The current president is Bulu, and many prominent authors are Beti. Peoples in the East include the Maka and Gbaya, both with relatively egalitarian forms of social organization in Cameroon which reciprocity is a key value.
Forestry and tobacco farming are important sources of income. The East province is also home to the Baka, a tropical forest forager pygmy group of about thirty thousand to forty thousand living in small camps that exchange forest products with nearby farmers.
The Littoral province is in the coastal rain forest region in the southwest. It includes the largest city, the port of Douala, and the industrial, hydroelectric, and bauxite mining area near Edea. The major ethnic groups are the Duala and Bassa. Both are culturally similar to the Grassfielders. In rich volcanic soils they grow food crops and coffee. The large urban population is prominent in commerce and higher education. Since the conversion of Sultan Njoya to Islam early in the twentieth century, the Bamoun have been a largely Muslim people.
Sultan Njoya, a man of unusual intellect, developed an original alphabet and wrote a history of his people and dynasty. A sense of a common national culture has been created through shared history, schooling, national holidays and symbols, and enthusiasm for soccer.
However, ethnic distinctiveness remains, and ethnic identity became an increasingly important source of social capital during the s. Location and Geography. Cameroon is situated by the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa.
Its area is , square miles , square kilometers. The climate is hot and humid in the forested south and west, cooler in the highland Grassfields region of the West and Northwest provinces, and hotter and drier in the savanna and sahel of the north. The population in was 10,,; it was estimated to be nearly 14 million in In , 46 percent of the population was under fifteen years old. The population is growing at an average annual rate of almost 3 percent, with declining mortality and high fertility.
Thirty-eight percent of the population lives in urban centers. There are no reliable population figures for the major cultural groups. These two groups also have the highest fertility rates. Linguistic Affiliation. French and English are the official languages. Among the less educated, the Wes Cos dialect of Pidgin English functions as a lingua franca in the English-speaking area and in many neighborhoods in Douala. Both French and English are taught in school, but only those with a secondary education are fluent in both.
Most people speak at least one local language and one official language, and many people are multilingual. The flag has three equal vertical stripes of green, red, and yellow, with a five-pointed gold star in the center of the red stripe. The stripes represent the three major geographic areas: green for the rain forest, red for the laterite soils of the savanna, and yellow for the sands of the sahel. The national anthem begins with the words O Cameroun, berceau de nos ancetres "Oh, Cameroon, cradle of our ancestors" , reflecting the importance of ancestors and kinship and the desire to forge an imagined community with a common ancestry.
The feeling of national unity is strongest among schoolchildren and has been stressed since the end of the cold war. Emergence of the Nation. Before colonization, Cameroon was a territory of diverse climatic zones populated by a variety of peoples and polities. The Muslim states in the north traded with trans-Saharan merchants and Arabic peoples. The coastal peoples in the south traded with Portuguese and Dutch seafarers beginning in the late fifteenth century.
In , Cameroon became a German protectorate Kamerun. The Germans were defeated by British and French forces in , and the territory was divided between those nations in In , the French and British zones became League of Nations mandates, with the French controlling over 80 percent of the national territory.
Those zones were transformed into United Nations Trusteeships in This later served as an impetus for the reunification of those zones at the time of independence. French Cameroon Cameroun became independent in , and after a plebiscite in , British Cameroon gained independence. The southern part of the British territory joined the Federal Republic of Cameroon, while the northern part, ethnically united with the Hausa-city states, joined Nigeria.
In , Cameroon came under single-party rule. National Identity. A national culture was first formed by external powers through colonization. Even regional cultural differences emerged originally during the periods of mandate and trusteeship. A sentiment of common national identity is particularly strong in major institutions of socialization such as schools and during international soccer matches, visits by foreign dignitaries, and times of international dispute.
