Afowiri Fondzenyuy
Afowiri Fondzenyuy | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Afowiri In 2025 | |
| Born | Afowiri Kizito Fondzenyuy 26 December 1972 Bamenda, Cameroon |
| Other names | Toghu Marathoner |
| Education | University of St. Thomas in Houston Harvard Kennedy School Tulane University |
| Occupation | Marathon runner Philanthropist |
| Known for | Guinness World Records holder for fastest Toghu marathoner |
| Spouse |
Alice N. Fondzenyuy (m. 1996) |
| Parents |
|
| Awards | Abbott World Marathon Majors |
| Website | toghumarathoner |
Afowiri Kizito Fondzenyuy (born 26 December 1972) mononymously known as Toghu Marathoner is a Cameroonian Philanthropist, social entrepreneur, charity fundraiser, and long-distance marathon enthusiast, who runs marathons in Toghu attire to raise funds for various charitable causes.[1][2] He holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run in traditional Toghu attire.[3][4] and is an Abbott Major Marathon Six Star finisher.[5]
Fondzenyuy is the founder of the Amom Foundation, a non-governmental organization, and also established African BBQ Sauce (ABS), a food brand based in the United States.
Early life and education
[edit]Afowiri Fondzenyuy was born on December 26, 1972, in Bamenda, northwest Cameroon.[6] To Mr. John L. Fondzenyuy and Mrs. Mariana Fondzenyuy. He attended several primary schools in Cameroon, including those in Bafoussam and Yaoundé. In 1990, he completed secondary school at Sacred Heart College in Mankon, and subsequently attended high school at GHS Mbengwi in Cameroon. Afowiri earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Dschang in Cameroon, and a Master's degree in Business Administration and International Studies from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas,[7] USA, in 2006.[8]
He completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Kennedy School in 2014. He also holds a Master’s degree in Finance, with a specialization in financial engineering, from Tulane University, earned in 2009.[9][10]
Career and Guinness World Record
[edit]Fondzenyuy started his long-distance running career at 40, initially competing in triathlons that combined swimming, cycling, and running. As swimming grew more difficult, he shifted his focus entirely to marathon running.[11]
He began participating in marathon running, in 2011 when he participated in the Thunder Road Marathon in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States to raise funds for underprivileged children.[12][13] He also took part in the Houston Marathon in 2017, Boston and Sydney Marathon in 2023.[14][15][16][17] In 2024, Fondzenyuy set a Guinness World Record for marathon running, becoming the first man to hold the record for the fastest marathon run completed while wearing a Toghu attire.[18] Fondzenyuy completed the marathon in 4 hours and 24 minutes.[5][19] In September 2024, Fondzenyuy took part in the Medellín Marathon in Colombia, to raise funds for underprivileged children.[20]
Fondzenyuy received support from high-profile Cameroonians, including Henri Dikongué, Mr. Leo, and Christopher John Lamora, who cheered him after the Tokyo 2024 Marathon.[19][21]
On March 25, 2025, Fondzenyuy participated in the Antarctica Marathon,[22][23][24] completing the race in an official time of 6 hours and 52 minutes. This marked his 19th international marathon and his sixth continent completed in his pursuit of running marathons around the world.[25]
Honors
[edit]In 2023, Fondzenyuy was honored with the Presidential volunteer Service Award, also known as the President's Lifetime Achievement Award, for his volunteer work dedicated to public service.[26][27]
Charitable activity and fundraising
[edit]
Fondzenyuy is also known for his involvement in various charitable activities.[28] In 2006, he established the Amom Foundation, a non-governmental organization aimed at supporting underprivileged communities through education, health, and infrastructure development.[29] Through the foundation, he has contributed to various causes, including autism awareness, school construction, and providing educational materials to children in rural areas.[30][31][32]
Notable initiatives by Fondzenyuy includes school construction in communities like Fingon and Binshua in Cameroon’s North West Region’s Donga-Mantung Division. He has also supplied didactic materials, readers, and arithmetic tools to schools in Bui and Donga-Mantung Divisions. Before the regional socio-political crisis, reaching over 20,000 children with these efforts.[11]
In 2024, he ran the Tokyo Marathon, part of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) series,.[33][34] to raise funds for infrastructure in Cameroon, with proceeds funding bridge construction in rural areas like Ngondzen in Bui Division to improve school access[35][1][36] Following his 2025 Antarctica Marathon, he directed proceeds toward education projects in Cameroonian communities.[37][38] That same year, he donated the Toghu attire from the Tokyo Marathon and his Guinness World Records certificate for running in traditional dress to the National Museum of Cameroon in Yaoundé.[39][40][41]
Fondzenyuy has also been an advocate for children with autism. He has supported awareness programs and announced plans to establish a dedicated autism centre in Yaoundé as a pilot phase of a national project estimated at 50 million FCFA and funded through personal resources. In his interview with Cameroon Tribune in 2025, Fondzenyuy said: "The autism centre will be an environment where when kids come in, they will like to come to school every day." [11]
Personal life
[edit]Fondzenyuy married Alice N. Fondzenyuy in 1996, and has three daughters. He resides between Cameroon and the United States and frequently travels to participate in international marathons and speaking engagements. He is also the founder of African BBQ Sauce (ABS), a U.S.-based food brand.[13]
Marathons
[edit]| World Marathon Majors | 2011 | 2013 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4:24:02 | – |
| Boston Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5:18:32 | – | – |
| Antarctica Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6:52:47 |
| Houston Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | x | – | – | – | – |
| Medellín Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | x | – | – | – | – |
| Thunder Road Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | x | – | – | – | – |
| New York City Marathon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sydney Marathon | Not part of WMM | Not part of WMM | Not part of WMM | Not part of WMM | Not part of WMM | Not part of WMM | – | – | 5:49:2 | – | – |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Rita, Okoye (11 February 2024). "Afowiri Fondzenyuy: Using Tokyo Marathon to build bridges in Cameroon". The Vanguardngr.
