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. Its nearly 27 million people speak 250 native languages, in addition to the national tongues of English and French, or both.

Cameroon became a German colony in 1884 known as Kamerun. After World War I, it was divided between France and the United Kingdom as League of Nations mandates. The Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC) political party advocated independence, but was outlawed by France in the 1950s, leading to the national liberation insurgency fought between French and UPC militant forces until early 1971. In 1960, the French-administered part of Cameroon became independent, as the Republic of Cameroun, under President Ahmadou Ahidjo. The southern part of British Cameroons federated with it in 1961 to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. The federation was abandoned in 1972. The country was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon in 1972 and back to the Republic of Cameroon in 1984 by a presidential decree by president Paul Biya. Biya, the incumbent president, has led the country since 1982 following Ahidjo's resignation; he previously held office as prime minister from 1975 onward. Cameroon is governed as a Unitary Presidential Republic.

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. (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 the Bahá'í Faith is one of only a few non-Christian religions recognised by the government of Cameroon?

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

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