August 2, 1976 — The founding encounter
On the night of August 2, 1976, near Kango, a car broke down. Its driver, Hugues Obiang Poitevin, a young Frenchman from Gascogne newly arrived in Gabon, knocked on the only door with light. It was that of Andre Nguie Ovono, craftsman, liturgical harpist of the Ngombi, initiated great healer of Bwiti, father and grandfather of 15 children and grandchildren. This seemingly chance encounter would be the starting point of everything that followed.
1981 — First NGO: APACVI Gabon
A group of villagers and university members created APACVI Gabon (Association for the Promotion of Agriculture and Culture in Gabonese Villages). This first structure began working with cooperatives on rural development projects.
1984 — Trip Gabon Sarl, private funding
Tatayo created Trip Gabon Sarl, a private transport and services company. For nearly 17 years, its profits directly funded many micro-projects: for example, the planting of 7,500 banana trees for 7 families near Kango, or the logistics of small rural cooperatives.
1998 — Langon Festival
First major cultural event co-organized by Tatayo and Andre: recitals of the 8-string sacred Ngombi harp by Andre Nguie Ovono himself, and recitals of the mouth harmonica (male rite) by Kassy Minanga. Three audio CDs were recorded.
September 30, 1999 — The birth of Ebando
During a joint initiation, exceptionally mixing the Bwiti Dissumba and Missoko rites, a young Frenchman and a Gabonese child received the transmission together. The ceremony brought together black and white, men and women, north and south, east and west — a multicultural and spontaneous gathering.
At noon, the Elder of the village was attacked by a colony of fleas in the pygmy house "etudi". The old dog Accosta, deemed responsible, was taken to the ocean at Akanda to drown its parasites. It was there, at low tide, between the dog's paws and the man's legs, that appeared — floating on the water — a magnificent mask: the Mvudi mask.
This genie, carried by the power of a dance performed by 7 ethnic groups from the interior of the country, had traveled up the Ogooue river, then along the ocean, its long nose serving as a drift. "I washed my dog and I met God", said the witnessing poet.
From this symbolic encounter, Ebando was born ("Genesis", the rebirth) — ANCE, Association Nature Culture Ebando.
2000-2004 — Festi-Village and String Festival
Festi-Village Ebando (2000, 2001): training sessions in forest pharmacopoeia for children and teenagers (ages 10 to 27). In 2003-2004, the trainings extended to the lakes and forests around Lambarene, then to the savannas of the Gisira region (Mandji). The String Festival in 2004 brought together traditional and international musicians in Libreville.
2017 — Passing of Andre Nguie Ovono
On December 15, 2017, Andre Nguie Ovono, co-founder and honorary president of Ebando, passed away. With him disappeared part of the living memory of Gabonese Bwiti tradition.
2022 — MIVOVA Y'ATO documentary and PISCCA fund
Ebando won the PISCCA fund (Innovative Civil Society Project for Cooperation and Action) and produced the documentary MIVOVA Y'ATO (26 minutes) on violence against women in Gabon.
2024 — Université Omar Bongo Colloquium
From January 16 to 18, 2024, partnership with the psychology department of Université Omar Bongo for a colloquium on violence within the family and community.