The Bedzan people (singular Medzan), also known as the Tikar, are a pygmy (or perhaps pygmoid) people of Cameroon. The Bedzan community is primarily located in the village of Yoko, on the Tikar Plain, in the Mbam-et-Kim department of the Centre Region, and its population is estimated to be between 250[1] and 1,200.[2] They live at the interface of the forest and the savannah, and their language is a dialect of Tikar, which is related to the Bantu languages. The Bedzan Pygmies also refer to themselves Tikar, a name inspired by the Tikar people of Bamenda Grassfields.[3] The Bedzan may have been subjects of the Tikar fondom at one point in the past, which could explain why they speak a dialect of Tikar.
Although not particularly short in stature—at least any longer—the Bedzan are considered pygmies because of their historical ties to the forest and cultural features, such as their music.[4]
^Hewlett & Fancher (2011) "Central African Hunter-Gatherer Research Traditions". In Cummings, Jordan, & Zvelebil, eds, Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology and Anthropology of Hunter-Gatherers.
^Barbier, J.-C. (1978) Les pygmées de la plaine Tikar au Cameroun. Yaoundé.
The Bedzanpeople (singular Medzan), also known as the Tikar, are a pygmy (or perhaps pygmoid) people of Cameroon. The Bedzan community is primarily located...
peoples speak languages from these three language families, and only three peoples, the Aka, Baka, and Asua, have their own language. Medzan (Bedzan)...
semi-Bantu language that is spoken in Cameroon by the Tikar people, as well as by the Bedzan Pygmies, who speak their own dialect of the language. A recent...
populations in which L1c is particularly prevalent include the Bedzan (Tikar) people (100%), Baka people from Gabon (97%) and Cameroon (90%), the Bakoya (97%)...
in Aka (Ba-Benzélé), and 77% in Biaka, 100% of the Bedzan (Tikar), 97% and 100% in the Baka people of Gabon and Cameroon, respectively, 97% in Bakoya...
in Aka (Ba-Benzélé), and 77% in Biaka, 100% of the Bedzan (Tikar), 97% and 100% in the Baka people of Gabon and Cameroon, respectively, 97% in Bakoya...
in Aka (Ba-Benzélé), and 77% in Biaka, 100% of the Bedzan (Tikar), 97% and 100% in the Baka people of Gabon and Cameroon, respectively, 97% in Bakoya...
among modern Central African hunter-gatherers (e.g., Baka, Bakola, Biaka, Bedzan). The autosomal admixture of the four ancient Shum Laka forager children...
to modern Central African hunter-gatherers (e.g., Baka, Bakola, Biaka, Bedzan). In 4000 BP (or even earlier during the Mesolithic), there may have been...
in Aka (Ba-Benzélé), and 77% in Biaka, 100% of the Bedzan (Tikar), 97% and 100% in the Baka people of Gabon and Cameroon, respectively, 97% in Bakoya...
to modern Central African hunter-gatherers (e.g., Baka, Bakola, Biaka, Bedzan). After the Bubaline Period, Kel Essuf Period, and Round Head Period of...
Global Information