Dictionary of Meaning
<<Back
Please select a letter:
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z |
0-9
Click here for Shopping
Cameroon
*** Shopping-Tip: Cameroon
{{Infobox_Country
|native_name = ''République du Cameroun''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Cameroon
|common_name = Cameroon
|image_flag = Flag of Cameroon.svg
|image_coat = Cameroon coa.png
|image_map = LocationCameroon.png
|national_motto = Paix, Travail, Patrie
(
French language French: Peace, Work, Fatherland)
|national_anthem =
Chant de Ralliement
|official_languages =
French language French and
English language English
|capital =
Yaoundé
|latd= 3|latm=52 |latNS= N|longd=11 |longm=31|longEW=E
|largest_city =
Douala
|government_type =
|leader_titles =
Presidents of Cameroon PresidentHeads of Government of Cameroon Prime Minister
|leader_names =
Paul BiyaEphraïm Inoni
|area_rank = 52nd
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|area= 475,440
|areami²= 183,568
|percent_water = 1.3
|population_estimate = 16,380,005
|population_estimate_rank = 59th
|population_estimate_year = July 2005
|population_census = 15,746,179
|population_census_year = 2003
|population_density = 34
|population_densitymi² = 88
|population_density_rank = 138th
|GDP_PPP = $32.35 billion
|GDP_PPP_rank = 91st
|GDP_PPP_year= 2005
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $2,176
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 140th
|sovereignty_type =
Independence
|established_events = From
France & United Kingdom UK
|established_dates =
January 1,
1960
|HDI = 0.497
|HDI_rank = 148th
|HDI_year = 2003
|HDI_category =
low
|currency =
CFA franc
|currency_code = XAF
|country_code =
|time_zone =
|utc_offset = +1
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|cctld =
.cm
|calling_code = 237
|footnotes =
}}
The '''Republic of Cameroon''' is a unitary republic of central
Africa. It borders
Nigeria,
Chad,
Central African Republic,
Republic of Congo,
Gabon,
Equatorial Guinea and the
Gulf of Guinea. Originally a
German Empire German colony, it was split after
World War I among the French and
United Kingdom British. In
1960,
France French Cameroun became an independent republic, merging with the southern part of British Cameroons in
1961 to form the ''Federal Republic of Cameroon''. It was renamed the ''United Republic of Cameroon'' in
1972, and the ''Republic of Cameroon'' or ''République du Cameroun'' in
1984 (its official languages are
English language English and
French language French).
Compared to other African countries, Cameroon enjoys relative political and social stability, which has in turn permitted the development of
agriculture,
roads, and
railroad railways, as well as an extensive
petroleum industry. Despite movement toward political reform, however, power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic
oligarchy.
History
''Main article:
History of Cameroon''
The first inhabitants of Cameroon were the
pygmy Baka (Cameroon and Gabon) Baka people. They were largely replaced and absorbed by Bantu tribes during
Bantu human migration migrations.
The first
European contact was in the
16th century with the
Portugal Portuguese, but they did not stay. The Portuguese did however give the would-be country its name. Explorers on the Sanaga River noted the abundance of prawns and gave the land the name ''camarão'', the
Portuguese language Portuguese word for prawn. The first permanent
colonialism colonial settlements were started in the late
1870s, with the
German Empire emerging as the major European Power. With the defeat of Germany in
World War I, Cameroon became a
League of Nations Mandate territory split between
France French Cameroun and
British Empire British Cameroons in
1919. These mandates were converted into
United Nations Trusteeships in
1946.
In
1960, French Cameroun gained its independence and became The Cameroon Republic. It was joined in
1961 by the southern part of the British Cameroons. The remainder of the British Cameroons became part of
Nigeria at the same time. The new coalition government was led by
Ahmadou Ahidjo who led a crackdown on
rebellion rebel groups who had remained since before independence.
Ahidjo stepped down in
1982 and was succeeded by the current president,
Paul Biya. Biya has won numerous elections, but the fairness of these elections has been questioned. The last elections were held on
October 11,
2004.
Politics
Image:Paul biya and colin powell.jpg Paul Biya.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|left|Cameroon President [[Paul Biya (right).html" title="Meaning of left|Cameroon President [[Paul Biya">thumb|left|Cameroon President [[Paul Biya (right)">left|Cameroon President [[Paul Biya">thumb|left|Cameroon President [[Paul Biya (right)
{{main|Politics of Cameroon}}
The
President of Cameroon holds executive power in the government of Cameroon. This provision was part of the reforms instituted in
1996 to the
Constitution of Cameroon Constitution, that had been originally written in
1972. The President is given a broad range of powers, and is able to carry them out without consulting the
National Assembly of Cameroon National Assembly. Cameroon is a member of the
Commonwealth of Nations.
