festivites
Cameroon has a diverse population with over 200 ethnic groups, each with their own unique cultural traditions and festivities. Here are some of the major holidays and celebrations in Cameroon:
1. National Day (May 20): This day commemorates Cameroon's independence from France and the United Kingdom in 1960. It is celebrated with parades, speeches, and cultural performances across the country.
2. Youth Day (February 11): This day celebrates the contribution of young people to the development of Cameroon. It is marked by parades, cultural events, and sports competitions.
3. Feast of the Assumption (August 15): This Christian holiday celebrates the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken into heaven after her death. It is observed with church services and processions in many parts of Cameroon.
4. Eid al-Fitr (varies): This Muslim holiday marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. It is celebrated with prayer, feasting, and visits to family and friends.
5. Christmas (December 25): This Christian holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. In Cameroon, it is marked by church services, feasting, and gift-giving.
6. Traditional Festivals: Cameroon is home to numerous traditional festivals, such as the Ngondo Festival of the Sawa people, the Nguon Festival of the Nso people, and the Bamoun Royal Palace Festival. These festivals celebrate local culture and traditions and are typically marked by music, dance, and elaborate ceremonies.
The exact dates and ways of celebrating these holidays and festivals may vary depending on the region and the community.
seasons
Cameroon has two main tourist seasons:
1. Dry season, from November to February/March: This is the peak tourist season in Cameroon when the weather is dry and sunny. It's an ideal time for wildlife watching and outdoor activities. However, temperatures can be quite high, especially in the north. It’s recommended to bring sunscreen, hats, and light clothing.
2. Rainy season, from June to October: This is the low tourist season in Cameroon due to the heavy rains and high humidity. Some roads may become impassable, and some national parks may close during this period. However, it’s a good time to visit waterfalls and other natural attractions that are at their best during the rainy season. It’s recommended to bring rain gear and waterproof shoes.
It's worth noting that the transitional months of March to May and October to November can also be good times to visit Cameroon as the weather is mild and prices may be lower than during the peak tourist season.
visa
Some special visa rules for visiting Cameroon include:
1. Visa required for all nationalities except those from Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
2. Visa on Arrival available for some nationalities including United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many more.
3. Visa applicants may need to provide a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
The cost of a visa for Cameroon varies depending on nationality, type of visa, and processing time. On average, a short-term tourist visa can cost between $70 to $200 USD, while a long-term business visa can cost around $500 USD. Visa on Arrival fees are generally higher and can range from $150 to $300 USD. It's recommended to check with the embassy or consulate for specific fees and requirements.
souvenirs
Some popular souvenirs to buy from Cameroon include:
1. Bamileke Juju hats - decorative feather headdresses worn by tribal chiefs, costing around 50,000 - 250,000 XAF (75 - 375 USD). Can be purchased at local markets in cities like Yaoundé and Douala.
2. Kirdi pottery - handcrafted clay pots and bowls made by the Kirdi people of northern Cameroon, costing around 5,000 - 20,000 XAF (7.5 - 30 USD). Can be found in markets in cities like Maroua and Ngaoundéré.
3. Traditional clothing - colorful fabrics and clothing made from traditional African prints, costing around 10,000 - 30,000 XAF (15 - 45 USD). Can be purchased at markets throughout Cameroon, including the Marché Central in Yaoundé.
4. Carvings - wooden carvings, masks, and figurines made by local artisans, costing around 5,000 - 25,000 XAF (7.5 - 38 USD). Can be found in markets throughout Cameroon, such as the Foumban Royal Palace Museum in Foumban.
Prices may vary depending on location, quality, and bargaining skills. It's always best to shop around to find the best deals.
If you have 1 week
Thank you for your location information. Based on the limited information I have about your interests and preferences, I would suggest the following itinerary for a one-week trip in Cameroon:
Day 1: Visit the Lobe Waterfalls - located in Kribi, these stunning waterfalls cascade down into the Atlantic Ocean. You can take a refreshing swim in the natural pool at the bottom of the falls or enjoy a boat ride to explore the area.
Day 2: Explore Limbe Botanic Garden – situated in the Southwest Region, this garden is home to a wide variety of plant species, including rare and endangered ones. You can take a guided tour to learn about the various plants and their uses or just wander around enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Day 3: Hike Mount Cameroon – if you're an adventure seeker, hiking Mount Cameroon is an excellent way to challenge yourself physically while enjoying breathtaking views. It's the highest mountain in West Africa and offers several trekking routes with different difficulty levels.
