The historic event scheduled for the National Museum in Yaounde will take place under the distinguished patronage of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mpwatt. It is expected to bring together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, international guests and other dignitaries.
Famed Cameroonian long-distance runner, Afowiri Kizito Fondzenyuy, popularly known as the Toghu Marathoner, will officially donate his Guinness World Records-winning attire and certificate to the National Museum on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The high-profile event will be held under the distinguished patronage of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mpwatt. It is expected to bring together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, international guests and others.
Fondzenyuy who has captured global attention for completing marathons across six continents dressed in Toghu, traditional regalia from the North West Region in Cameroon, earned a Guinness World Record at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon for the fastest marathon ran in traditional attire. He later became the first Cameroonian to complete the grueling Antarctica Marathon in March 2025. “This isn’t just about running,” Fondzenyuy said. “It’s about purpose. Every stride I take is for children who deserve a chance, especially those with autism, who are so often left behind.” Through his nonprofit, the Amom Foundation, Fondzenyuy has supported over 20,000 beneficiaries nationwide through school construction, scholarship programs, girls’ education initiatives, and autism awareness campaigns.
He is now championing the construction of a dedicated school for children with special needs in Cameroon. “Too many children are left out not because they lack potential, but because they lack access,” he said, appealing for national and international support. “We’re building a space where every child can grow, learn, and be seen,” he added. Fondzenyuy’s marathon journey began in 2011 in the United States at the Thunder Road Marathon in Charlotte, where he ran to support underprivileged children.
Since then, he has completed 19 international marathons, including all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, and was honored in 2023 with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award by U.S. President Joe Biden. The donation of the Toghu attire, which has come to symbolize resilience and cultural pride, is seen as a powerful gesture of legacy-building. “We want this story to inspire Cameroonians at home and abroad,” said Chinedu Hardy Nwadike, Brand Manager for the initiative. “This is about civic responsibility, cultural identity, and nation-building.” As the National Museum prepares to receive this historic piece, the Toghu Marathoner’s call remains clear: “Your support will lay the bricks, open the doors, and light up futures.”
