A Journey Full of Encounters and Discoveries
14 people, 14 days, 1400km through the tropical rain forest, the savannah and to the atlantic coast – the Ubuntu journey 2025 brought together nine participants from Austria and five from Cameroon. The theme: “In Search of Ancient Knowledge – Where Nature and Culture Meet in Africa.” Our goal: to learn from traditional agricultural practices that have been ecologically sustainable for generations – yet are at risk of disappearing in the modern world.
At City of Ubuntu we believe in a society built on solidarity and justice, where diversity is recognised as a strength. We create a platform for intercultural encounters, shared learning, and collaboration – bridging geographical and cultural world views. Our projects connect thinking globally with acting locally, guided by respect, human dignity, solidarity, and sustainability.
Agriculture with Heart and Vision
Our journey started in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon. Here the travel companions came together and had the first impressions of this country known as “Africa in miniature” from the hilltop of Mount Fébé.
Our first stop was the Institut Agricole d’Obala (IAO) – a remarkable agricultural school and university built under the visionary leadership of Mr. Louis Ndjie. It’s a living example of how education, dedication, and vision can shape the future of an entire region. This stop at Obala gave an idea of what we are building on our 27 hectares land in Sanki: The City of Ubuntu!
Coming the following day to our agricultural site of City of Ubuntu in Sanki; we witnessed great progress: fertile and very green maize fields, banana plants, young cacao trees, and thriving livestock – pigs, goats, rabbits, and free-roaming chickens.
City of Ubuntu is a place where dreams come true.
The dream of planting a tree came true for each of the participants of this journey: mango, avocado or guava, etc. Each one of us left their name and a growing tree, as sign of our connection to this project.
It was inspiring to see the progress of City of Ubuntu, but we also faced the realities: a difficult access road, challenging working conditions, and irrigation done entirely by hand. A water tower is now our top priority – it would transform the daily work and increase efficiency immensely.
Cultural Heritage Up Close
Our route took us to the traditional chiefdoms of Batoufam, Bandjoun, and Bamendjou, where we were honoured with a reception by Fo’o (King) Soukoudjou. He is one of the many traditional chiefs in Cameroon and is on the throne since 1953. He is a very impressive contemporary witness of colonial times and a determined fighter for the preservation of his culture.
In Foumban, we explored the fascinating Museum of the Bamoun people, which is shaped in the coat of arms of Foumban: a double-headed snake and a spider. And we even saw the Sultan himself with his rider entourage!
One of the most spiritual moments was our visit to the Metché Waterfalls, a sacred site used for prayer and offerings.
Challenges That Bring Us Closer
Of course, not everything was easy: navigating local bureaucracy and travelling roads that often felt like obstacle courses – including one memorable 17-hour bus journey in a single day – tested our endurance. But these moments made the successes and shared memories even more meaningful.
Exchange, Music, and Laughter
Together with our partner organisation GADD, we also enjoyed an intercultural evening filled with music, dance, and meaningful conversations – from Austrian yodelling to discussing social topics like polygamy. Visiting GADD’s experimental fields and exchanging ideas about sustainable agriculture was a powerful reminder of our aim: collaboration on equal footing.
Of course, a lot of the Ubuntu magic happens between the program items: sitting in the bus together, cooking and sharing meals and simply being on this journey together every step of the way brings so many precious moments.
Nature at Its Best
After intense programme days, the beach of Kribi with its coconut palms and soft sand offered the perfect place to recharge and reflect.
Authentic, Connecting, Future-Oriented
This Ubuntu Journey has shown us the value of experiencing a country not just as a tourist, but as a guest and friend. We return with stories, friendships, and the determination to continue developing our projects in Cameroon.
If you would like to learn more about City of Ubuntu and our work in Cameroon, save the date: Ubuntu Day, October 1, 2025, in Vienna – where we will share more about this journey. Details to follow soon.
Let’s continue to build bridges, preserve knowledge, and shape a future based on equality.