The National Assembly consists of 180 delegates and meets three times a year. The main responsibility of the Assembly is to pass laws, but rarely has it changed any laws or blocked the passage of legislation.
The judiciary is subordinate to the executive branch's
Ministry of Justice of Cameroon Ministry of Justice. The
Supreme Court of Cameroon Supreme Court may review the constitutionality of a law only at the president's request.
Image:Cameroon.geohive.gif Subnational thumb|right|[[Subnational|Administrative divisions of Cameroon..html" title="Meaning of Administrative_divisions of Cameroon.html" title="Meaning of thumb|right|[[Subnational|Administrative divisions of Cameroon">thumb|right|[[Subnational|Administrative divisions of Cameroon.">Administrative_divisions of Cameroon.html" title="Meaning of thumb|right|[[Subnational|Administrative divisions of Cameroon">thumb|right|[[Subnational|Administrative divisions of Cameroon.
Administrative Divisions
''Main articles:
Provinces of Cameroon,
Departments of Cameroon''
Cameroon is divided into 10 provinces and subdivided into 58
departments (''départements'').
The
Provinces of Cameroon provinces include:
Adamawa Province, Cameroon Adamawa Province,
Centre Province, Cameroon Centre Province,
East Province, Cameroon East Province,
Extreme North Province, Cameroon Extreme North Province,
Littoral Province, Cameroon Littoral Province,
North Province, Cameroon North Province,
Northwest Province, Cameroon Northwest Province,
West Province, Cameroon West Province,
South Province, Cameroon South Province, and
Southwest Province, Cameroon Southwest Province.
Departments: see
Departments of Cameroon
Geography
{{main|Geography of Cameroon}}
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates: 6° N 12° E
Map references: Africa
'''Area''':
Total: 183,568
square miles (475,440
square kilometre km²)
Land: 181,252 square miles (469,440 km²)
Water: 2,317 square miles (6,000 km²)
Cameroon can be divided into five geographic zones. These are distinguished by dominant physical, climatic, and vegetative features.
Image:Mount Cameroon craters.jpg thumb|left|Mount Cameroon craters
Natural regions
Cameroon's coastal plain extends 10 to 50
miles (15–80
kilometre km) inland from the
Gulf of Guinea (part of the Atlantic Ocean) to the edge of a plateau. In the former western state, however, the mass of
Mount Cameroon Mt. Cameroon reaches almost to the sea. Exceedingly hot and humid, the coastal belt includes some of the wettest places on earth. For example,
Debuncha, at the base of Mt. Cameroon, has recorded annual rainfalls of 400
inches (10,000
milimetre mm). The plain is densely forested.
The low southern plateau, rising from the coastal plain and dominated by tropical rain forest, has an average elevation of 1,500 to 2,000
foot (unit of length) feet (450–600
meter m). It is less humid than the coast.
In western Cameroon is an irregular chain of mountains, hills, and plateaus that extend from Mt. Cameroon almost to
Lake Chad at the northern tip of the country. This region enjoys a pleasant climate, particularly in the
Bamenda highlands Bamenda,
Bamiléké highlands Bamiléké, and
Mambilla highlands Mambilla highlands. It also contains some of the country's most fertile soils, notably around volcanic Mt. Cameroon.
From the forested southern plateau the land rises northward to the grassy, rugged
Adamaoua highlands Adamaoua (Adamawa) highlands. Stretching across Cameroon from the western mountain area, the Adamaoua forms a barrier between the north and south. Its average elevation is 3,400 feet (1,035 m), and its climate is reasonably pleasant.
The northern
savanna savanna plain extends from the edge of the Adamaoua to Lake Chad. Its characteristic vegetation is scrub and grass. This is a region of sparse rainfall and high median temperatures.
Rivers
The country has four patterns of drainage. In the south, the principal rivers—the
Wouri,
Sanaga,
Nyong, and
Ntem-—flow southwestward or westward directly into the Gulf of Guinea. The
Dja and
Kadei, however, drain southeastward into the
Congo River. In northern Cameroon, the
Benoué (Benue) runs north and west, eventually into the Niger, while the
Logone flows northward into Lake Chad.
Only part of Lake Chad lies within Cameroon. The rest belongs to Chad, Nigeria, and Niger. The lake varies in size according to seasonal rainfall.
