The Mvet is an epic cycle of heroic tales encompassing music, storytelling, and dramatic performance. Shows are performed by a master storyteller known as the mbom-mvet, who simultaneously sings, recites, dances, and plays a stringed instrument called the mvet, a chordophone with calabash resonators, whose sounds accompany the intricate narratives.

The Mvet performance is a communal event, often taking place at night, where the audience actively participates by responding to the performer and marking the rhythm with claps or other objects.

The stories recount the mythical exploits of the Ekang, the immortal inhabitants of a primordial world, and their battles against the mortal world. These narratives explore profound themes of life, death, and immortality, providing a moral and philosophical framework for the community.

The Mvet serves as a repository of historical knowledge, detailing the migrations and interactions of the Fang, Beti, and Bulu peoples of Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, and Equatorial Guinea. It is a source of wisdom that teaches the young about their identity, their history, and the values of their ancestors.