Ahmadou Ahidjo, a Muslim from the northern city of Guider, who was president from independence until , attempted to foster national integration by posting civil servants to areas outside their ethnic homelands. In and , alleged coup attempts by those loyal to Ahidjo led to martial law and ethnic tensions between groups in the northern and southern regions. Since the legalization of multiparty politics in , political parties have been increasingly associated with specific ethnic groups or regions.
Ethnic Relations. In addition to regional and ethnic distinctions, coalitions and tensions exist on a local level. People from the northern areas are collectively referred to as "northerners" by their southern compatriots and share some cultural attributes related to their Islamic religion.
In February , violence between the Arab Choa and Kokoto ethnic groups during voter registration led to the death of more than one hundred people. Violence reemerged two years later, leading over one thousand people to seek refuge in Chad. In the Grassfields of the Northwest and Western provinces, interdependence and conflict between farmers and grazers coincide with ethnicity. The ethnicization of party politics and the increasing importance of ethnicity in relation to economic claims have led to conflicts between "autochthonous" indigenous and migrant populations.
Most villages and small towns in rural areas have a marketplace in a central location that may house a weekly, biweekly, or daily market, depending on their size. Most markets have separate areas for women's products produce and palm oil , and men's products livestock and bush meat. Official buildings are often located near these markets or along the central axis leading through smaller towns. Architecture varies by region. In the rain forest and the Grassfields, poto-poto earthen plaster on a wooden frame and mud brick rectangular buildings roofed in palm thatch or corrugated iron are common.
Traditional Grassfields architecture was constructed of "bamboo" the spines of raffia palm fronds ; square or rectangular buildings with sliding doors were topped by conical thatched roofs.
The doorposts of royalty had elaborate carvings. Traditional architecture in the north includes round mud buildings crowned in thatch.
Walled compounds usually include a separate granary. Throughout the nation, structures built of concrete bricks, corrugated iron roofs, and iron grillwork have replaced other forms of housing.
Much of daily life occurs in public areas such as the courtyards of polygynous compounds. Privacy is often suspect, especially among peoples with a strong belief in malevolent and occult powers. Food in Daily Life. The sharing of cooked food is one of the major ways to cement social relationships and express the high value placed on human company. Sharing food and drink demonstrates hospitality and trust. Social support networks among kin and friends, particularly between country folk and their urban relatives, are held together symbolically with gifts of cooked and uncooked An initiation ritual of a Bwiti cult in Cameroon.
The ritual involves the use of the psychotropic drug iboga, and represents a journey to the land of the dead. Sacks of beans, maize, or peanuts "from home" can be seen on the roofs of bush taxis traveling between the countryside and urban centers. Meals consist of a cooked cereal or root staple accompanied by a sauce or stew. In the southern areas, the major staples are root crops such as cassava and cocoyams, and plantains; in the moist savanna and Grassfields, maize and plantains; and in the arid north, sorghum and millet.
Rice and pasta have become popular. Staples may be boiled, pounded, or fried; most commonly they are made into a thick porridge shaped into oblong balls. Sauces usually have a base of palm oil and ground peanuts.
Vegetables such as greens, okra, and squashes are common. Hot peppers, onions, ginger, and tomatoes are popular condiments. Dried or fresh fish or meat may be included in the sauce. Uncooked fruits such as bananas, mangoes, papayas, oranges, and avocados are popular snacks and desserts; they are not considered part of meals. In many regions, men and guests eat before women and children.
Hand washing is part of the etiquette of meals. Whether from a separate dish or a common pot, a small ball of porridge is formed by three fingers of the right hand and then dipped in sauce. Westernization has led families to eat together around a common table, using separate place settings and cutlery. Food taboos vary by ethnic group.
The Bassa of the Littoral province serve a gourmet dish of viper steaks in black sauce, but only the oldest males among the Ewondo Beti of the Center province may eat viper. Totems of specific clans, healers, or royal dynasties are taboo to certain members of some ethnic groups. Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions.
At the visit of an honored guest, a wedding, or a funeral, a chicken, goat, sheep, or steer is served to guests. Special drinks, such as palm wine and millet beer as well as bottled carbonated drinks, beer, and wine are served at these occasions.
