurance events on the planet. Unlike conventional road marathons, competitors navigate rugged high-altitude terrain, steep volcanic trails, and rapidly shifting weather conditions. Fondzenyuy described it as the most difficult race of his career.
With this final ascent, Fondzenyuy has now completed 20 marathons worldwide, spanning Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa. The Kilimanjaro race marks the closing chapter of a seven-continent marathon journey that began years ago.
Throughout his international career, Fondzenyuy has distinguished himself by competing in traditional Cameroonian Toghu attire. Six continents were completed in full regalia, projecting Cameroon’s cultural identity onto global stages. At the Kilimanjaro summit, he carried Toghu to the roof of Africa in symbolic celebration of his heritage.
“Standing here, your son and brother, we have completed a marathon on every continent,” he said shortly after finishing the race. “The seventh continent was a moment to celebrate our culture at Africa’s highest point.”
The Kilimanjaro run, however, carried purpose beyond personal achievement. Fondzenyuy dedicated the marathon to autism awareness and neurodiversity advocacy through the Amom Foundation, which he founded. Fundraising efforts linked to the race reached their target within weeks, reflecting strong support from Cameroonians at home and in the diaspora.
Work has already begun in Bamenda, where teacher training sessions and parent education programmes are underway through the foundation. These initiatives aim to strengthen inclusive education systems, equipping schools and families to better support children on the autism spectrum. Organisers have indicated plans to expand to other regions of Cameroon.
Fondzenyuy’s achievement is being hailed as an example of sports diplomacy and cultural projection. By merging endurance sports with traditional attire, he has consistently elevated Cameroon’s international image from Antarctica’s frozen terrain to major marathon cities and now Africa’s highest summit.
With seven continents completed and twenty marathons officially recorded, Afowiri Fondzenyuy’s Mount Kilimanjaro triumph stands as both a personal milestone and a proud moment for Cameroon, a testament to resilience, cultural identity, and purpose-driven excellence.
