In Fang, one of Gabon’s lingua francas, Ekena means travel. It points to the startup’s mission of simplifying travel procedures within Gabon for locals and foreign tourists.

Ekena is a Gabonese web application launched in 2022 to simplify domestic travel by offering online ticket purchases for boat, train, and road transportation, according to its founders, Teddy Mba Edou and Vilia Mbinda Moussadji.

The Libreville-based startup aims to alleviate the challenges faced by working professionals who previously had to interrupt their schedules to buy tickets in person. "This application was created because we made an observation: in Gabon, it is very difficult for professionals and active individuals to constantly put their activities on hold to physically go to an agency to buy a transport ticket," Teddy Mba Edou told We Are Tech Africa.

Ekena’s user-friendly platform allows travelers to input their desired travel details into a search form, select their preferred travel option, provide necessary information, and complete payment via PayPal, mobile money, or bank transfer. The service also provides detailed information on the products and services offered by various partner transportation companies.

Upon successful transaction, users receive an email with a download link for their tickets, which can be printed or stored on a mobile device. Notably, Ekena does not require prior user registration.

The platform currently allows the purchase of up to five tickets per transaction, which may present a limitation for larger groups. However, with ongoing enhancements and adaptations to user feedback, Ekena is poised to become a significant player in Gabon’s mobility sector.

By Adoni Conrad Quenum,

Editing by Feriol Bewa