Portal:Cameroon

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The Cameroon Portal

Flag of Cameroon Coat of arms of Cameroon

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, 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. Cameroon's population of nearly 31 million people speak 250 native languages, in addition to the national tongues of English and French, or both. Early inhabitants of the territory included the Sao civilisation around Lake Chad and the Baka hunter-gatherers in the southeastern rainforest. Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camarões (Shrimp River), which became Cameroon in English. Fulani soldiers founded the Adamawa Emirate in the north in the 19th century, and various ethnic groups of the west and northwest established powerful chiefdoms and fondoms.

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. Large numbers of Cameroonians live as subsistence farmers. The country is often referred to as "Africa in miniature" for its geological, linguistic and cultural diversity. Its natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. Cameroon's highest point, at almost 4,100 metres (13,500 ft), is Mount Cameroon in the Southwest Region.

Cameroon's most populous cities are Douala on the Wouri River, its economic capital and main seaport; Yaoundé, its political capital; and Garoua. Limbé in the southwest has a natural seaport. Cameroon is well known for its native music styles, particularly Makossa, Njang and Bikutsi, and its successful national football team. It is a member state of the African Union, the United Nations, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the Commonwealth of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. (Full article...)

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Cameroon first participated at the Olympic Games in 1964, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then. The nation withdrew from the 1976 Summer Olympics after three days of competition, to join the broad African boycott in response to the participation of South Africa, who still had sporting links with apartheid South Africa. Cameroon has also participated in the Winter Olympic Games on one occasion, in 2002, with a single representative, Isaac Menyoli.

Cameroonian athletes have won a total of six medals, including the gold medal in football at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

The Cameroon Olympic and Sports Committee was created and recognized by the IOC in 1963. (Full article...)

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... that the long jumper Fred Salle originally represented England in international competitions, then changed allegiance to Cameroon before returning to England some years later?

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

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