Basic Economy. The country is basically self-sufficient in food, although the distribution of food is variable. Seasonal famines occur in the arid north. From to , the GNP declined and it has shown slight increases since that time. Cameroon has a trade surplus but is burdened by debt. Agriculture, including the production of food and cash crops such as coffee, cocoa, and cotton, employs almost two-thirds of the labor force.
Many people produce mainly for themselves, selling the "surplus" at local markets. Land Tenure and Property. Among the Fulani, land is inherited patrilineally. In the Grassfields, land is held by fons, with use rights devolving to specific patrilineages and matrilineages.
Throughout the country, the privatization of land tenure is increasing. Access to private land titles depends on money, understanding of the bureaucracy, and connections.
Women, the main producers of food crops, are often at a disadvantage when land is privatized. Commercial Activities. In the towns, there are grocery and dry goods stores. Restaurants and bars, taxis, and domestic labor involve an increasing proportion of the labor force.
Major Industries. Major industries include mining and aluminum processing, forestry, and the manufacture of beverages. Petroleum is a significant source of national income. Wood, coffee, cocoa, cotton, and palm oil are the principal exports. Principle imports include consumption goods; semifinished goods; minerals; industrial and transportation equipment; and food, beverages, and tobacco.
Division of Labor. The division of labor is determined largely by formal education for civil servants and gender. Classes and Castes. There is a high degree of social inequality. Other ethnic groups have a more egalitarian social organization in which age and gender are the major factors in social stratification. New forms of social inequality based on access to political power and level of formal education coexist with indigenous forms of stratification. Although a cosmopolitan lifestyle has developed among the wealthy and the intelligentsia, markers of cultural distinctiveness and obligation to kin and ethnic compatriots remain.
Regional differences in wealth also exist: the far northern and eastern areas have less access to wealth and infrastructure. Symbols of Social Stratification. Housing styles differ by class, in both urban and rural areas.
The wealthiest people have concrete houses painted in bright colors and surrounded by high walls. Those houses have flower gardens and interior furnishings such as upholstered furniture and armoires. The poorest people live in mud houses with thatched or corrugated iron roofs, sparsely furnished with beds and stools made of local materials.
Styles of dress also vary by class; the wealthiest can afford Italian leather shoes to accompany the latest European and African wardrobes, while poorer people wear cloth wrappers and secondhand European-style clothing. The wealthiest tend to speak French or English even at home, while the poorest speak local languages and Pidgin English.
Since the amendment of the constitution, Cameroon has been a multiparty state. Executive power is held by the president, who serves for seven years and, since , for a maximum of two terms.
Leadership and Political Officials. The twenty-seven-year period of single party rule left a legacy of an authoritarian political culture.
At the national level, government leadership resides in the president and his cabinet. On the local level, the prefet district officer and sous-prefet are the most powerful administrative officials.
Positions in government are determined through a combination of know-how, party loyalty, and ethnic and regional background. In many areas, local and national forms of leadership coexist.
For example, the chiefdoms of the Northwest and West provinces form states within a state, with fons sharing power with government officials. Some chiefs served as rallying points for opposition groups during the political crises of the s. Social Problems and Control. There are several police forces, including internal security police, gendarmes, and military police.
The legal system combines the case law system of the British with the statutory law system of the French. Theft is a common Many Cameroonians have a highly stratified social structure.
The intricately beaded calabashes gourds and carvings indicate this tribal king's royal status. The outfit sometimes is worn with a round, close fitting hat made from matching the fabric.
Nadia Nygaard has been writing and editing since She is published in "Farm and Ranch Living" and has edited projects as diverse as grant proposals, medical dissertations and tenant law handbooks.
She is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in English and women's studies. Clothing of the Asian Culture. Typical Clothing of Puerto Rico. On May 20, the nation now celebrates National Day. The paredes and speeches are held to promote the feeling of national unity kummer Kummer 58 Kummer 58 Another formal event in Cameroon is the presidential election.
