Every new federation, every club, every student in a new country… it all starts with a single spark. Sometimes, that spark comes from a place you least expect. My name is Magnsor Fall, expert engineer, 4th Đẳng, and General Secretary of the African Vovinam Federation, as well as a Deputy Secretary General of the WVVF. This is the story of one of those sparks.
Mr. Magnsor Fall
It was January 2023. I was planning my annual work trips for my job at an international philanthropic NGO. As a passionate Vovinam practitioner, I always look for ways to serve our art. I called my friend and mentor, Mr. Djouadji, the President of the African Federation, and asked a simple question: “Can my travels be useful to our Vovinam family?”
His answer ignited a new chapter. He gave me the contacts of two enthusiasts in Nigeria who had reached out to him online, eager to learn Vovinam.
Soon after, I landed in Nigeria, a massive country of over 200 million people, spread across 36 states. A land with no Vovinam… yet.
I called one of the contacts, a man named Mr. Adelusi. He was already a Kung Fu practitioner, and his voice buzzed with passion. He had already gathered a group, ready and waiting. The connection was instant. We agreed to meet at my hotel for the first-ever Vovinam lesson in Nigerian history.
I spoke with the management at the Eko Hotel, and they generously offered us a preferential rate to use their garden. That evening, at 8 PM, under the Nigerian sky, a group of about ten determined faces appeared.
The historic moment had arrived. For two hours, we didn’t just practice—we connected. We started directly with self-defense techniques and our iconic leg-locks, the Chân Lược. I could see their background in Karate and Kung Fu in their movements, their kinesthetic intelligence. It wasn’t just an initiation; it was an exciting exchange of martial spirit.
After the session, sweating and smiling, we shared a wonderful dinner at the hotel. It was more than just a meal—it was our first council meeting. We talked about their dreams, about how to give them the tools to build Vovinam from the ground up. In that moment, the magic happened. The seed was planted.
That small group, born from a simple email and a late-night training session, grew. And in 2025, they proudly represented their country at their very first African Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.
Iragena (Rwandan)
The story repeated itself in Rwanda. Through another work trip, I connected with Iragena, a young and dedicated Karate black belt. Just like in Nigeria, he gathered a dozen new practitioners, hungry to learn. For over two years, he has followed his training program, blending the ten or so in-person sessions we’ve had with countless hours of online classes. He has nearly completed the entire black belt curriculum.
And at that same African Championship, Iragena stood on the podium, a bronze medal around his neck—a symbol of his incredible dedication.
To have held those first classes in Nigeria and Rwanda, to see those seeds grow into strong trees… it has been one of the most intense and gratifying moments of my life. It’s my small stone, my small contribution, to help build the great edifice of our global Vovinam family.
Magnsor Fall
General Secretary of the African Vovinam Federation
Deputy Secretary General of the WVVF