African-Americans Seeking Tikar Origin in Cameroon: Notes on Multiple Dimensions of Belonging

By Francis B. Nyamnjoh

Recently I have been contacted by some African-Americans and agents of African-Americans who have traced their origin to the Tikar of Cameroon and would like to know more about this group of people. I have therefore written up these notes to assist them and interested others in their quest to capture their multiple dimensions of belonging.

If you are an African-American looking for Tikar communities in Cameroon, here are the four places to start, once you have landed at the Douala International Airport:

1. Bamenda  (Western Grassfields, North-West Province)
2. Fumban (Eastern Grassfields, Western Province)
3. Bankim (Tikar Plain, Upper Mbam, Mayo-Banyo Division, Adamawa Province)
4. Ngambe (Tikar Plain, Upper Mbam, Mbam Division, Central Province)

Tikar Migration
The Tikar have not attracted much direct scholarship as a group (David Price being one of the few exceptions – see 1979), but many studies of various other groups, of groups claiming Tikar origin, and of the Grassfields in general include accounts on the Tikar.

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Comments

[Eric Wiley]

I recently found out my maternal genetic ancestry traces back to the tikar and hausa of Cameroon. I am very much interested in learning more about the Tikar and making a trip to Cameroon

[Javed Woodley]

Peace and love family I just found out today that my maternal side are from Tikar Cameroon. I'm so excited and grateful to finally know. My family is mostly from St.kitts buts good to now know the specifics. I will visit soon.

[Martino Luis]

Greetings Dr. Nyamnjoh,

I recently taken the African Ancestry DNA test and discovered that am Tikar through my mother and Yoruba through my father. I am very happy to know to learn my family origins, especially to have an African Y chromosome being an African American. Professor, is their a book or website containing Tikar names and language to include Yoruba names as well. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely Martino

[Ariel Lavigne]

The "Tikar problem"; is indeed a problem.Most of the people who are coming with these claims have taken an African Ancestry.com test which is extremely problematic because every major DNA study on this subject have proven that mtDNA cannot be used to be designated to a tribe. The Bantus expansion and extensive wars and intermixing among Africans have proven the task impossible.Even so, the company preys off the hopeful ignorance of unsuspecting consumers who have no idea how this technology works: DNA doesn't come with tribes written on them and matching is only as good as the Dataset; and even then, some things are impossible to do: the larger the data the more multiple matches with unrelated ethnic groups.

[Leslie]

I recently learned I am Tikar people of Cameroon, via DNA testing. I am having difficulties locating places to visit for a trip I am planning. Can any of you, family point me in a good starting place?

[DeVaughn Ori Wilson]

I am a native Californian, now living in Seattle Washington. I recently got results from African Ancestry indicating my mother's line (which I knew to be largely Caribbean) can be traced further back to the Tikar people in Cameroon. Sooooo grateful for this work, it was a magnificent read!

[bastien Ngala]

Hi everyone
Am Bastien Ngala from the Tikar tribal kingdom of Cameroon. For some of you who would like to visit us,contact me at
+237675375310
glamourtien@gmail.com
FB..bastien Ngala
Know your belongings