Thank you for making the 2025 Bisai Festival an unforgettable occasion
Participants described the 2025 Bisai Festival—hosted by the Mbai Bassa Community from Friday, October 3rd to Sunday, October 5th—as memorable, informative, impactful, and entertaining. Held every two years on the first weekend of October, the Bisai Festivals are signature events that celebrate African cultural heritage, connect communities, and empower change by supporting vital community projects and volunteer efforts.
The inaugural 2025 festival focused on entrepreneurship as a path for individual and community growth. Attendees immersed themselves in the rich culture of Cameroon’s Basa’a-Ngé people through a documentary premiere and a curated exhibition. They also particpated in a roundtable discussion on entrepreneurship, a successful charitable gala with live local music band, and additional activities such as a tech tour of Silicon Valley and an exploration of Darcy Kent Estate winery in Livermore.
Visitors joined from across California and several other states, including Maryland, North Carolina, Colorado, and Arizona.
Organizers reported satisfaction with the festival, highlighting the attainment of most predetermined objectives. The event contributed to increasing awareness regarding the role of entrepreneurship in fostering long-term community success, as well as the importance of active community engagement in supporting local businesses. Furthermore, the festival featured initiatives by Mbai Bassa Community partners in Cameroon, which are revitalizing traditional techniques and artworks and creating employment and business opportunities in both rural and underserved urban areas. Through the generosity of community members, essential funds were raised for priority projects, and partnerships with other local organizations were further strengthened.
Mbai Bassa Community extends a special shoutout to its partners from Cameroon—Bon Ba Mbog Centre Culturel and Bititi Bi NSa’a—for their significant contributions in educating the public about the Basa’a-Ngé culture and traditions.
Our appreciation also goes to our sponsors SOBATAM, LEMFI, and The Law Office of Florence Ndedi for their financial backing; to EFANA, our partner in co-hosting numerous events; and to all our community partners whose contributions were key to the festival’s success.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our donors, including Dr. Emmanuel Tama Mumah, Attorney Florence M. Ndedi, Bigond Bi Bassaa Bati Mpoo Corporation, Chief Fotabe II William Tandongfor, Mbog Liaa USA Inc., Bassa Mpoo Bati Inc., members of our Bisai clubs and many others individuals and organizations. Their support is instrumental in empowering us to realize potential and drive meaningful change.
Finally, heartfelt thanks go to our dedicated team of volunteers and all participants – they truly made the festival memorable, informative, impactful, and entertaining.
2025 Bisai Festival Highlights
After reading the highlights, take a moment to check out the Festival Photo Album and watch the Playlist on our YouTube Channel if you have time.
2025 Bisai Festival Charitable Gala
The Bisai charitable gala delivered on its promise of a night away of great food, good vibes, and good deeds.
Guests enjoyed a blend of popular American and Cameroonian dishes such as Ndole, Bongo, and plantain.
Samba Guisse with his band and Jean Jacques Bikoi, a leading Assiko artist in North America, provided a memorable African musical experience, spanning from Senegal to Nigeria, Cameroon, and Congo.
DJ Francis, and MCs Lira and Gisette, delivered outstanding performances, further establishing their standing among the premier on the West Coast of the United States.
The Mbai Bassa Community Kine Bisai Awards were conferred upon Chief Fotabe II William Tandongfor, Jean Pierre Hiol, and Gisele Ngo Loga, respectively in recognition of their exceptional support for local communities, significant contributions towards fundraising initiatives, and the diligent efforts and remarkable commitment demonstrated by the festival’s coordination committee.
We thank them for inspiring and empowering us to realize potential and drive meaningful change.
The focal event of the evening was the Nkono cutting ceremony, a significant custom of Basa’a of Cameroon that recognizes and celebrates the vital role women play in the preparation of this distinctive dish.
Silicon Valley Tech Tour
The festival began with a tech tour of Silicon Valley, giving attendees firsthand experience of its role as a hub for transformative technologies. The itinerary included stops at Google Visitor Experience in Mountain View, Apple Park Visitor Center in Cupertino, and a guided tour of the Intel Museum in Santa Clara, located at Intel’s headquarters. Participants learned about silicon chip design, Intel’s product evolution since 1969, and their impact on modern computing.
Roundtable - Transforming potential into power through entrepreneurship
Aligned with the festival’s theme, the roundtable discussion examined how entrepreneurship can foster individual empowerment, community development, and greater political influence.
Panelists included Jeffey Prickett, Global Director at Stanford Seed; Dr. Alain Nkoyock, author, scholar, and entrepreneur; Sanford Livingston, CEO at Nor-Cal FDC; and Eric Osiakwan, Partner at Chanzo Capital. The session was moderated by Dr. Marie-Ange Eyoum Tagne, a mission-driven product leader, and Lira Ndifon, coach and writer.
Drawing from their diverse backgrounds, panelists provided actionable recommendations and insights, emphasizing the importance of active support and engagement from the community to ensure the success of businesses established by its members. They also highlighted the need for a disciplined, practical approach and encouraged leveraging all available funding sources—including contributions from community members, grants, and loans.
The full video of the roundtable discussion will be available very soon on our YouTube Channel.
Great work