PAK Celebrates Indigenous Excellence at the Lobé Waterfalls
PAK Celebrates Indigenous Excellence at the Lobé Waterfalls
Honouring Heritage, Celebrating Identity, Building the Future
On 8 August 2025, at the majestic Lobé Waterfalls, the Port Authority of Kribi celebrated the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples with a vibrant ceremony blending cultural heritage, recognition, and a renewed commitment to inclusive development.
Where the Lobé River meets the ocean in a sacred breath, the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK) chose to make a meaningful gesture: honouring indigenous peoples — not out of obligation, but out of deep conviction.
On 8 August 2025, along the stunning banks of this culturally significant site, PAK marked the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples through a ceremony steeped in tradition, gratitude, and hope for the future.
Established by the United Nations in 1994 and celebrated every 9 August, this global observance pays tribute to indigenous communities, their guardianship of biodiversity, and their invaluable contribution to humanity’s cultural richness.
The 2025 theme, “Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence: Defending Rights, Shaping the Future,” calls for an alliance between ancestral wisdom and technological innovation — without erasing memories or diluting identities.
A Celebration Rooted in Tradition
In Kribi, this vision materialised through concrete, meaningful actions.
PAK organised a canoe race featuring the villages of Lobé, Mbeka’a, Eboundja, and Grand Batanga, a powerful moment where each stroke echoed the legacy of the ancestors.
The Port also offered complete school kits to deserving children from these communities — a symbolic investment in their future.
Children’s smiles, the pride of families, and songs carried by the waves all sent a clear message: every child matters, and every culture deserves to be celebrated.
A Renewed Institutional Commitment
The ceremony was chaired by Technical Adviser No. 1, Sadou Mohamadou, representing Director General Patrice Melom.
In his address, he emphasised the importance of valuing indigenous knowledge, strengthening the Port’s social responsibility initiatives, and making inclusion a pillar of port development.
Alongside local authorities, traditional leaders, and families from across the port area, this celebration reaffirmed the Port Authority of Kribi’s commitment to building strong and lasting ties with neighbouring communities.
The village of Mbeka’a, winner of the canoe race, proudly took home the trophy. But beyond the sporting victory, it was the spirit of brotherhood, respect, and unity that truly triumphed.
Through this celebration, the Port Authority of Kribi reiterates its vision:
to recognise indigenous peoples not merely as beneficiaries, but as key partners in territorial development.
At the Lobé Waterfalls, the water continues to flow — carrying with it the promise of a Port that celebrates excellence at its very source: in the heart of its people.
