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| - Songo Ewondo, often just called Songo, is played by the Ekang (also known as "Fang" or "Pangwe") in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the northwest corner of the D. R. of the Congo. It is one of the most popular mancala games. In Equatorial Guinea, it is also known as Akong. Songo is known for its rich orature of funny stories, which were recorded by the German anthropologist Günter Tessmann (1884 - 1969) in 1907. The game is a popular mindsport in Africa. Songo competitions are held every weekend in Douala, Cameroon.
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abstract
| - Songo Ewondo, often just called Songo, is played by the Ekang (also known as "Fang" or "Pangwe") in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the northwest corner of the D. R. of the Congo. It is one of the most popular mancala games. In Equatorial Guinea, it is also known as Akong. Songo is known for its rich orature of funny stories, which were recorded by the German anthropologist Günter Tessmann (1884 - 1969) in 1907. The game is a popular mindsport in Africa. Songo competitions are held every weekend in Douala, Cameroon. The game is promoted by the minister for culture and art and the president of the Republic of Gabon, Mr Omar Bongo Ondimba. There are plans to teach Songo at all the schools of the country. Over 200 Songo masters (called "nti") attend every year a huge tournament in Libreville. The president of the Gabonese Songo Federation called "Fégasongo" is Désiré Meba Me Fama. The Spanish Cultural Center (CCEM) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, organized in July 2012 its 8th Akong Tournament. There were also Songo tournaments in France, such as in Bourges and Caens and even an Akong tournament in Spain (Madrid) in 2016. The Songo World Championship in the village of Oyop (South Cameroon) attracts famous players from many countries. The current world champion is the Gabonese Vivi Metou. Other strong players are Endelé, Lévy Megne-Masseko, Narcisse Nguema, Davy Obiang, Ta-Ndong, Moulouma, Kamsi, Romy Nguema, Zuè Allogo, and Desiré Meba Mefame. In 2004, a virtual Songo championship was organized by Nti Serge Mbarga Owona, a nti from Cameroon who at that time lived in Lille, France. Players were from Belgium, Cameroon, France, Switzerland, and the USA. Owona has also written several books and a strong freeware program playing the game. His web site about the game (songo.org) has, however, become defunct in 2005.
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