Portal:Cameroon

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The Cameroon Portal

Flag of Cameroon Coat of arms of Cameroon

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Its coastline lies on the Bight of Biafra, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its strategic position at the crossroads between West Africa and Central Africa, it has been categorized as being in both camps. Cameroon's population of nearly 31 million people speak 250 native languages, in addition to the national tongues of English and French, or both. Early inhabitants of the territory included the Sao civilisation around Lake Chad and the Baka hunter-gatherers in the southeastern rainforest. Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camarões (Shrimp River), which became Cameroon in English. Fulani soldiers founded the Adamawa Emirate in the north in the 19th century, and various ethnic groups of the west and northwest established powerful chiefdoms and fondoms.

The official languages of Cameroon are French and English, the official languages of former French Cameroons and British Cameroons. Christianity is the majority religion in Cameroon, with significant minorities practising Islam and traditional faiths. It has experienced tensions from the English-speaking territories, where politicians have advocated for greater decentralisation and even complete separation or independence (as in the Southern Cameroons National Council). In 2017, tensions over the creation of an Ambazonian state in the English-speaking territories escalated into open warfare. Large numbers of Cameroonians live as subsistence farmers. The country is often referred to as "Africa in miniature" for its geological, linguistic and cultural diversity. Its natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. Cameroon's highest point, at almost 4,100 metres (13,500 ft), is Mount Cameroon in the Southwest Region.

Cameroon's most populous cities are Douala on the Wouri River, its economic capital and main seaport; Yaoundé, its political capital; and Garoua. Limbé in the southwest has a natural seaport. Cameroon is well known for its native music styles, particularly Makossa, Njang and Bikutsi, and its successful national football team. It is a member state of the African Union, the United Nations, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the Commonwealth of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. (Full article...)

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Musgum huts in the shape of a shell in Far North province, Cameroon

Musgum mud huts or Musgum dwelling units are traditional domestic structures built of mud by the ethnic Musgum people in the Maga sub-division, Mayo-Danay division, Far North Province in Cameroon. (Musgum also is spelled as Moosgoum.) Referred to in Munjuk as Tolek, the dwellings are built in a variety of shapes, such as tall domed or conical dwellings or huts, some with a reverse-V shape, and others with geometric designs.

Toleks are an example of earth structures. Of simple design, they are constructed of mud, thatch, and water by local residents using few tools. Resembling the shape of beehives or shells, they are also known as "cases obus" (granate houses). They are adobe structures, a variant of cob, and are in the catenary arch form, which can bear maximum weight with the minimum use of building materials. The dwellings also are described as "beehive type" because of their dome shape. They are considered to be an important architectural style of Cameroon, although not in fashion in the present day. (Full article...)

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... that Cameroonian-born Joel Embiid opted to play for the 2024 U.S. Olympic basketball team instead of France in part because his son is American?

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... that the long jumper Fred Salle originally represented England in international competitions, then changed allegiance to Cameroon before returning to England some years later?

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The following are images from various Cameroon-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Hippopotamus at the Benoue National Park (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 2Map of the region's indigenous languages (from Cameroon)
Image 3President Paul Biya with U.S. President Barack Obama in 2014 (from Cameroon)
Image 4Dutch bulls and cows at Wallya community during the rainy season in Cameroon (from Cameroon)
Image 5Chimpanzee at Mefou primate sanctuary (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 6A musician plays traditional African music during the closing ceremony of French RECAMP-concept (reinforcement of African peacekeeping capacities) in Douala, November 23, 2006 (from Culture of Cameroon)
Image 7School children in Cameroon (from Cameroon)
Image 8Cameroon is divided into 10 regions. (from Cameroon)
Image 9Elephants in Waza National Park (from Cameroon)
Image 10Gorilla at Mefou primate sanctuary (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 11Reunification Monument, Yaounde (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 12Paul Biya has ruled the country since 1982. (from Cameroon)
Image 13Life expectancy in Cameroon (from Cameroon)
Image 14Cameroonian fashion is varied and often mixes modern and traditional elements. Note the wearing of sun glasses, monk shoes, sandals, and a Smartwatch. (from Cameroon)
Image 15Kribi Beach (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 16Plantains and "Bobolo" (made from cassava) served with Ndolè (meat and shrimp) (from Cameroon)
Image 17The homes of the Musgum, in the Far North Region, are made of earth and grass. (from Cameroon)
Image 18Limbe Beach with people engaging in various activities (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 19Cameroon faces Germany at Zentralstadion in Leipzig, 17 November 2004 (from Cameroon)
Image 20Cameroonian women on Women's Day Celebration (from Cameroon)
Image 21Douala seaport (from Cameroon)
Image 22Leaders of the pro-independence UPC (from Cameroon)
Image 23Cameroonian fashion is varied and often mixes modern and traditional elements. Note the wearing of sun glasses, Monk shoes, sandals, and a Smartwatch. (from Culture of Cameroon)
Image 24Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, catholic church in Yaoundé (from Cameroon)
Image 25Giraffes in Waza National Park (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 26National Museum, Yaounde (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 27Unity Palace – Cameroon Presidency (from Cameroon)
Image 28Military vehicles during a parade (from Cameroon)
Image 29Former president Ahmadou Ahidjo ruled from 1960 until 1982. (from Cameroon)
Image 30A woman weaves a basket near Lake Ossa, Littoral Region. Cameroonians practise such handicrafts throughout the country. (from Cameroon)
Image 31Bamum script is a writing system developed by King Njoya in the late 19th century. (from Cameroon)
Image 32Volcanic plugs dot the landscape near Rhumsiki, Far North Region. (from Cameroon)
Image 33A statue of a chief in Bana, West Region (from Cameroon)
Image 34Dancers greet visitors to the East Region. (from Cameroon)