According to the oral history, the Tikar originated in present-day Sudan, before migrating to present-day Cameroon during the 9th Century AD. For three centuries, the Tikar ruled present-dayCameroon and Central Africa with sophistication, but with an iron fist and heavy tax burdens on people from other ethnic groups. The advent of the transatlantic slave trade decimated the Tikar. When slavery ended, there werebetween 60,000- 75,000 Tikars inCameroon and most of them were hidingin forests from slave traders. Today, lessthan 100,000 Tikars live in Cameroon,from over 1 million at the height of theTikar civilization.The Tikar used during agriculturalfestivities, such as during harvestceremonies to celebrate bountifulharvests.