On May 19, 2026, our visiting associate professor, Marlène Ngansop, participated as a guest lecturer in the course "Introduction to African Area Studies 1" (Assoc.Prof. Takanori Oishi), offered to first-year students in the African Studies program of the School of International and Area Studies.

Her lecture, titled "The biogeography of the African continent and the floral diversity of Cameroon" introduced students to Africa's natural environment and plant diversity through numerous slides and examples of specific plant species.

Following the lecture, an active question-and-answer session took place.

The discussion also touched upon the use of plants in mask dance rituals practiced in the Grassfields region of western Cameroon, the home region of Dr.Marlène Ngansop.