The Talino Manu cultural space, located in one of the hottest, trendiest, most effervescent and bubbling districts of the Chadian capital, hosted from May 30 to June 4, 2023, the second edition of the Drinks Festival locales (FOOTBALL).
For a week, in the Moursal district, in the heart of N’djamena, we were able to savor all the varieties of drinks made from local products and taste Chadian dishes. The Local Drinks Festival was created to promote and promote traditional and local drinks which face strong competition from imported products.
How FESBOL was born
After the first edition, here is the second edition of the Local Drinks Festival, so awaited by the public of N’Djamena and its surroundings. The idea and the initiative are carried by two reckless young women, Beitoum Koussidi Christelle and Nerolel Mbounade Firmine, young entrepreneurs, who work in agribusiness (the natural transformation of local products into juices or drinks). The first is the owner of the micro-enterprise Hopy Juice and the second runs a start-up called Nerolel Juice.
These two friends have decided to merge their matured ideas by taking the bull by the horns. They managed to attract some local financial shareholders after them. The funds collected enabled them to realize their initiatives: FESBOL. This second edition welcomes about fifty agri-food start-ups which compete for the plots of the Talino Manu worship space at a price oscillating between 50,000 Fcfa and 75,000 Fcfa.
Why FESBOL
« Many people automatically associate alcohol with the word drink. However, the water, tea, coffee, milk or yogurt that we consume daily are also beverages. “, eexplains Christelle, co-founder of the festival. ” FESBOL’s main objective is to promote, enhance and make visible our natural drinks concocted with tamarind, lemon, tiger nut, ginger, watermelon, jujube, sorrel, mango, etc. In short, we use local seasonal fruits. This second edition is animated under the theme: “LET’S REVITALIZE OUR ACTIVITIES AROUND LOCAL DRINKS” “, she continues.
Ambiance festive
As soon as you enter the Talino enclosure, the welcome is super warm and the atmosphere electric! From left to right of the large gate, the stands are crowded with stalls in front of which rub, jostle and congratulate the guests or customers with radiant faces. The prices of these “made in Chad” foodstuffs vary between 500 FCFA and 5,000 FCFA. Sitting in the middle of the yard, with a cup of baobab juice that I sip with joy, I observe a very captivating contest.
The candidates, blindfolded, their mouths armed with a rod, must first introduce the plastic tube into a bottle of drink previously decapsulated placed in front of them. Then, by means of the conduit, they must suck up the content (juice or alcoholic drink) and give the public the name of the drink they are sipping. It’s a hilarious moment because a lot of competitors can’t fit the tube into their bottle. Many of those who have managed to do so fail to give the exact name of the traditional drink tasted. The public is enjaille, ignites and the atmosphere becomes more and more electric! In ecstasy and euphoria, a guest exclaims: ” Wow, I really feel Chadian and at home consuming Chad fruit juices. On top of that, the animation (the music) is 100% Chadian! ».
Heading for the next FESBOL
At the end of the festival, Christelle and Nerolel warmly thank all those who encouraged and supported them materially and financially. However, they do not hide the financial, energy (electricity) and material (packaging, bottles, labels, etc.) difficulties that Chadian start-ups generally face. Through Mondoblog, they launch a vibrant appeal, a strident SOS to the Chadian authorities, national and international NGOs, companies, people of good will, etc. to come to their aid. They are driven by the desire to popularize the traditional drinks of the country of Toumaï and firmly believe that the next edition, regardless of the location, will be more exciting, enticing, spicy and eventful. The appointment is made, inch’Allah, at FESBOL 2024.