Written by Sarah J Kyle
Elumba Ebenja (A-Loom-Bah A-Ben-Jah) is a child of two worlds.
From her name, most would find it hard to believe that the Harding University sprinter was born and raised in Little Rock, Ark. However, raised in Little Rock and raised by the American culture are two very different things.
“My parents are both Cameroonian, so it’s kind of hard to explain my life growing up,” Ebenja said. “I was born in Little Rock, but my parents raised me as if we were in Africa. … It’s hard to tell people that my name is Elumba Cathy Ebenja, but I’m from Little Rock.”
While her friends ate the wonder that is the McDonald’s Happy Meal, Ebenja said she diligently learned to eat and breathe the food, language and culture of Cameroon, trying her best to fit seamlessly into two very different cultures.
“I’ve been back home [in Cameroon], and I don’t feel weird because I know what they’re talking about when they say certain things, and I know how to eat the food because that’s what we eat too,” she said.
Her mother, Lucy, said it was always important for her and her late husband to teach Ebenja and her two siblings about their native culture and allow them to choose which culture they would belong to.
“It is not a good idea to not know of your roots,” Lucy said. “We teach our children our culture so they know about it and make their own decisions as to use it or not.”
In the track world, this cultural dissonance may be the hardest to define. With both African and American runners on the Harding team, Ebenja said she often rides the fence, unsure of which group to claim as her own.
“I don’t think anyone really understands,” Ebenja said. “When I try to talk to an American person, they tell me I’m African. When I try to talk to an African person, they tell me, ‘You weren’t born in Africa, so you’re American.’ It’s hard to relate to either side.”
Despite her cultural identity crisis, Ebenja said that the track is the place she feels most at home. Her teammate, fellow sprinter Blake Arnold, agrees.
“Elumba, or Cathy as she’s known to most, has been a wonderful and amazing component to the success of our team,” Arnold said. “Since day one, we have been a part of the same family. I’ve been able to watch her grow in her ability, and she has been able to compete and be successful for our team. … I have an awesome friendship with Cathy, and I wouldn’t have had such a great track experience without her.”
From the time she learned to walk, Ebenja said she knew running was a gift and passion. Her track career began earlier than most, with her first meets taking place on a childhood playground during recess.
As soon as she could join an official team, Ebenja immersed herself in the sport with the support of her ever-affectionate father, who passed away shortly after she began running in junior high.
“He was huge on my sports,” Ebenja said. “I was a daddy’s girl.”
While her father never lived to see her race in a traditional meet or make it to the Indoor National Meet this year, Ebenja said his inspiration and support when she was younger is still a major motivator for her today.
“He never got to see me run track, and I was always sad about that because I feel like he was so committed to everything I did,” Ebenja said. “We used to race all of the time outside my house. … My dad is still inspirational for me. He’s at all of my events. I feel him.”
Now, the sun is setting on her collegiate career and the sport her father loved so much.
While Ebenja said she will change her focus to learning more about her culture and supporting her family in Cameroon as she works in America, the track world that made her feel at home in the midst of two cultures will always be an important part of her life.
“I feel like God blessed me with that talent to get me to where I am now,” Ebenja said. “I look at the people who are naturally talented to the level of the Olympics and I feel that God has blessed them too. We’re blessed in different levels, but [the past few years] were my time and my cool point. My time has passed.”
