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CAMEROONIAN Facts & Figures

Size: 475,442 km²

Population: 19,100,000

Capital: Yaoundé

Weather / Climate:

Cameroonis sometimes described as "Africa in miniature" because it exhibits all the major climates and vegetation of the continent: mountains, desert, rain forest, savanna grassland, and ocean coastland. Cameroon can be divided into five geographic zones. These are distinguished by dominant physical, climatic, and vegetative features.

The climate varies with terrain, from tropical along the coast to semiarid and hot in the north. Exceedingly hot and humid, the coastal belt includes some of the wettest places on earth. For example, Debundscha, at the base of Mt. Cameroon, has an average annual rainfall of 405 inches (10,287 mm).

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon

CAMEROONIAN languages

Cameroon is home to 230 languages. These include 55 Afro-Asiatic languages, two Nilo-Saharan languages, and 173 Niger–Congo languages. This latter group is divided into one West Atlantic language (Fulfulde), 32 Adamawa-Ubangui languages, and 142 Benue–Congo languages (130 of which are Bantu languages).^[2]

English and French are official languages, a heritage of Cameroon's colonial past as both a colony of the United Kingdom and France from 1916 to 1960. The nation strives toward bilingualism, but in reality, very few Cameroonians speak both French and English, and many speak neither. The government has established several bilingual schools in an effort to teach both languages more evenly.^[3] Cameroon is a member of both the Commonwealth of Nations and La Francophonie.

Most people in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest provinces speak Cameroonian Pidgin English as a lingua franca.^[4] Fulfulde serves the same function in the north, and Ewondo in much of the Center, South, and East provinces.^[5] Camfranglais (or Frananglais) is a relatively new pidgin communication form emerging in urban areas and other locations where Anglophone and Francophone Cameroonians meet and interact. Popular singers have used the hybrid language and added to its popularity.^[6]

There is little literature, radio, or television programming in native Cameroonian languages. Nevertheless, a large number of Cameroonian languages have alphabets or other writing systems, many developed by the Christian missionary group SIL International, who have translated the Bible, Christian hymns, and other materials. The General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages was developed in the late 1970s as an orthographic system for all Cameroonian languages.

Sultan Ibrahim Njoya developed the script for the Bamum language.^[5]

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Cameroon

CAMEROONIAN culture

While referring to Cameroon as 'Africa in miniature' has become a bit of a cliché, this statement certainly rings true: everything you would expect from the African continent seems to be consolidated in this diverse slice of land. The south boasts tropical rainforests and deserted golden beaches; the northern parts are awash with great expanses of desert, lakes and savannah; volcanic mountains dominate the southwest and northwest, and game-viewing areas scattered throughout the country offer ample opportunity to observe impressive wildlife, including elephants and lions.

In the first century, the Sao people settled around Lake Chad and it is from them that much of the country's remarkable sculpture originates. Present-day Cameroon was at the heartland of an area that extended into Nigeria, under the control of the Duala people. An estimated 200 distinct ethnic groups live in the region, the largest of which is the Bamileke, a tribe occupying the west and centre of the country. Equatorial Bantu live in the area between the Congo basin and the plateaux of the interior, while small hunting bands of pygmies dwell in the remote southern forests.

The Portuguese arrived in the 15th century; later, in the 1880s, the area became a German protectorate. But after Germany's defeat in WWI, Cameroon was divided between Britain and France. French Cameroon achieved independence in 1957, under the control of the principal pro-independence party, the Union Nationale Camerounaise (UNC).

The modern state of Cameroon was created in 1961 by the unification of two former colonies, British and French. Since then it has struggled from one-party rule to a multi-party system in which the freedom of expression is severely limited. Cameroon began its independence with a bloody insurrection, which was suppressed only with the help of French forces. It was followed by 20 years of repressive government under President Ahmadou Ahidjo. Nonetheless, Cameroon saw investment in agriculture, education, health care and transport. In 1982 Mr Ahidjo was succeeded by his prime minister, Paul Biya. Faced with popular discontent, Mr Biya allowed multi-party presidential elections in 1992, which he won. He went on to win further presidential elections in 1997, 2004 and - after a clause in the constitution limiting the number of presidential terms was removed - 2011. In 1994 and 1996 Cameroon and Nigeria fought over the disputed, oil-rich Bakassi peninsula. Nigeria withdrew its troops from the area in 2006 in line with an international court ruling, which awarded sovereignty to Cameroon.