Day 4: Visit the Bamenda Cultural Centre – located in the Northwest Region, this center showcases the rich cultural heritage of Cameroon's various ethnic groups. You can see traditional artifacts, costumes, and artworks, as well as watch cultural performances.
Day 5: Relax on Limbe Beach – after all the hiking and exploring, it's time to take a break and relax on one of Cameroon's most beautiful beaches. Limbe Beach offers crystal clear waters, white sand, and plenty of palm trees for shade.
Day 6: Go on a Safari at Waza National Park – located in the Far North Region, this park is home to many rare and endangered animal species, such as giraffes, cheetahs, and elephants. You can take a guided safari tour to get up close to the animals and learn about their habitats.
Day 7: Learn about Cameroon's history at the National Museum of Yaoundé – located in the capital city, this museum offers a comprehensive overview of Cameroon's history and culture. You can see exhibits on traditional music, art, and crafts, as well as learn about colonialism and its impact on the country.
These are just a few of the many amazing places to visit in Cameroon. Each location offers a unique experience that showcases the beauty and diversity of this country. I hope you enjoy your trip!
If you have 2 weeks
Thank you for your location information! I'm excited to create a two-week itinerary for you. Here are some suggestions:
Week 1:
- Visit Waza National Park: This park is located in the Far North Region of Cameroon and is home to a variety of wildlife such as elephants, lions, giraffes, and more. You can go on a safari tour to see them up close and learn about their habitats.
- Explore the beaches of Limbe: Located in the Southwest Region, Limbe has beautiful black sand beaches that are perfect for relaxing and enjoying the view. You can also visit the Limbe Wildlife Center to see endangered animals up close and learn about conservation efforts.
- Hike Mount Cameroon: As the highest mountain in West Africa, climbing Mount Cameroon is a must-do activity for adventure enthusiasts. It takes about 3 days to reach the summit and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Week 2:
- Visit the Bamenda Highlands: Located in the Northwest Region, the highlands are known for their lush rolling hills and picturesque scenery. You can visit local villages to learn about the traditions and culture of the people who live there.
- Explore the Mandara Mountains: These mountains are located in the Extreme North Region and offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. You can hike through the mountains and visit local markets to experience the local culture.
- Experience Cameroon's food and nightlife: Throughout your trip, make sure to try traditional Cameroonian dishes like Ndole and Eru, and explore the local nightlife scene with its vibrant music and dance culture.
I hope these suggestions give you an idea of what to do during your two weeks in Cameroon. Each of these destinations offers unique experiences and opportunities to learn about the country's culture and natural beauty. Enjoy your trip!
Culture
Music and dance are integral parts of Cameroonian ceremonies, festivals, social gatherings, and storytelling. Traditional dances are highly choreographed and separate men and women or forbid participation by one sex altogether. The dances' purposes range from pure entertainment to religious devotion. Traditionally, music is transmitted orally. In a typical performance, a chorus of singers echoes a soloist.
Musical accompaniment may be as simple as clapping hands and stamping feet, but traditional instruments include bells worn by dancers, clappers, drums and talking drums, flutes, horns, rattles, scrapers, stringed instruments, whistles, and xylophones; combinations of these vary by ethnic group and region. Some performers sing complete songs alone, accompanied by a harplike instrument.
Popular music styles include ambasse bey of the coast, assiko of the Bassa, mangambeu of the Bangangte, and tsamassi of the Bamileke. Nigerian music has influenced Anglophone Cameroonian performers, and Prince Nico Mbarga's highlife hit "Sweet Mother" is the top-selling African record in history.
The two most popular music styles are makossa and bikutsi. Makossa developed in Douala and mixes folk music, highlife, soul, and Congo music. Performers such as Manu Dibango, Francis Bebey, Moni Bilé, and Petit-Pays popularised the style worldwide in the 1970s and 1980s. Bikutsi originated as war music among the Ewondo. Artists such as Anne-Marie Nzié developed it into a popular dance music beginning in the 1940s, and performers such as Mama Ohandja and Les Têtes Brulées popularised it internationally during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
The most notable holiday associated with patriotism in Cameroon is National Day, also called Unity Day. Among the most notable religious holidays are Assumption Day, and Ascension Day, which is typically 39 days after Easter. In the Northwest and Southwest provinces, collectively called Ambazonia, October 1 is considered a national holiday, a date Ambazonians consider the day of their independence from Cameroon.
