Cameroon

Cameroon

Zak KlehrAG Navarro

History

• Early inhabitants = Bakas (Pygmies)

• Fulani- Islamic people of the western Sahel- conquered most of northern Cameroon

• Portuguese on coast but hindered by malaria

• Important part of Muslim slave trade network

History• Christian missions established a

presence in the late 19th century and continue to play a role in Cameroonian life

• Colonized by Germany as Kamerun(capital Buea and later Yaounde)– Partitioned between Britain and

France (larger portion) after WWI• Union of the People of

Cameroon rebel against French—tens of thousands to hundreds of thousand deaths– Independence in 1960 as the

Republic of Cameroon

Population• 250 Ethnic groups– Form 5 large regional-cultural groups

» Western highlanders (grassfielders) (38% of population)

» Coastal tropical forest peoples (12%)

» Southern tropical forest people (18%)

» Predominantly Islamic people (14%)

» “Kirdi”—non-islamic or recently ismamic people of the northern desert and central highlands

Greetings• When greeting

someone superior in age or position, men often lower their head or avert their heads

• Elders greeted first• Greeting not fast; slow

and ask about family

Customs & Etiquette• Dress well but no talking

of business during social functions

• Home is a private place, no asking for a tour

• Good table manners: Men eat first, then women, then children. Invited women eat with the men

• Eldest get food first and then others.

• Only eat with the right hand

• Chicken gizzard is the most prized meal

Works Cited• https://www.cia.gov/library/

publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cm.html