Natural Resources
In general, Cameroon's natural resources are better suited to agriculture and forestry than to industry. Soils and climate in the south encourage extensive cultivation of crops such as cocoa, coffee, and bananas. In the north, natural conditions favour crops such as cotton and peanuts. The southern rain forest has vast timber reserves, but large areas of the forest are difficult to reach.
The southern rivers are obstructed by rapids and waterfalls, but these sites offer opportunities for hydroelectric development. The Wouri River estuary provides a harbor for the country's principal seaport city, Douala. In the north the Benoué River is seasonally navigable from Garoua into Nigeria.
Petroleum and natural gas are found offshore, and iron ore in the south near the coast. Northern Cameroon has large deposits of
bauxite and
limestone.
:''See also
List of cities in Cameroon.''
Image:Mount Cameroon from Tiko.jpg thumb|Tiko, Southwest Province
Economy
{{main|Economy of 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 resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon still has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa.
Image:Tole-tea-back.jpg thumb|left|140px|tea bag produced in Cameroon
Despite rapid urbanisation, the single largest economic activity in Cameroon is subsistence agriculture, in which virtually all of the rural population is employed.
Demographics
Image:Centre Province Yaoundé 002.JPG Yaoundé.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|[[Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon (2003).html" title="Meaning of
thumb|[[Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon (2003)">[[Yaoundé">thumb|[[Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon (2003)
Image:Maison obus.jpg thumb|photo from the north of Cameroon
Image:Bamun sultan palace.jpg Bamun.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|The palace of the sultan of the [[Bamun people at
Foumban, West Province.html" title="Meaning of The palace of the sultan of the [[Bamun">thumb|The palace of the sultan of the [[Bamun people at
Foumban, West Province">The palace of the sultan of the [[Bamun">thumb|The palace of the sultan of the [[Bamun people at
Foumban, West Province
''Main article:
Demographics of Cameroon''
Cameroon's demographic profile is comprised of 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,
Bamun (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 peoples of the northern semi-arid regions (the Sahel) and central highlands, including the
Fulani (or Peuhl in French) (14%); and
* the "
Kirdi", non-Islamic or recently Islamic peoples of the northern desert and central highlands (18%).
Culture
''Main article:
Culture of Cameroon''
The Kirdi and the Matakam of the western mountains produce distinctive types of pottery. The powerful masks of the Bali, which represent elephants' heads, are used in ceremonies for the dead, and the statuettes of the Bamileke are carved in human and animal figures. The Tikar people are famous for beautifully decorated brass pipes, the Ngoutou people for two-faced masks, and the Bamum for smiling masks.
L'Institut Français d'Afrique Noire (French Institute of Black Africa) maintains a library in Douala that specializes in the sociology, ethnology, and history of Africa. Of the several museums, the Diamare and Maroua Museum has anthropological collections relating to the Sudanese peoples, and the
Cameroon Museum of Douala exhibits objects of prehistory and natural history.
Cultural organizations include the Cameroun Cultural Association, the Cameroun Cultural Society, and the Federal Linguistic and Cultural Centre. There are also numerous women's associations, youth organizations, and sporting associations.
In addition, movable holidays include:
Christian:
Good Friday,
Easter Sunday, and
Easter Monday
Muslim:
Eid ul-Fitr 'Id al-Fitr and
Eid ul-Adha 'Id al-Adha
''See also:''
Music of Cameroon,
List of African writers (by country)#Cameroon List of writers from Cameroon
Education
''Main article:
Education in Cameroon''
Two separate systems of education were used in Cameroon after independence. East Cameroon's system was based on the French model, West Cameroon's on the British model. The two systems were merged by 1976. Christian mission schools have been an important part of the educational system.
Cameroon is known for having one of the best education systems in Africa. Primary school is both free and obligatory. Statistics say that 70% of all children aged between 6-12 years go to school, whilst 79% of the Cameroon population as a whole is literate. In the southern areas of the country almost all children of primary-school age are enrolled in classes. However, in the north, which has always been the most isolated part of Cameroon, registration is low. Most students in Cameroon do not go beyond the primary grades.
The country has institutions for teacher training and technical education. At the top of the educational structure is the University of Yaoundé. There is, however, a growing trend for the wealthiest and best-educated students to leave the country in order to study and live abroad, creating a
brain drain.
