Members: Michel Kossi, Nadege Motambo, Jean-Pierre Mondika, Emilie Koule, Angelique Manongo, Olivier Maniale, Sorel Eta, Dopo Koundzedze

The Group Ndima, consisted of musicians pygmies Aka of the village Kombola, Republic of the Congo, attempts to promote and to protect through shows, recordings and diverse meetings, their musical heritage (holdings).

This group of musicians and dancers has been together for twelve years. The name of the group, Ndima, means 'forest'.

Hunters and gatherers belong to the Aka people, nomadic pygmies of Central Africa living in the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo and Congo. In 2003, the oral traditions of the Aka, native people of Congo, were proclaimed one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The group was founded by a Congolese self-taught ethnologist, Sorel Eta. He runs an association called 'Look at the Pygmy' which works for the protection and promotion of the rich culture of the people as well for the improvement of relations between the Aka, a marginalized minority, and their neighbours, the Bantu, who treat the Aka as slaves and servants.

The Aka, true children of the forest, are ardent musicians and dancers. Their music is polyphonic and their dancing is characterized by polyrhythm. Their instrumental art is impressive: huge drums hollowed out from tree-trunks, a unique and ancient musical bow called the Mbela with a string played with mouth resonance, and elongated harp-zithers producing vibrating sounds. Dances of women, who play an important role in cultivating the traditions, are full of grace and erotic contexts.

Self-taught ethnologist and manager of the Groupe Ndima, Sorel Eta studies with passion the culture of Aka pygmies, community that he met in 1996 in the forest of the North of the Republic of the Congo. He is used to saying that is trained at ”the University of the forest” by his professors: the Aka pygmies. He creates in 2003 the group Ndima (The Forest), with which he intends to emphasize the Aka musicians, their musical heritage, to favor the cultural exchanges with other artists, and to promote the dialogue of culture between pygmies and other peoples. His knowledge of the environment of Aka life allows him to present communications on this endangered culture, and to coordinate the shows of the group Ndima.