Erykah Badu Discovers Her African Ancestry

The Roots Of...Erykah Badu discovers her African Ancestry for Okayafrica TV.

Videographers:
Lance Steagall, Jake Remington, and Kevin Ornelas
Editor: Jake Remington

All music: Sam Champion

Okayafrica

Okayplayer

[uniquejohnson]

This woman was "woke" before it was a thing.

[bobanesz]

I love Erykah & I love when we African Americans trace our roots such a beautiful thing.

[Nedecha]

This really resonated with me. I am Jamaican-born, I am African. I am Cameroonian, that is what I live today. My husband is Cameroonian, and I have had the privilege to not only go but to also tour Cameroon. I love my countries and I love Africa.

[denisemiller]

She’s flowing because she knows who she is. We all need to be on that level.

[louisianacookingwithkay]

She's always been extremely intelligent, cerebral, enlightened, woke, unique, dope as hell, eclectic, and she's so much more than that. I remember being 13 when I first heard her music, and she's had me ever since!
🧘🏾‍♀️💙🧘🏾‍♀️🤞🏾✊🏾

[aharper]

Its amazing because Erykah and Simon look like relatives!!!! the nose, eyes, and mouth

[theoutlandishblueprint]

She really favored that older man, the face shape cheek bones and everything

[stanleyamamu]

look how she looks so beautiful in her African Cultural wear-come on, come back home, where a group of people are ready to treat you with world best hospitality ever.

[TyranaTV]

OMG I'm from the Bamileke tribe myself 🙊. I can't believe she is from my tribe. Now I understand why I've connected with her as soon as I felt her energy

[amarecarter]

Dang! I’m from Dallas and my roots trace back to Cameroon 🇨🇲 too! 😂

[missfaithbutterfly]

Wow she looks just like that old man from Cameroon! She could easily be his daughter! That test must be very accurate

[slaymarie_rdh_B]

This video brought tears to my eyes, I'm happy she's found her roots and hope one day that I can find mine too.

[danyellwar]

Erykah Badu has a very pretty face. Looks so familiar like so many other black beautiful women.

[rawsko]

It's so badass to see African culture resemble native American tribes as well. The dance, the togetherness as a ppl for our children. Absolutely no separation between children and all the tribes mothers. I'm mostly of German decent but both sides of my family have Cherokee and Choctaw lineage as well. Lots of different settlers around the foothills of the Ozarks. I love seeing ppl find out more about their families. Badu, you da Tru!

[leereynolds]

I love Erykah, and this is the coolest video ever. Seeing her discover more about herself was a treat!

[elianeg]

I'm 100% from the bamileke tribe of Cameroon, and I just got chills because I always thought you looked like my mom when she was younger... Very interesting!

[Chelle]

I've always loved her energy, her music and her language.

[vayoha]

I did my DNA test and learned I'm Senegalese, Nigerian, and 10% European. I think as an African-american and Caribbean woman, i had this feeling that i would be rejected by ppl from African bc some AA said they were rebuff by them. AA have generational PTSD from slavery. It's a real thing! We're the only ppl that was totally stripped of our culture and had to build a new one. We really shouldn't be chastised about that, we're a resilient ppl.

[cooksous]

Listen. I saw Erykah in June and the crew was late for the show. The local news was there, prior to showtime, and asked me to "express" my feelings in front of a camera. I politely said, "She could show up at midnight and I'd be here... cheesin' & waitin' patiently." So... you get a tardy pass from me, E! Anyday. +love

[MarcusVisionaryUPA]

She's got the same eyes (other than hers being green of course) as her tribesman ancestor talking about her people's history (the older one)