Portal topics: Activities; Culture; Geography; Health; History; Mathematics; Nature; People; Philosophy; Religion; Society; Technology; Random portal

The Cameroon Portal

Flag of Cameroon Coat of arms of Cameroon

Cameroon (/ˌkæməˈruːn/ ^ⓘ CAM-ə-ROON; French: Cameroun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (French: République du Cameroun), 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...)

Refresh with new selections below (purge)

Selected article - show another

Cameroon

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Cameroon face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are illegal in Cameroon and LGBT people face prevalent discrimination among the broader population. As of 2020, Cameroon "currently prosecutes consensual same sex conduct more aggressively than almost any country in the world". (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Did you know (auto-generated)

No recent additions

edit

More did you know - show another

...that the most popular deity worshipped by the Duala peoples of Cameroon is a mermaid called a jengu?

More did you know

General images - show another

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

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