Tikar Descendent: My First Encounter in the Rainforest with my Ancestral Tribe

From June 25-July 7, 2010 I, Anita Woodley, left Chapel Hill, North Carolina for N'Ditam - Cameroon Africa to meet my maternal ancestral tribe known as the Tikar people of N'Ditam in the Central Rainforest. I am the first African-American of Tikar descendant since enslavement to return to the bush. I was named Princess Bekang meaning “to go and to come back” by Chief N'gandji Seidou of Nditam. In June 2013, I’ll return to the village with our 10-year old son, X-man!

Gift Giving

Realizing the need is greater than my bag can fulfill.

Pardon some of the sideways videos and sudden movements.

Those who were kind enough to assist me in capture moments on the trip did not understand how to use the video camera.

Nonetheless, I all the videos that sideways and right side up. Enjoy!

Giving treats to Children

Giving Gifts of Earrings to the Pygmy Women

**Please note that the people refer to themselves by this name as does everyone in the country. Before traveling to Cameroon I heard from some Americans that this Pygmy is a derogatory term. However, when I asked in Cameroon they did not have the share the sentiments.