- ^ Deng, Eric. "US-based Cameroonian bags Guinness World Record fastest Toghu marathoner recognition". theguardianpostcameroon. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ Guinness, world records. "Fastest marathon wearing a toghu (male)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Cameroun, Vitrine du (5 April 2024). "Le Toghu entre dans le livre des records Guinness". Vitrine du Cameroun (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ a b Kimeng, Hilton. "Major International Marathon : Afowiri Fondzenyuy Slashes Own Record By Over An Hour". Cameroon Tribune. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Le Toghu entre dans le livre des records Guinness". Lebledparle (in French). 4 April 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "UST Today — Fall 2013 by University of St. Thomas — Issuu". issuu.com. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Afowiri Kizito Fondzenyuy". Amom Foundation. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Tulane University class 2009" (PDF).
- ^ Anthony, Oliwe (29 January 2025). "Afowiri Fondzenyuy, leading philanthropist and marathon runner". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ a b c ""We Will Construct A Modern Autism Centre In Yaounde"". www.cameroon-tribune.cm. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ JANES, THÉODEN. "Know someone from the Charlotte area who ran the Boston Marathon? Here's how they did". www.charlotteobserver.com.
- ^ a b "15 facts about Afowiri Fondzenyuy, the philanthropist who runs marathons to support underprivileged children". Tribune Online. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ Jerome, Neba (2 October 2023), Afowiri Fondzenyuy Completes Sydney Marathon In Style, The Herald Tribune, retrieved 16 June 2024
- ^ "Scenes from Heartbreak Hill during the 2023 Boston Marathon". Boston.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ TLUMACKI, JOHN. "Here are 25 photos from a soggy, chilly, yet strangely enjoyable Boston Marathon — The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Sydney Marathon Certificate (PDF)". multisportaustralia.com.
- ^ Elizabeth, MOSIMA. "International Marathon : Afowiri Fondzenyuy Enters Guinness World Records". Cameroon Tribune. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ a b Idoh, usan (30 March 2024). "GWR: 52-year-old Cameroonian makes history as world's fastest marathon wearing a toghu". vanguardngr.com/.
- ^ "Toghu Marathoner Afowiri Fondzenyuy Conquers Medellin Marathon, Eyes Antarctica For 2025 – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". 20 September 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "Tokyo: 52-year-old Cameroonian makes history as world's fastest marathon wearing a toghu – Cameroon Intelligence Report". 4 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Eugene Ndi, Ndi (2 May 2025). "Cameroon's Toghu marathoner to promote education with proceeds from strenuous Antarctica race". NewsWatch Cameroon. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ "Penguins, storms, and high waves: What's it like to run a marathon in Antarctica". Travel. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ Mbida, Jean-Claude (28 April 2025). "Marathon Antarctique : Le camerounais Fondzenyuy court 42 km en Toghu". 237online.com (in French). Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "Antarctica Marathon : Afowiri Completes Grueling Race To Champion Special Needs". www.cameroon-tribune.cm. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ Abisola, Shojobi (22 August 2023). "Cameroon Marathon Runner Receives Lifetime Humanitarian Award". Independent Nigeria. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ Cajetan, Berinyuy; Publisher (3 September 2023). "A Toghu Marathoner, Kizito Fondzenyuy gets a lifetime humanitarian award from the US President and People Empowering People (PEP) Africa. | Human Rights and Legal Research Centre". Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Toghu Marathoner: Afowiri Fondzenyuy's Journey of Resilience, Cultural Pride, Global Impact". Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "About-us". Amom Foundation. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Nkemngu, Aminateh (16 May 2011), Eden ( Newspaper) Organisation Strategises To Stamp Out Illiteracy From Cameroon, Eden, retrieved 21 June 2024
- ^ NDUEH, Eratus (5 May 2025). "Afowiri Fondzenyuy: racing for change". The National Post - Cameroon. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ Kimeng, Hilton. "Afowiri Kizito Fondzenyuy: The Marathoner For Community Development". Cameroon Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Le Toghu entre dans le livre des records Guinness". Lebledparle (in French). 4 April 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Cameroon Fundraiser Successfully Runs the Tokyo Marathon in Local Attire, Sets Guinness World Record". cameroun24.net. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Mustapha, Nii Okai; Inusah. "52-Year-Old Cameroonian Man Sets Guinness World Record in Tokyo Marathon to Raise Funds for Underprivileged Children". ModernGhana.
- ^ Okai Inusah, Mustapha Nii. "Cameroon Afowiri Fondzenyuy embarks on projects to give back to communities in Cameroon". ModernGhana.
- ^ "First and Fastest: Toghu marathoner to make history in Antarctica". Cameroon News Agency. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ "Cameroon's Toghu marathoner to promote education with proceeds from strenuous Antarctica race". NewsWatch Cameroon. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ "National Museum : World Record Toghu Now Part Of National Heritage". www.cameroon-tribune.cm. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Newsupfront.com (24 July 2025). "Champion of culture: Fondzenyuy's historic 'Toghu' attire, now at National Museum". News Upfront. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ Admin (21 July 2025). "Toghu Marathoner To Donate Guinness World Records-Winning Attire, Certificate To National Museum". Atlantic Chronicles. Retrieved 24 July 2025.