Ngondo Festival

Ngondo festival is a famous, traditionally water-centered festival every year celebrated by the Sawa people (coastal peoples) in Douala, Cameroon. The highlight of the festival is the jengu ritual. The ceremony is held at a beach on Wouri Bay, during which a devotee goes into the water to visit the underwater kingdom of miengu (plural for jengu). The miengu are said to be similar to mermaids and will bring good luck to those who worship them. Traditionally, the devotee could stay underwater for hours and emerge fully clothed. Children are not allowed to attend the ceremony. Ngondo was banned by the Cameroonian government in 1981 but reinstated in 1991. The ceremony is held in the first two weeks of December every year.

The famous Ngondo festival is a celebration of one of Cameroon's many ethnic groups. Held in the city of Douala, the main objective of the festival is to showcase the art and culture of the Sawa people, who mainly inhabit the coastal areas of the region. The event takes place on the banks of the Wouri River and it's a great time to see the streets filled with dances, songs, and friendly competitions like canoe racing. The lucky travelers who can come here during this time are sure to have a good experience.

• Organization time: first two weeks of December every year
• Location: Douala, Cameroon