Miscellaneous topics
Image:Njem house in Cameroon.jpg Njem.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|[[Njem house in Cameroon.html" title="Meaning of
thumb|[[Njem house in Cameroon">[[Njem">thumb|[[Njem house in Cameroon
*
Catholic Church in Cameroon
*
Communications in Cameroon
*
Foreign relations of Cameroon
*
List of Cameroon-related topics
*
List of cities in Cameroon
*
Military of Cameroon
*
Transportation in Cameroon
External links
Image:Maka woman going to fields.jpg Maka.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|[[Maka woman going to fields.html" title="Meaning of
thumb|[[Maka woman going to fields">[[Maka">thumb|[[Maka woman going to fields
Image:Tikar family.jpg Tikar.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|a [[Tikar family in the north west.html" title="Meaning of a [[Tikar">thumb|a [[Tikar family in the north west">a [[Tikar">thumb|a [[Tikar family in the north west
{{sisterlinks|Cameroon}}
'''Education'''
-
The Cameroonian Association of Engineers and Computer ScientistsWeb site of the Association of Cameroonian Engineers in Germany
'''Government'''
-
Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon official government site
-
National Assembly of Cameroon official site
'''News'''
-
allAfrica - Cameroon news headline links
-
CRTV - Cameroon Radio Television state-run
-
The Post - leading newspaper in English, published in Buea
-
Le Messager privately-owned newspaper (in French)
-
Radio Siantou privately-owned radio (in French and English)
'''Overviews'''
-
BBC News - ''Country Profile: Cameroon''
-
CIA World Factbook - ''Cameroon''
'''Ethnic Groups'''
-
Baka Pygmies of Cameroon Culture and music of the first inhabitants of Cameroon
-
Anthropological researches in Cameroon Fieldwork among Cameroonian populations
-
The Bamileke people of Cameroon
-
The Bakweri People of the former British Cameroons
'''Directories'''
-
CMCLICK Online! Cameroon Portal - ''Cameroon'' Cameroon Internet Community. Cameroon Business Directory. Cameroon Information. Cameroon Culture.
-
Open Directory Project - ''Cameroon'' directory category
-
Stanford University - Africa South of the Sahara: ''Cameroon'' directory category
-
University of Pennsylvania - African Studies Center: ''Cameroon'' directory category
-
Yahoo! - ''Cameroon'' directory category
'''Tourism'''
*{{wikitravel}}
-
Cameroon tourism Information and pictures
-
Cameroon In Colour Cameroon pictures. Largest Online picture collection of Cameroon. Images of Cameroon. Cameroon Photos.
{{Africa}}
Category:African Union member states
Category:Cameroon
Category:Peace and Security Council
af:Kameroen
am:ካሜሩን
ar:كاميرون
an:Camerún
bg:Камерун
zh-min-nan:Cameroon
bn:ক�যামের�ন
bs:Kamerun
ca:Camerun
cs:Kamerun
da:Cameroun
de:Kamerun
et:Kamerun
el:ΚαμεÏ?οÏ?ν
es:Camerún
eo:Kameruno
eu:Kamerun
fr:Cameroun
gl:Camerún - Cameroun
ko:카메룬
hr:Kamerun
io:Kamerun
id:Kamerun
is:Kamerún
it:Camerun
he:קמרון
kw:Kameroun
ku:Kamerûn
lv:Kamerūna
lt:Kamerūnas
hu:Kamerun
ms:Cameroon
na:Camerun
nl:Kameroen
nds:Kamerun
ja:カメルーン
no:Kamerun
nn:Kamerun
ps:Ú©Û?مرون
pl:Kamerun
pt:Camarões
ro:Camerun
ru:Камерун
sa:केमेरून
sq:Kameruni
sh:Kamerun
simple:Cameroon
sk:Kamerun
sl:Kamerun
sr:Камерун
fi:Kamerun
sv:Kamerun
tl:Cameroon
tr:Kamerun
uk:Камерун
zh:喀麦隆
{{sisterlinkswp|Category:Cameroon}}
{{catmore}}
Category:African countries
Category:Western Africa
Category:Central Africa
Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations
ar:تصنيÙ?:كاميرون
bg:КатегориÑ?:Камерун
bs:Category:Kamerun
ca:Categoria:Camerun
cs:Kategorie:Kamerun
de:Kategorie:Kamerun
es:CategorÃa:Camerún
eo:Kategorio:Kameruno
fr:Catégorie:Cameroun
gl:Category:Camerún
ko:분류:카메룬
io:Category:Kamerun
id:Kategori:Kamerun
na:Category:Camerun
nl:Categorie:Kameroen
ja:Category:カメルーン
no:Kategori:Kamerun
pt:Categoria:Camarões
ru:КатегориÑ?:Камерун
sl:Kategorija:Kamerun
sv:Kategori:Kamerun
zh:Category:喀麥隆
*** Shopping-Tip: Cameroon