Internally, there are tensions over the two mainly English-speaking southern provinces. A secessionist movement, the Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC), emerged in the 1990s and has been declared illegal. Cameroon has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa. However, the country's progress is hampered by a level of corruption that is among the highest in the world. In 1986, Cameroon made the world headlines when poisonous gases escaped from Lake Nyos, killing nearly 2,000 people.

Poverty blights much of Cameroon's infrastructure; meaning transport and accommodation are underdeveloped. Outstanding border disputes with Cameroon's powerful neighbour Nigeria mean relations are somewhat awkward and the border region is still considered unsafe. The areas bordering Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) are also unstable.

Aside from certain no-go areas, Cameroon offers a wealth of activities and beautiful destinations to keep the adventurous travellers enthralled. From its verdant rainforests to its powerful creatures, this country is bursting with life; go, before it becomes 'discovered'.

The majority of the population hold Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) or traditional animist beliefs. The sizeable remainder are followers of Islam. Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. In the north, where the population is largely Muslim, Islamic traditions should be respected. Visitors should never step inside a Muslim prayer circle of rocks. In other rural areas, where traditional beliefs predominate, it is essential to use tact. Cameras should be used with discretion, particularly in rural areas. Always ask permission before taking a photograph. Do not photograph airports, military establishments, official buildings, or military personnel in uniform.

Holidays

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that ends with Djoulde Soumae (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Djoulde Soumae itself. Djoulde Soumae may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

· 01 January – New Year's Day

· 11 February – Youth Day

· February/March – Eid Milad Nabi, Prophet’s Anniversary

· April – Easter

· 01 May – Labour Day

· 20 May – National Day

· 21 May – Sheep Festival

· June – Ascension of the Prophet

· 15 August – Assumption

· August – Djoulde Soumae, End of Ramadan

· 01 October – Unification Day

· October/November – Eid Al Adha, Festival of Sacrifice

· November – Hijra, Islamic New Year

· 25 December – Christmas

Taken from:

www.bbc.co.uk

www.worldtravelguide.net

CAMEROONIAN people

The demographic profile of Cameroon is complex for a country of its population. Cameroon comprises an estimated 250 distinct ethnic groups, which may be formed into five large regional-cultural divisions:

· western highlanders(Semi-Bantu or grassfielders), including the Bamileke, Bamum (or Bamoun), and many smaller Tikar groups in the Northwest (est. 38% of total population);

· coastal tropical forest peoples, including the Bassa, Duala (or Douala), and many smaller groups in the Southwest (12%);

· southern tropical forest peoples, including the Beti-Pahuin, Bulu (a subgroup of Beti-Pahuin), Fang (subgroup of Beti-Pahuin), Maka, Njem, and Baka pygmies (18%);

· predominantly Islamic peoplesof the northern semi-arid regions (the Sahel) and central highlands, including the Fulani (French: Peulor Peuhl; Fula: Ful?e) (14%); and

· the "Kirdi", non-Islamic or recently Islamic peoples of the northern desert and central highlands (18%).

An up-to-date demographic profile is unavailable from the country's government, which hasn't published census data since 1976.

The Cameroon government held two national censuses during the country's first 44 years as an independent country, in 1976 and again in 1987. Results from the second head count were never published. A third census, expected to take years to product results, began on November 11, 2005, with a three-week interviewing phase. It is one of a series of projects and reforms required by the International Monetary Fund as prerequisites for foreign debt relief.

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_cameroon

CAMEROONIAN food

Cameroonian cuisine is one of the most varied in Africa due to its location on the crossroads between the north, west, and centre of the continent; added to this is the profound influence of French food, a legacy of the colonial era.

The national dish of Cameroon is ndolé, a stew consisting of fish or beef, nuts and bitter greens.

