Created Date | Updated Date | Author | Type de document | Contenu | Sujets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
02/09/2025 | 12/11/2025 | CIJFADAM | Article | 10 slides | Origines de FADAM |
The Story of FADAM - A Human Epic
International Committee of the FADAM Games
The Olympic Revelation
It all began in 2008, in Beijing. At the heart of the Olympic Games, while China illuminated the world with the splendor of its cultural heritage, a revelation struck Master Dominique Saatenang: the true strength of the Games lies in their ability to honor the culture of the host country and to make it a universal language.
But one absence resonates like a silence — that of martial arts , those ancient languages of respect, balance and wisdom.
From this realization arises a foundational reflection:
What if Africa, in turn, could host major Games capable of revealing its heritage, uniting its peoples and offering the world a new path to unity?
A Journey from Cameroon to Shaolin
Thus begins an extraordinary adventure. Born in Bafou , Cameroon, Dominique Saatenang discovered kung fu at the age of eleven, inspired by Bruce Lee . This passion led him from Douala to Gabon , then to the sacred mountains of China, to the Shaolin Temple , where in 1999 he became the first African initiated , before being appointed in 2011 as the official Ambassador of this emblematic Temple.
A graduate of Beijing Sports University, World Kung-fu Champion in 2006 , Knight of the Order of Valor of Cameroon and Ambassador of the BRICS Games , Master Saatenang makes martial arts a universal instrument of peace, education and dialogue between cultures .
The Birth of FADAM
In 2017, after ten years of research, travels through 95 countries and meetings with masters from all over the world, Master Saatenang founded FADAM , initially named the African Martial Arts Festival .
From its inception, the project received support from major international figures such as Jackie Chan , Jean-Claude Van Damme , Roger Milla , etc., who immediately recognized in this initiative an ideal: that of uniting the peoples of the world around the universal values of martial arts.
A Historic First Edition
In 2018, this dream became a reality: the first edition of the FADAM Games was held in Cameroon, the birthplace of the founding President. The event was a resounding success, bringing together 38 participating nations , celebrated throughout the country with strong involvement from the Cameroonian government, which hailed this national and international achievement. The event took place in three major symbolic cities: Yaoundé , the political capital; Douala , the economic capital; and Limbe , located in the Southwest Region, which was then experiencing a socio-political conflict.
Recognition
Organizing the FADAM Games in this sensitive region was no coincidence: it was an act of peace and national unity , true to the spirit of martial arts, whose mission is to bring people together beyond divisions. Through sport, culture, and fraternity, FADAM succeeded in uniting the Cameroonian people in a shared surge of pride and hope.
This historic success earned its founder the rank of Knight of the Order of Valour from the Head of State of Cameroon , in recognition of his exceptional contribution to peace, youth and the cultural influence of the nation.
Trials and Tribulations
In 2020, Morocco was due to host the second edition, but the global COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill.
In 2022, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) took up the mantle and committed to organizing the second edition. After 18 months of preparation, 64 countries confirmed their participation . However, just one week before the official opening, the organizing committee was forced to announce the cancellation of the Games, as the Congolese authorities had failed to honor their commitments.
It was a shock—a moral and emotional ordeal that nearly destroyed the entire project. The cancellation, announced on the eve of the opening ceremony, jeopardized years of work, hope, and faith. The world was preparing to celebrate an opening that would never happen. But it is precisely in this ordeal that the philosophy of martial arts, the solidarity of the committee, and the mental strength of the movement reveal their full power. FADAM finds in adversity the strength to rise again, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes —higher, stronger, greater.
Global Transformation
Thus, FADAM, born as an African event, becomes a global movement . Under the impetus of Master Dominique Saatenang, the International Committee of the FADAM Games (CIJFADAM) is created, and the vision of the project is redefined: the African Martial Arts Festival becomes the Federation of the Future and Martial Arts , a universal space transcending borders, origins and beliefs.
Under the leadership of CIJFADAM, and with the support of CONFEJES and UNESCO , FADAM has established itself as an international movement for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, education, cultural diplomacy and dialogue between civilizations.
A Global Movement
Today, FADAM has a presence in more than 100 countries .
He builds bridges between cultures, creates FADAM National Committees and prepares the FADAM World Games , true Martial Arts Olympics, dedicated to peace, respect and global youth.
FADAM is not just a sporting event: it is a Human Epic , born from an African dream and driven by a universal vision.
An adventure where strength becomes wisdom , where discipline breeds peace , and where martial arts become the language of a world reconciled with itself.
100+
Country
Global reach across all continents
38
Countries in 2018
Participants in the first edition
64
Confirmed in 2023
Before the cancellation in the DRC
