Everything you need to know about Cameroon: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more

Cameroon Information and Facts

Prior to its annexation by Britain and later by Germany in 1884, Cameroon region was inhabited by northwestern Bantu societies who prospered from the slave trade from the interior. The present Cameroon was created in 1961 from former British and French colonies.

This ‘mini Africa’ located on the Atlantic coast is as famous for its Cameroonian music as for its Soccer (football) team. Cameroon also has many enchanting tourist destinations such as Mt Cameroon, West Africa’s highest peak, the excellent Parc National de Waza that has abundant bird life and also the rolling grass fields of the Ring Road area. Although sizeable numbers of Cameroonians live in large-scale poverty owing to subsistence farming, still the political and social stability enjoyed by Cameroon has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, railways, and large petroleum and timber industries.

· National Name: République du Cameroun
· Capital: Yaoundé
· Total area: 475,440 sq km (183,567 sq mi)
· Population: 18,467,692
· Currency: CFA Franc
· Languages: French, English (both official); 24 major African language groups
· Ethnicity/ Races: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwest Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
· Religion: indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Islam 20%
· GDP (Per Capita): $2,400 (2006)
· Life Expectancy: Male- 50 Yrs, Female- 52 Yrs
· Literacy: 67.2% (2006 est.)

The Cameroon range, another scenic mountain range, extends from Mt Cameroon almost to Lake Chad in Cameroon. Mt Cameroon is an active volcano and has it has resulted in fertile soil around its periphery. Lake Chad in Cameroon is visited by thousands of tourists every year and it is shared with three surrounding countries besides Cameroon.

The climate varies according to the region. The average temperature is 79°F (26°C). The tropical coastal areas receive heavy rainfall that sometimes exceeds 30ft,, However, the northern Cameroon receives very little rain and drought is a way of life here.

Culture, Economy and Tourism Information on Cameroon:
There are many cultural forms in Cameroon unique to each ethnic group, however the common thread that runs through all are the popular Cameroonian music, dance that are an integral part of all festivals and ceremonies. Popular music styles include ambasse bey of the coast, assiko of the Bassa, mangambeu of the Bangangte, and tsamassi of the Bamileke. Cameroonians have also been influenced by Nigerian music and Prince Nico Mbarga's highlife hit "Sweet Mother" is the top-selling African record in history

Cameroon has many mouth-watering cuisines. A typical dish is based on cocoyams, maize, manioc, millet, plantains, potatoes, rice, or yams, often pounded into dough-like fufu (cous-cous) and served. This dish is served with a sauce, soup, or stew made from greens, groundnuts, palm oil, or other ingredients. Apart from this Water, palm wine, and millet beer are the traditional mealtime drinks of Cameroonians.

Cameroon is a sport-loving country, which includes canoe racing, wrestling, running (Mount Cameroon Race of Hope). However football or soccer is the dominant sport of this fun-loving country and Cameroon has won four African Cup of Nations titles along with the Gold medal at the 2000 Athens Olympics.

The Major Tourist Attractions in Cameroon Include:
Tourism in Cameroon is a fledgling industry and Cameroon has numerous hotels, resorts, and restaurants catering to the diverse tastes of different travellers. It is felt that Cameroon’s poor transportations system is mainly responsible for the not-so-well developed tourism industry.

Some of Cameroon’s Best Tourist Destinations are:

· Waza National Park
· Cameroon Art Museum
· Afhemi Museum
· Hotel Akwa Palace
· Joseph-Francis Sumegné, La Nouvelle Liberte
· Place du Gouvernement
· La Pagode
· Doual'art