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From the Horse’s Mouth – Cameroon

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon on the Gulf of Guinea, is a Central African country of varied terrain and wildlife. Its inland capital, Yaoundé, and its biggest city, Douala, are transit points to ecotourism sites as well as beach resorts like Kribi – near the Chutes de la Lobé waterfalls, which plunge directly into the sea – and Limbe, which is home to a wildlife centre.

How are birthdays celebrated?

Birthdays are either celebrated quietly with a cake and a few friends and family members, or a feast is organised in which friends, family, and colleagues are invited to rejoice with the person celebrating. Birthday feasts are usually organised over weekends.

When you first meet someone, how do you greet them?

In Cameroon, it is not polite to offer a handshake to a person who is your senior. The junior will say good morning or afternoon and wait for the senior to offer his or her hand. It is not also advisable to shake the hand of a senior person whilst wearing a cap or hat – while your right hand reaches out to the hand being offered, your left hand should be used to remove the hat or cap.

What languages are spoken in your country?

French and English are the two official languages in Cameroon. The country has ten regions, eight are Francophone and two Anglophone. While these are the two official languages, Cameroon is home to about 230 ethnic groups and each group has its own language. Therefore about 230 local languages are spoken in Cameroon.

What side of the road do people drive on? What do we need to know about driving in Cameroon?

In Cameroon people drive on the right-hand side of the road. Driving is generally different from one town to another. In Douala, the commercial capital, driving is very hectic. You must have a valid driving license, of course, and your car must be in good condition. We also have lots of motorbikes which makes it difficult to drive as they don’t really respect rules and regulations. The roads are not good, even in the major cities such as Douala and Yaounde. It is quite common to be stuck in traffic for anything from two to four hours at any given time.

How important is punctuality?

Punctuality is commonly not very important and ‘’African Time’’ is the order of the day. Most people will generally be 30 minutes to 1 hour late and will routinely blame traffic jams for this. For official and government appointments, however, you are expected to be punctual.

What types of music are popular? Who are some of your most popular musicians?

Makossa and Bikutsi traditionally used to be the popular music forms in Cameroon. The advent of globalisation, however, brought many musical genres to Cameroon. For example, hip-hop, R&B, Congolese rhumba and music from Nigeria.

Some musicians presently popular in our country:

  • Petit Pays – Watch and listen here.
  • Manu Dibango – Watch and listen here.
  • Richard Bona – Watch and listen here.
  • and Charlotte Dipanda – Watch and listen here.

 

Are there any Traditional Dances?

As mentioned earlier, Cameroon has more than two hundred ethnic groups and each group has their own traditional dance. Here are examples of a couple of traditional dances:

  • The Bakan Pygmies Dance – Watch it here.
  • The Assiko (Bassa traditional dance) – Watch it here.

 

What traditional Festivals are celebrated in your community?

  • The Batanga community of Kribi celebrates Mayi on the 9 of May every year – Click here to watch.
  • The Duala community celebrates Ngondo each year on the Wourri river shores – Click here to watch.

 

 

What are your seasons like?

Cameroon has two seasons, a rainy and dry season. In the southern part of the country, the rainy season lasts up to nine months – generally April to November/December. Interestingly the 4th most rainy city in the world, Debudscha, is found in the Southwest Region of Cameroon.

And the dry season lasts only three months,  generally from December/January to March.

In the northern part of the country the dry season can last about ten months while the rainy season can last just two months.

What are Cameroon’s major industries?

Agriculture is the major industry (cocoa and coffee mainly but also vegetables and fruit). Other industries that contribute significantly to the economy of Cameroon is oil, gas, manufacturing, finance and trade.

How do people spend their free time?

In cities, people spend time in their homes with occasional visits to friends or family and trips to Limbe and Kribi over weekends during the sunny season. Whilst in the rural areas, people spend time chatting about politics and many other topics over a bottle of white wine or locally made spirit. People also like gossiping – we call it kongossa in Cameroon.

What do people drink?

What people drink in Cameroon depends on their pockets. The majority go for locally made drinks like white wine made from palm tree (matango) or locally made spirits (odontol, arki). Meanwhile those who can afford it drink beer – some favourites are Guinness, Heineken and Kadji. South African wines are also quite popular.

What is a popular local dish?

It is very difficult to pinpoint one popular dish in Cameroon. Each region may have one or two popular dishes. However, Poisson Braisé/Roasted Fish, which can be seen below, seems to be a dish found nationwide.

And the very popular breakfast of Beignets Haricots/Puff Puff & Beans (Puff Puff or Pof Pof are fried balls made mainly from flour and yeast and they are yummy).

What do you pay for?

  • (1 USD = XAF 603)
  • A cup of coffee in a restaurant will cost you approximately 880,00 XAF.
  • A can of Coca Cola will cost you approximately 750,00 XAF.
  • A 2-Course meal for 2 people at a midrange restaurant will cost you approximately 45 500,00 XAF.
  • A loaf of bread will cost you approximately 362, 00 XAF.
  • A litre of milk will cost you approximately 1 390,00 XAF.