Cuisine varies by region, but a large, one-course, evening meal is common throughout the country. A typical dish is based on cocoyams, maize, cassava (manioc), millet, plantains, potatoes, rice, or yams, often pounded into dough-like fufu. This is served with a sauce, soup, or stew made from greens, groundnuts, palm oil, or other ingredients. Meat and fish are popular but expensive additions, with chicken often reserved for special occasions. Dishes are often quite spicy; seasonings include salt, red pepper sauce, and maggi.
Cutlery is common, but food is traditionally manipulated with the right hand. Breakfast consists of leftovers of bread and fruit with coffee or tea. Generally breakfast is made from wheat flour in various different foods such as puff-puff (doughnuts), accra banana made from bananas and flour, bean cakes, and many more. Snacks are popular, especially in larger towns where they may be bought from street vendors.
Cameroon's relatively large and diverse population is likewise diverse in its fashions. Climate, religious, ethnic and cultural beliefs, and the influences of colonialism, imperialism, and globalization are all factors in contemporary Cameroonian dress.
Notable articles of clothing include: Pagnes, sarongs worn by Cameroon women; Chechia, a traditional hat; kwa, a male handbag; and Gandura, male custom attire. Wrappers and loincloths are used extensively by both women and men but their use varies by region, with influences from Fulani styles more present in the north and Igbo and Yoruba styles more often in the south and west.
Imane Ayissi is one of Cameroon's top fashion designers and has received international recognition.
Traditional arts and crafts are practiced throughout the country for commercial, decorative, and religious purposes. Woodcarvings and sculptures are especially common. The high-quality clay of the western highlands is used for pottery and ceramics. Other crafts include basket weaving, beadworking, brass and bronze working, calabash carving and painting, embroidery, and leather working. Traditional housing styles use local materials and vary from temporary wood-and-leaf shelters of nomadic Mbororo to the rectangular mud-and-thatch homes of southern peoples. Dwellings of materials such as cement and tin are increasingly common. Contemporary art is mainly promoted by independent cultural organizations (Doual'art, Africréa) and artist-run initiatives (Art Wash, Atelier Viking, ArtBakery).
Cameroonian literature has concentrated on both European and African themes. Colonial-era writers such as Louis-Marie Pouka and Sankie Maimo were educated by European missionary societies and advocated assimilation into European culture to bring Cameroon into the modern world. After World War II, writers such as Mongo Beti and Ferdinand Oyono analysed and criticised colonialism and rejected assimilation.
Shortly after independence, filmmakers such as Jean-Paul Ngassa and Thérèse Sita-Bella explored similar themes. In the 1960s, Mongo Beti, Ferdinand Léopold Oyono and other writers explored postcolonialism, problems of African development, and the recovery of African identity. In the mid-1970s, filmmakers such as Jean-Pierre Dikongué Pipa and Daniel Kamwa dealt with the conflicts between traditional and postcolonial society. Literature and films during the next two decades focused more on wholly Cameroonian themes.
National policy strongly advocates sport in all forms. Traditional sports include canoe racing and wrestling, and several hundred runners participate in the 40 km Mount Cameroon Race of Hope each year. Cameroon is one of the few tropical countries to have competed in the Winter Olympics.
Sport in Cameroon is dominated by football. Amateur football clubs abound, organised along ethnic lines or under corporate sponsors. The national team has been one of the most successful in Africa since its strong showing in the 1982 and 1990 FIFA World Cups. Cameroon has won five African Cup of Nations titles and the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics.
Cameroon was the host country of the Women Africa Cup of Nations in November–December 2016, the 2020 African Nations Championship and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The women's football team is known as the "Indomitable Lionesses", and like their men's counterparts, are also successful at international stage, although it has not won any major trophy.
Cricket has also entered into Cameroon as an emerging sport with the Cameroon Cricket Federation participating in international matches
Cameroon has produced multiple National Basketball Association players including Pascal Siakam, Joel Embiid, D. J. Strawberry, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, Christian Koloko, and Luc Mbah a Moute.
The former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou hails from Cameroon.