Staple foods in Cameroon include cassava, yam, rice, plantain, potato, maize, beans, and millet. The French introduced French bread and Italian pasta, which are not as widely consumed, however, due to their price. The main source of protein for most inhabitants is fish, with poultry and meat being too expensive for anything other than special occasions. Bush meat, however, is commonly consumed, some of the most sought after species being the pangolin, the porcupine and the giant rat. There is also a thriving trade in such exotic bush meat species as chimpanzee and gorilla.

The soil of most of the country is very fertile and a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, both domestic and imported species, are grown. Common vegetables include tomatoes, bitterleaf, cassava leaves, okra, and garden egg (eggplant).

Among Cameroonian specialties are brochettes (a kind of barbecued kebab made from either chicken, beef, or goat), sangah (a mixture of maize, cassava leaf and palmnut juice) and ndolé (a spicy stew containing bitterleaf greens, meat, shrimp, pork rind, and peanut paste).

Taken from wikipedia

Places to go in CAMEROON

Starting with shopping around, local handicrafts include highly decorated pots, drinking horns, jugs, bottles and cups, wood carvings, great earthenware bowls and delicate pottery, dishes and trays, mats and rugs woven from grass, raffia, jewellery and camel hair, cotton and beadwork garments. These are sold in the marchés artisanales (tourist or craft markets) found in large towns and tourist areas. Some stallholders offer items which they describe as antique: in many cases they're merely distressed. Special permission must be obtained from the Delegation Provinciale de Tourisme in Douala or Youndé to take genuine antiquities out of the country. The main markets in most towns sell fresh produce, cheap clothing and household essentials rather than souvenirs, but can be good places to find African-style printed cotton fabric.

If you are after partying, in Douala and Yaoundé particularly, nightclubs and casinos can be found independently or within most good hotels. Both Douala and Yaoundé have a few sophisticated restaurants which double as live music venues and attract the expat crowd. There are also plenty of basic bars and clubs, some of which host live bands at weekends. The music on offer varies from local sounds to reggae, rap and rock. There are no licensing hours, and hotel bars stay open as long as there is custom. Every large town also has at least one cinema.

Festival National des Arts et de la Culture (FENAC) is Cameroon's biggest non-religious festival, which takes place in Maroua in Decembe. It is a lively spectacle of parades, shows, cultural events and happy celebration.

Yaoundé is Cameroon's bustling capital and straddles seven hills. Attractions include the Benedictine Monastery's Musée d'Art Cameroonais, a collection of traditional arts and crafts on Mont Fébé, and the newer National Museum of Yaoundé.

Foumban is culture-rich town, where you can discover many traditional buildings dating from Cameroon's period of German colonisation, and a Sultan's Palace completed in 1917. The Musée du Palais, the Musée des Arts et des Traditions Bamoun and the market are all well worth a visit.

Limbé is a pleasant port town (formerly Victoria). It has a botanical garden, a 'jungle village' and seafront fish restaurants; nearby is a string of dazzling white sandy beaches.

Rhumsiki village features a maze of paths linking the small farms known as the Kapsiki; the Kirdi live here, whose customs and folklore, including crab sorcery, have changed little for centuries. The village is framed by the soaring Kapsiki mountains.

In Waza National Park twitchers can spot a rich variety of birds, including eagles, crested cranes, maribous, pelicans, ducks, geese and guinea-fowl. Elephants, giraffes, antelopes, hartebeest, cobs, lions, cheetahs and warthogs also roam the forest and vast expanse of grassy and wet plains.

Wildlife-watching in Lobéké National Park is home to elusive families of western lowland gorillas. Visitors can spend the night in a specially built watchtower for the best chance of viewing these and a variety of animals, such as elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, red river hog, yellow-backed duiker and bongo antelope.

Exploring Korup National Park, Africa's oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest offers the chance to see a wide variety of primates, birds, trees and other plants, including dozens of recently discovered species, while fording waist-high pools in 100% humidity.

Kalamaloué Reserve, though small, offers plenty of opportunities for viewing several species of antelope, monkeys and warthogs. Buffalo, lions and elephants roam the virgin forests inland in the Campo Game Reserve region.

BénouéNational Park, covering 180,000 hectares (444,790 acres), is home to buffalo, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, hyena, giraffes, panthers, lions and a variety of primates, and can be visited all year round.

