The second edition of the Bia So Mengong Festival is off to a flying start, with the first day destined to become a historic moment in the life of our community.

On the exhibition side, the numbers are impressive, with over 273 exhibitors, compared with just a hundred last year. And according to all reports, latecomers are still pouring in, to the point where we fear there won’t be enough stands for everyone.
What’s more, the quality of the exhibits was quite sought-after, with a strong presence of products derived from the processing of local resources, a sign that industrialization is on the march.
Also noteworthy among the exhibitors were a number of leading companies and institutions, including the Fond National de l’Emploi (FNE).

The moment of the day, and surely the highlight of the festival, was undoubtedly the opening parade. With 100 dancers, all young people from the Mengong district, accompanied by four stilt-walkers and fire-eaters, all performing with a coordination worthy of a prima ballerina, it was enough to fill everyone with wonder, including the Secretary General of the Office of the Governor of the Southern Region, who had come to preside over the ceremony in place of the Governor of the Southern Region, who was unable to attend. The emotion on the faces of the more than 3,000 people who had made the trip to the COCAM stadium was understandable, as they applauded wildly throughout the parade.

As for the athletes, it was goldsmith time. Rocher de Yem and FC 2-0 de Mengong, decked out in their finest finery, put on a show worthy of this memorable day. At the end of a lively encounter in which beautiful gestures were the order of the day, FC 2-0 came out on top by a score of 2 goals to 1.
A day full of good times added another laurel to its crown with the gala evening, hosted by renowned artists including Koppo and OB Jazz. It was not until the early hours of the morning that most of the festival-goers, drunk with joy, happiness and good food, left the Paradis Mireille Gracia Belinga residence, the scene of the gala evening, the final act of this historic day.