Religion
Cameroon has a high level of religious freedom and diversity. The predominant faith is Christianity, practised by about two-thirds of the population, while Islam is a significant minority faith, adhered to by about one-fourth. In addition, traditional faiths are practised by many. Muslims are most concentrated in the north, while Christians are concentrated primarily in the southern and western regions, but practitioners of both faiths can be found throughout the country. Large cities have significant populations of both groups. Muslims in Cameroon are divided into Sufis, Salafis, Shias, and non-denominational Muslims. People from the North-West and South-West provinces, which used to be a part of British Cameroons, have the highest proportion of Protestants. The French-speaking regions of the southern and western regions are largely Catholic. Southern ethnic groups predominantly follow Christian or traditional African animist beliefs, or a syncretic combination of the two. People widely believe in witchcraft, and the government outlaws such practices. Suspected witches are often subject to mob violence. The Islamist jihadist group Ansar al-Islam has been reported as operating in North Cameroon.
In the northern regions, the locally dominant Fulani ethnic group is mostly Muslim, but the overall population is fairly evenly divided among Muslims, Christians, and followers of indigenous religious beliefs (called Kirdi ("pagan") by the Fulani). The Bamum ethnic group of the West Region is largely Muslim. Native traditional religions are practised in rural areas throughout the country but rarely are practised publicly in cities, in part because many indigenous religious groups are intrinsically local in character.
Demographics
The population of Cameroon was in. The life expectancy was 62.3 years (60.6 years for males and 64 years for females).
Cameroon has slightly more women (50.5%) than men (49.5%). Over 60% of the population is under age 25. People over 65 years of age account for only 3.11% of the total population.
Cameroon's population is almost evenly divided between urban and rural dwellers. Population density is highest in the large urban centres, the western highlands, and the northeastern plain. Douala, Yaoundé, and Garoua are the largest cities. In contrast, the Adamawa Plateau, southeastern Bénoué depression, and most of the South Cameroon Plateau are sparsely populated.
According to the World Health Organization, the fertility rate was 4.8 in 2013 with a population growth rate of 2.56%.
People from the overpopulated western highlands and the underdeveloped north are moving to the coastal plantation zone and urban centres for employment. Smaller movements are occurring as workers seek employment in lumber mills and plantations in the south and east. Although the national sex ratio is relatively even, these out-migrants are primarily males, which leads to unbalanced ratios in some regions.
Both monogamous and polygamous marriage are practised, and the average Cameroonian family is large and extended. In the north, women tend to the home, and men herd cattle or work as farmers. In the south, women grow the family's food, and men provide meat and grow cash crops. Cameroonian society is male-dominated, and violence and discrimination against women is common.
The number of distinct ethnic and linguistic groups in Cameroon is estimated to be between 230 and 282. The Adamawa Plateau broadly bisects these into northern and southern divisions. The northern peoples are Sudanic groups, who live in the central highlands and the northern lowlands, and the Fulani, who are spread throughout northern Cameroon. A small number of Shuwa Arabs live near Lake Chad. Southern Cameroon is inhabited by speakers of Bantu and Semi-Bantu languages. Bantu-speaking groups inhabit the coastal and equatorial zones, while speakers of Semi-Bantu languages live in the Western grassfields. Some 5,000 Gyele and Baka Pygmy peoples roam the southeastern and coastal rainforests or live in small, roadside settlements. Nigerians make up the largest group of foreign nationals.
In 2007, Cameroon hosted approximately 97,400 refugees and asylum seekers. Of these, 49,300 were from the Central African Republic (many driven west by war), 41,600 from Chad, and 2,900 from Nigeria. Kidnappings of Cameroonian citizens by Central African bandits have increased since 2005.
In the first months of 2014, thousands of refugees fleeing the violence in the Central African Republic arrived in Cameroon.
On 4 June 2014, AlertNet reported: "Almost 90,000 people have fled to neighbouring Cameroon since December and up to 2,000 a week, mostly women and children, are still crossing the border, the United Nations said.
'Women and children are arriving in Cameroon in a shocking state, after weeks, sometimes months, on the road, foraging for food,' said Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP)."
The official percentage of French and English speakers by the Presidency of Cameroon is estimated to be 70% and 30% respectively. German, the language of the original colonisers, has long since been displaced by French and English. Cameroonian Pidgin English is the lingua franca in the formerly British-administered territories. A mixture of English, French, and Pidgin called Camfranglais has been gaining popularity in urban centres since the mid-1970s.
In addition to the colonial languages, there are approximately 250 other languages spoken by nearly 20 million Cameroonians. It is because of this that Cameroon is considered one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.