BoubaNdjidah National Park, situated on the banks of Mayo Lidi River, in the far north of the country, is a popular location for sighting the black rhinoceros. Other wildlife includes lions, elephants, élan and buffalo.

Learn about Cameroon's forest people, including their traditional medicine, hunting methods, and dances, during week-long expeditions to the southeast region.

MountCameroon, towering at 4,095m (13,435ft), the highest mountain in West Africa and Africa's highest active volcano is a popular mountaineering destination. Bueau, a pretty colonial town complete with red post-boxes, provides an excellent base and the climb takes three to four days.

Driving through the Central Highlands offers the splendid scenery encountered on the road south from the Highlands to Nkongsamba and Douala. It features some spectacular valleys and pretty waterfalls.

The northern region near Mora, the highland area around Bamenda in the southwest and the Mandara Mountains west of Maroua are good for trekking. Jungle Village in Limbe Botanic Gardens features a variety of trails. In Mindif, a park south of the northern town of Maroua, see the huge rock known as Le Dent de Mindif, which is highly a regarded rock climbing spot.

Taken from: www.worldtravelguide.net

Doing business in CAMEROON

For a quarter-century following independence, Cameroon was one of the most prosperous countries in Africa. The drop in commodity prices for its principal exports petroleum, cocoa, coffee, and cotton — in the mid-1980s, combined with an overvalued currency and economic mismanagement, led to a decade-long recession. Real per capita GDP fell by more than 60% from 1986 to 1994. The current account and fiscal deficits widened, and foreign debt grew. Yet because of its oil reserves and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon still has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cameroon’s financial system is the largest in the CEMAC region. Access to financial services is limited, particularly for SMEs. Aside from a traditional tendency for banks to prefer dealing with large, established companies, determining factors are also found in interest rates for loans to SMEs being capped at 15 percent and being heavily taxed. As of 2006, bank loans to SMEs hardly reached 15 percent of total outstanding loans.

Less than 5 percent of Cameroonians have access to a bank account. While the microfinance sector is consequently becoming increasingly important, its development is hampered by a loose regulatory and supervisory framework for microfinance institutions (MFIs). The banking sector is highly concentrated and dominated by foreign commercial banks. 6 out of the 11 largest commercial banks are foreign-owned, and the three largest banks hold more than 50 percent of total financial system assets. While foreign banks generally display good solvency ratios, small domestic banks are in a much weaker position. Their capitalization is well below the average of banks in the CEMAC region and their profits are close to 2 percent, compared to 20 percent for foreign banks in the country. This is partially explained by the high levels of non-performing loans, which reached 12 percent in 2007, leading to most banks holding large amounts of excess reserves as a percentage of deposits and large levels of unutilized liquidity.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Meeting Etiquette

Much of the information in the general etiquette section applies here.
It is important to use a person’s honorific title and surname when conversing. Government officials may be addressed as “Excellency” without using their surname.
Honorific and professional titles in French or English should be used in the appropriate area of the country.
Wait to be invited before moving to a first name basis.
Business cards are given without formal ritual.
Present and receive business cards with the right hand only or with both hands.
Present your card so it is readable to the recipient.
Make a point of studying any business card you receive. It is a common practice to comment on some of the information or the card design.

Business Meetings

Meetings are not as private as those in Europe or North America may be used to. The room can actually be shared with other people or people may walk into a meeting half-way through and interrupt. One should not take this as a sign of disrespect or lack of seriousness; once the interruption is over things will get back on track.

Agendas are really part of the Cameroonian business culture. If used they generally act as a starting point for discussions rather than a map.

There is a formal nature to meetings in Cameroon. It is suggested that you not remove your suit jacket unless invited to do so, as this is seen as too casual.

Business communication is relatively formal and follows rules of etiquette and protocol. It is rude to turn your back on someone who is senior to you, even if it is merely to shake hands with someone else.

Cameroonians are expressive communicators who practice conversational overlap - when they think that they know what you are about to say, they will interrupt you to agree, disagree, or change the subject. Many Cameroonians use proverbs when speaking to enhance their communication.

Taken from:

www.kwintessential.co.uk

www.wikipedia.com