Cameroon, Africa in Miniature

Cameroon is a vast country with a diverse culture – why it earned itself the name “Africa in miniature.”

Created in 1961 through the union of a British and a French colony, Cameroon lies at the junction of west and central Africa. Plus, it is the most urban and ethnically diverse nation in West Africa.

The major cities in Cameroon include Douala (the shipping and industrial center) and Yaoundé (the capital). Yaoundé has several national unity monuments and is situated on a hilly, forested plateau between the Nyong and Sanaga rivers in the south-central part of the country.

The hub for one of the most affluent agricultural areas in the country, Yaoundé is also home to small manufacturing and processing industries like factories, breweries, sawmills, and several printing presses.

Douala, on the other hand, is the entertainment hub of Cameroon. It is a great place to experience the modern Cameroon lively nightlife scene – filled with booming music full of dancing, bars, and nightclubs operating till the wee hours, especially on the weekends.

Every major ethnic group of the country has developed its distinct culture.

For instance, southern Cameroonians have their drums, which produce vigorous rhythms. The northern Cameroonians, too, have their flute music.

Bessengue, Douala

CREDIT: Unsplash

3 Interesting Things about Cameroon

The National Museum of Cameroon was created in 1988 and is the largest museum in the country.

Cameroun is rich in culture and traditions. This reflects in the country’s antiques and artifacts. An example of that is the Bali elephant masks, which are used in ceremonies for the dead.

Bali elephant mask

Source: Pinterest

Cameroon’s national library, national museum, and national archives are all located in Yaoundé, the country’s capital. The Cameroon Museum of Douala exhibits prehistoric objects, and natural history teachings. The International Museum and Library in Bamenda is home to numerous cultural artifacts.

The palace, which now houses the Foumban Museum of Bamum Art, contains wood carving, realistic masks in copper and terra-cotta, and collections of weaponry and bamboo and raffia furniture.

Local handicrafts can be found in Foumban, the most important center for artisans in northwestern Cameroon.

To celebrate Black History Month, here are interesting facts about Cameroon.

1. The Pygmies of Baka

These are nomadic people who move in small groups of 15-70 people. They refer to themselves as the Forest People due to their distinctive culture, livelihood, and history.

The pygmies live in the deep rainforests of Western, Central, and Eastern Africa. They are direct descendants of the late stone age hunters and gatherers of the Central African rainforests.

Baka Pygmies

They are often on the move, seeking new places in forests to settle in temporarily, while carrying all they possess and rarely return to their previous settlement.

Baka pygmies have refused to be influenced by modern African societies and have continuously resisted the imposition of foreign cultures on their communities.

2. The Limbe Wildlife Centre

This is an animal sanctuary run by the Cameroonian Ministry of the Environment and Nature Protection to protect rescued wildlife like chimpanzees and gorillas housed in large enclosures. Tourists can observe these beautiful creatures up-close.

3. Mt Cameroon.

Capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon, Buea is home to Mount Cameroon (also known as Cameroon Mountain or Fako), a beautiful, active volcano standing 4023 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level.

This mountain is one of the largest volcanoes in Africa and the fourth-highest peak in Africa.

Mount Cameroon is one of the few active volcanoes left in Africa and still erupts every 10 to 20 years.

Mount Cameroon

Source: Culture Trip

Agriculture in Cameroon

Agriculture is a massive part of careers and culture in Cameroon.

Agriculture can be said to be the pillar of Cameroon's economy. It accounts for 43% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The sector also contributes to almost half of the nation’s employment with interesting roles like agricultural technicians who ensure the safety of food items.

The major agricultural products in Cameroon are plantains, cattle meat, cocoa beans, bananas, maize, fresh vegetables, and groundnuts.

Cameroonians have fertile lands and primarily practice subsistence-level farming and grow a variety of cash crops that translates into profit for them.

The future of Agriculture in Cameroon is very bright as it will continue to provide employment opportunities for the people if managed appropriately.

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