 

 

Security – in general?

People visiting the far north, north Adamoua and eastern regions of Cameroon should be mindful of their safety. The Boko Haram group and rebel groups from the Central African Republic have made these areas unstable. The rest of Cameroon, however, is generally relatively safe and the main cities, Douala and Yaoundé are very lively with people enjoying going out at night. The surrounding cities like Kribi, Limbe, where people like go to relax and enjoy the sea are also safe.

 

To read more exciting blogs, please click on the link below:

Blog

Written by Eloise Williams

Edited by Saudika Hendricks

Contributions Jacob Kuh and Benjamin Nwall

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Third Wave of COVID-19 infections hit Africa

In Africa, there is an alarming third wave as the vaccine rollout is hampered. In recent light of the vaccine rollout in all parts of the world, third world countries vaccine rollout seems to be stagnant, experts fearing that it may take decades to vaccinate their respective countries.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) regional office has reported that the third wave of Covid-19 cases is spreading faster in Africa. On Thursday, 17 June 2021, WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti warned, “With a rapid increase in the number of cases and increasing reports of severe disease, the latest wave threatens to be the worst to date in Africa,”

According to the regional office, for five consecutive weeks, Africa has seen an increase in Covid-19 cases, signaling the beginning of the third wave in Africa. “As of 20 June—day 48 into the new wave—Africa had recorded around 474 000 new cases—a 21% increase compared with the first 48 days of the second wave.” As reported by WHO, the pandemic is resurging in 12 African countries and at the current rate of infections, the ongoing surge is set to surpass the previous one by early July.

18 African countries have already used over 80% of their COVAX vaccine supplies, 29 have administered over 50% of their suppliers, and eight have exhausted their vaccine supply. It is important to be aware that just over 1% of Africa’s population has been fully vaccinated. Globally, 2.7 billion doses have been administered, with just under 1.5% having been administered in Africa.

Dr Moeti is urging the international community to help Africa deal with the Covid-19 vaccine supply as the surge threatens to impair not only Africa’s economy but society.

 

 

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Relocation Africa Cameroon & Sierra Leone Immigration Interview With Ola Alokolaro

Lynn Mackenzie, our Immigration Lead, recently had the privilege of interviewing Ola Alokolaro, from Advocaat Law, about Cameroon and Sierra Leone’s immigration landscape. To listen to Lynn and Ola’s conversation about immigration in the current context, click here to view the recording, or view it below.
Ola’s bio Ola Alokolaro is a Senior Partner with Advocaat Law Practice. He studied at the University of Buckingham, England, UK, and holds a master’s degree in Natural Resources Law and Policy from the (Centre for Energy Petroleum Mineral Law and Policy) University of Dundee, Scotland, UK. He has attended several continuing education courses such as The Law firm Partner as Leader at the Cambridge Judge Business School University of Cambridge. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, and the Nigerian Gas Association. With over twenty years’ experience, Ola advises multinational and indigenous companies on foreign investment law and public policy in Nigeria and other West Africa countries.   He has written several papers which have been published notable amongst which are, “Attracting Foreign Direct Investment to the Solid Minerals sector In Nigeria”; “Co-joined twins- Consolidation in the Oil and Gas industry through Mergers and Acquisitions”; “Treasure Trove -Financing the solid minerals sector in Nigeria”; and “Contracting Issues Under the Emerging Electricity Supply Industry in Nigeria”. We would like to say a huge thank you to Ola for his insights. We hope you enjoy the recording. For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240. Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
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Cameroon’s Main Opposition Leader Won’t Run for President

Cameroon’s main opposition leader, head of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), John Fru Ndi, has said that he will not challenge the long-ruling President Paul Biya in this year’s elections. Ndi has run as a candidate in the 1992, 2004, and 2011 elections, and boycotted the vote in 1997.

Biya stated during the 2011 elections that they would be the last he contested, and has said he wishes to pass the torch to the individual his party most prefers. The party is set to nominate a replacement candidate either today or tomorrow. The SDF draws much of its backing from two enclaves in the west of Cameroon.

Biya has been President of Cameroon since 1982. The office of President has a 7 year term, but no term limits. His party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) currently has 148 seats out of 180 in the country’s National Assembly. Meanwhile, the SDF has 18. Biya has not yet said whether or not he will run in this year’s general election.

Biya’s presidency has been criticized to a large degree, characterized by exploitation, corruption and repression, with his firmly rejecting any change to the status quo, and imposed night-time curfews, restrictions on movement, raids, and body searches in the country’s anglophone regions. Anglophone demonstrators have demanded a federal state, while some secessionists have even called for an independent state they have dubbed “Ambazonia”, due to what they say is discrimination by the French-speaking majority.

Cameroon uses a first-past-the-post voting system, and its general election will take place in October 2018. The exact date is yet to be set.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, and Remuneration needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]. Image source: [1].

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