In 2017 there were language protests by the anglophone population against perceived oppression by francophone speakers. The military was deployed against the protesters and people were killed, hundreds imprisoned and thousands fled the country. This culminated in the declaration of an independent Republic of Ambazonia, which has since evolved into the Anglophone Crisis. It is estimated that by June 2020, 740,000 people had been internally displaced as a result of this crisis.
Cameroon has a high level of religious freedom and diversity. The predominant faith is Christianity, practised by about two-thirds of the population, while Islam is a significant minority faith, adhered to by about one-fourth. In addition, traditional faiths are practised by many. Muslims are most concentrated in the north, while Christians are concentrated primarily in the southern and western regions, but practitioners of both faiths can be found throughout the country. Large cities have significant populations of both groups. Muslims in Cameroon are divided into Sufis, Salafis, Shias, and non-denominational Muslims. People from the North-West and South-West provinces, which used to be a part of British Cameroons, have the highest proportion of Protestants. The French-speaking regions of the southern and western regions are largely Catholic. Southern ethnic groups predominantly follow Christian or traditional African animist beliefs, or a syncretic combination of the two. People widely believe in witchcraft, and the government outlaws such practices. Suspected witches are often subject to mob violence. The Islamist jihadist group Ansar al-Islam has been reported as operating in North Cameroon.
In the northern regions, the locally dominant Fulani ethnic group is mostly Muslim, but the overall population is fairly evenly divided among Muslims, Christians, and followers of indigenous religious beliefs (called Kirdi ("pagan") by the Fulani). The Bamum ethnic group of the West Region is largely Muslim. Native traditional religions are practised in rural areas throughout the country but rarely are practised publicly in cities, in part because many indigenous religious groups are intrinsically local in character.
In 2013, the total adult literacy rate of Cameroon was estimated to be 71.3%. Among youths age 15–24 the literacy rate was 85.4% for males and 76.4% for females. Most children have access to state-run schools that are cheaper than private and religious facilities. The educational system is a mixture of British and French precedents with most instruction in English or French.
Cameroon has one of the highest school attendance rates in Africa. Girls attend school less regularly than boys do because of cultural attitudes, domestic duties, early marriage, pregnancy, and sexual harassment. Although attendance rates are higher in the south, a disproportionate number of teachers are stationed there, leaving northern schools chronically understaffed. In 2013, the primary school enrollment rate was 93.5%.
School attendance in Cameroon is also affected by child labour. Indeed, the United States Department of Labor Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor reported that 56% of children aged 5 to 14 were working children and that almost 53% of children aged 7 to 14 combined work and school. In December 2014, a List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor issued by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs mentioned Cameroon among the countries that resorted to child labor in the production of cocoa. The quality of health care is generally low. Life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 56 years in 2012, with 48 healthy life years expected. Fertility rate remains high in Cameroon with an average of 4.8 births per woman and an average mother's age of 19.7 years old at first birth. In Cameroon, there is only one doctor for every 5,000 people, according to the World Health Organization. In 2014, just 4.1% of total GDP expenditure was allocated to healthcare. Due to financial cuts in the health care system, there are few professionals. Doctors and nurses who were trained in Cameroon, emigrate because in Cameroon the payment is poor while the workload is high. Nurses are unemployed even though their help is needed. Some of them help out voluntarily so they will not lose their skills. Outside the major cities, facilities are often dirty and poorly equipped.
In 2012, the top three deadly diseases were HIV/AIDS, lower respiratory tract infection, and diarrheal diseases. Endemic diseases include dengue fever, filariasis, leishmaniasis, malaria, meningitis, schistosomiasis, and sleeping sickness. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in 2016 was estimated at 3.8% for those aged 15–49, although a strong stigma against the illness keeps the number of reported cases artificially low. 46,000 children under age 14 were estimated to be living with HIV in 2016. In Cameroon, 58% of those living with HIV know their status, and just 37% receive ARV treatment. In 2016, 29,000 deaths due to AIDS occurred in both adults and children.
Breast ironing, a traditional practice that is prevalent in Cameroon, may affect girls' health. Female genital mutilation (FGM), while not widespread, is practiced among some populations; according to a 2013 UNICEF report, 1% of women in Cameroon have undergone FGM. Also impacting women and girls' health, the contraceptive prevalence rate is estimated to be just 34.4% in 2014. Traditional healers remain a popular alternative to evidence-based medicine.
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