The president is the head of the executive branch, as well as the head of state. The president must be born in Cameroon and be at least thirty five years old. The president is directly Kummer 60 elected by all voters in the entire nation Kummer According to the new constitution, the term of office is seven years, and the president can be reelected only once. The president holds most of the political and governmental power in Cameroon.
He appoints the prime minister and has approval of all the ministers in the Council of Ministers. There are almost thirty ministries that take care of everything in the country from agriculture to youth and sports.
The president decides what the ministers do and how long they may do it Kummer Culture is a learned system of knowledge, behavior, attitudes, belief, values, and norms that is shared by group of people from one generation to the next. Identifying what a given group of people values or appreciates can give us insight into the behavior of an Kummer individual raised within that culture.
Some researchers believe that the values of individualism and collectivism are the most important values of any culture—they determine the essential nature of every other facet of how people behave Beebe It is this that we see in Cameroon. Some parts of Cameroon may have more or less gender inequalities. Communication will vary depending on the ethnic group. To successfully adapt she must realize that most men in Cameroon perceive women in a certain way and be considerate of this when communicating.
For example, women are the main caregivers in Cameroon society, and so questions on care-giving would be best answered by a Cameroon women. Have you ever judged a person on how they dress? It is the same in Cameroon; however, according to Peace Corps webside, there are difference between a business man and woman.
At least two nice skirts with shirts button down or other office-wear type shirt. Appropriate outfits can later be made easily in-country, and many Volunteers choose to wear locally-made clothing which Cameroonians appreciate. Man: Nice pants and button down shirt. Have at least two outfits of business casual quality. Inexpensive second-hand suits can also be found in the market.
Types of formal clothes in Cameroon: Pagnes: A long swath of fabric, the pagne is a wrapper-style garment worn by women in Cameroon. The type of cloth used varies from simple cotton batik prints to heavily embroidered satin fabrics for formal occasions. Pagnes are beautiful and functional, and may be used in several ways: as a protective head covering, a skirt, a sling-style baby carrier, or to provide warmth and dryness during the rainy season.
Quartre Pouches: This two-piece men's outfit is found in southern and tribal Cameroon. It consists of a pair of loose-fitting pants and a shirt, often with square pockets on the front. The pieces are made of cotton in matching designs, resembling the geometric mud cloth patterns created in Mali, West Africa. The outfit sometimes is worn with a round, close-fitting hat made from matching fabric.
Boubou: Popular in northern Cameroon and common in other areas during special occasions such as : wedding, the name of a child, a coming of age ceremony, or visit a important person, the "un boubou avec pantaloon" is a traditional four-piece outfit for men.
The ensemble consists of an undershirt, flowing outer shirt that falls to the hips or longer, loose-fitting pants and a matching hat. Each piece is made of cotton. The outer shirt is made with multicolored patterns and usually is embroidered at the neckline, hem or sleeves. The hat matches the pattern of the outer shirt, and the pants are either solid colored or a complementary print. Do you know that our dress is one type of nonverbal communication signal?
Actually, It can make a communication with out any conversation. Cameroon girls use it to carry their babies on their backs dorsal back , or to provide sheade for their head in extreme heats, and or to warming up during the rainy seasons. Pagnes are large turbans made of fabric. In villages across Cameroon, Cameroonian men and women wear more traditional dresses while in cities the men favor more western style dresses or a modern flair of African-European attires.
Cameroon city girls favor a mixture of traditional and western style dress - Pagnes along with blouses, shirts and a mixture of such called Afritude. This is very much so in Douala - the economic capital of Cameroon and Yaounde the political Capital of Cameroon. Mostly worn for casual occasions and mostly home choirs. Prefect fot free body movement and climate condition. Boubou - free flowing male garment consisting of one to four pieces - an inner wear, an outer wear with large pockets, a pant and a head cap.
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