For 10 years Tippi wandered the Namibian bush dressed only in a loincloth befriending the ferocious animals and the Bushmen of the Kalahari. Tippi now lives in Paris. She returns to her childhood. She is a bridge between two cultures. We will show Tippi in her current life situation, as a teenager in Paris, her surrounding, her dreams and visions, her return to Africa and her meeting new and old friends – i.e. the African elephant and the Bushmen.
In 1990, Tippi Degré – daughter of Alain Degré and Sylvie Robert, a couple who chose to relinquish their lives in France for the freedom of nature in Southern Africa – was born in the newly independent Namibia. Her parents worked as freelance wildlife photographers and film makers. At 10 months the toddler was exploring the Namibian bush and desert.
For 10 years, Tippi wandered the bush bare footed, making friends with all sorts of animals: leopards, caracals, mongooses, baboons and snakes.
Her playground was the hills and the harsh desert tribe lands of southern Africa; as the family wandered the bush land, Tippi picked up all kinds of friends – like Abu, a five ton (28-year-old) elephant she calls “her brother”.
She would ride to a water hole on top of Abu and splash with the elephants of the herd, cuddle giant bullfrogs, lion cubs or meerkats; and became a grasshopper hunting specialist with the chameleons she was so fond of.
Tippi also befriended the Himba tribes people and the Bushmen of the Kalahari, who taught her how to survive on roots and berries and hence gave her practical experience of real life in the bush.
Life as a bush baby came to an end after her last year of "freedom" in Madagascar when Tippi moved to the French capital with her mother six years ago. But both in fact and in her heart, she remained an African.
In “Tippi – Bridging the Gap to Africa” we are focusing on Tippi reconnecting with her childhood memories, getting back to her roots, re-discovering Africa – now that she is a 16 year old girl living in Paris.
Source: selkirk-enterprises.com
Monday, October 08, 2007
Tippi - The Girl Who is Bridging the Gap to Africa
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9 comments:
To continue to live with the impression that Africa is all about animals and undressed hunters is really quite stupid. A little girl hugging animals is "bridging the gap to Africa". How profound! The thousands of African intellectuals who teach your college kids here in America are not bridging "the gap to Africa"; it's a girl with a baby monkey that is. You folks are really quite incredulous!
Are you kidding me... never mind the fact that Africa's been screwed by settlers for as long as history can remember... this little girl will make everything better by hugging a frog! get real!
"I have no friends as I never see other children. Animals are my friends". What planet does her parents live on??? And now drag her to Paris to become an even more confused teenager! She's not bridging the gap to Africa, she's trying to fill the gap in her brain on what she's really missed out.
Live with the impression that Africa is all about animals etc etc, come on, this was her experience as a child, she is bridging her gap and bringing a truly interesting experience to all, she will find out her way about the realities of history. If only you had a childhood so interesting maybe we would see it....
What a bunch of negative and sour people! This girl has a purpose in her young years which is probably too much for the seemingly purposeless commentators on this page. She has opened in me a deep curiosity for the African continent and its different faces and cultures. I commend her! I'm also sure my comment will bring another bunch of negativism. Fortunately, it will leave me unscathed. I enjoy life and ALL it entails. Even sour people.
well said "still interested"
Tippi is not "bridging the gap" to Africa. Sure she is promoting curiosity about Africa in the way of its wild life and nature. But how many of you know about the millions of Intellectuals on the continent. The cities, the normal life like we all lead all around the world. Africans are not just in the "bush." They live in homes, drive cars, work in business, schools, etc. But we never see this side. I grew up my whole life only knowing what Tippi is showing us. It wasn't until I actually visited Africa myself until I saw the reality and what is really there and what the majority of Africa is all about. Show me someone who promotes the real everyday Africa...from farmers to business men and women...then you can say they are bridging the gap to Africa. That is true knowledge!
You people are all a bunch of negative persons!!! Tippy IS bridging the gap to africa. She has showed us how important the wildlife is in the world not just in africa!! She has raised awareness to all the people in the world who have read this artcle.I have something so say to whoever said that a little girl hugging animals living the life that makes you "see" and "understand" Is really helping. Have you evr lived a life like tippy? I dont think so. Have you ever hugged and played with the world most dangerous animals!!?? NO so don't judge what tippy is doing to encourage people to take care of wildlife if you dont even know how interesting and imkportant this is....... DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT COVER!!! Tippy is the luckyest person in the world!!!!!!!!
Ok guys lets put all this to rest... I live in South Africa and in my childhood years I used to live in North Africa on a small island with tribal people and amongst animals with lots of vegetation... It is definitly not bridging the gap but I can tell you that I do connect with the magic that she pertrays in every page... Growing up in in that environment for me was the most amazing and magical experience which I shall never forget and wish to return to one day... There was also no confusion coming back to civilization. Children adapt to change much easier than what adults think. I think if anything I find I am quite jealous of her and that all yu negative people are as well... Yes??
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