Cameroon the land of music and football
Mar 26, 2007
THE country is home to 17,340,702 people with over 200 ethnic groups. English and French are the official languages.
THE country is home to 17,340,702 people with over 200 ethnic groups. English and French are the official languages.
The early inhabitants of Cameroon were the Sao, who settled around Lake Chad and gave birth to the Sao culture and the famous Kanem-Bornu Empire. Pygmy groups like Baka settled in the south-eastern rainforests.
Portuguese explorers reached the coast in 1472 and amazed by the many prawns and crayfish in the Wouri River, named it Rio dos Cameaores, which means River of Prawns.
The name later evolved into Cameroon. The 53rd largest country in the world, Cameroon is located in Central and West Africa on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean.
It is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to the south, Nigeria to the west, the Central African Republic to the east and Chad to the north-east.
The country is well-known for its native music, particularly Makossa and Bikutsi, and for its good football team, which is one of the strongest in the world. It also has beautiful beaches and animals that attract tourists.
Long before tourists heard about this West African country, the Muslim Fulani settled in between the 18th and 19th centuries, followed by several Bantu speakers who founded powerful chiefdoms.
The Bantu escaped colonial rule until 1884, when the tribal chiefs signed treaties with Germans. All German colonies were handed over to other powers after World War I.
Eighty percent of Cameroon went to the French, while 20% fell under British rule, dividing the country into French Cameroon and British Cameroon.
At the end of World War II, Cameroon was granted self-government under the United Nations trusteeship. This led to the formation of the Cameroon People’s Union, a party that gained favour in French Cameroon by campaigning for the reunification of their country. In British Cameroon, the unification struggle was led by the Kamerun National Democratic Party. Cameroon gained independence on January 1, 1960. The southern part of British Cameroon voted for unification with independent Cameroon in 1961, while the northern part wanted to be joined to neighbouring Nigeria.
Ahmadou Ahidjo was the first president of the Federal Republic of Cameroon. He reigned for 22 years before he resigned, to give way to Paul Biya, the current president. Biya has been ranked by some as one of the world’s worst dictators, who stages elections to stay in power. He is, however, credited for Cameroon’s growing economy, while his predecessor created one of the most stable countries in Africa.
Fourty percent of the people believe in their African gods, 40% are Christians, while 20% are Muslims.
Seventy percent of the people rely on agriculture and livestock.
Compiled by Elizabeth Namazzi
The early inhabitants of Cameroon were the Sao, who settled around Lake Chad and gave birth to the Sao culture and the famous Kanem-Bornu Empire. Pygmy groups like Baka settled in the south-eastern rainforests.
Portuguese explorers reached the coast in 1472 and amazed by the many prawns and crayfish in the Wouri River, named it Rio dos Cameaores, which means River of Prawns.
The name later evolved into Cameroon. The 53rd largest country in the world, Cameroon is located in Central and West Africa on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean.
It is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to the south, Nigeria to the west, the Central African Republic to the east and Chad to the north-east.
The country is well-known for its native music, particularly Makossa and Bikutsi, and for its good football team, which is one of the strongest in the world. It also has beautiful beaches and animals that attract tourists.
Long before tourists heard about this West African country, the Muslim Fulani settled in between the 18th and 19th centuries, followed by several Bantu speakers who founded powerful chiefdoms.
The Bantu escaped colonial rule until 1884, when the tribal chiefs signed treaties with Germans. All German colonies were handed over to other powers after World War I.
Eighty percent of Cameroon went to the French, while 20% fell under British rule, dividing the country into French Cameroon and British Cameroon.
At the end of World War II, Cameroon was granted self-government under the United Nations trusteeship. This led to the formation of the Cameroon People’s Union, a party that gained favour in French Cameroon by campaigning for the reunification of their country. In British Cameroon, the unification struggle was led by the Kamerun National Democratic Party. Cameroon gained independence on January 1, 1960. The southern part of British Cameroon voted for unification with independent Cameroon in 1961, while the northern part wanted to be joined to neighbouring Nigeria.
Ahmadou Ahidjo was the first president of the Federal Republic of Cameroon. He reigned for 22 years before he resigned, to give way to Paul Biya, the current president. Biya has been ranked by some as one of the world’s worst dictators, who stages elections to stay in power. He is, however, credited for Cameroon’s growing economy, while his predecessor created one of the most stable countries in Africa.
Fourty percent of the people believe in their African gods, 40% are Christians, while 20% are Muslims.
Seventy percent of the people rely on agriculture and livestock.
Compiled by Elizabeth Namazzi