Cameroon
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République du Cameroun
Republic of Cameroon
Flag Emblem
Motto: Paix, Travail, Patrie
(French: Peace, Work, Fatherland)
Anthem: Chant de Ralliement
Capital Yaoundé
3°52′N 11°31′E
Largest city Douala
Official language(s) French, English
Government
President
Prime Minister Republic
Paul Biya
Ephraïm Inoni
Independence
From France, UK
January 1, 1960
Area
- Total
- Water (%)
475,440 km² (52nd)
183,568 sq mi
1.3
Population
- July 2005 est.
- 2003 census
- Density
16,380,005 (59th)
15,746,179
34/km² (138th)
88/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
- Total
- Per capita 2005 estimate
$32.35 billion (91st)
$2,176 (140th)
HDI (2003) 0.497 (148th) – low
Currency CFA franc (XAF)
Time zone
- Summer (DST) (UTC+1)
(UTC)
Internet TLD .cm
Calling code +237
Cameroon, officially 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. Cameroon, a German colony at the time of World War I, was split among the French and British as war spoils after the defeat of Germany. In 1960, 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 and French).
Compared to other African countries, Cameroon enjoys relative political and social stability, which has in turn permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as an extensive petroleum industry. Despite movement toward political reform, however, power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Politics
3 Administrative Divisions
4 Geography
4.1 Natural regions
4.2 Rivers
4.3 Natural Resources
5 Economy
6 Demographics
7 Culture
8 Education
9 Miscellaneous topics
10 External links
[edit]
History
Main article: History of Cameroon
The first inhabitants of Cameroon were the Pygmy Baka people. They were largely replaced and absorbed by Bantu tribes during Bantu migrations.
The first European contact was in the 16th century with the 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 word for prawn. The first permanent 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 French Cameroons (Cameroun in French) and 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 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.
"Girl of Kamerun" circa 1914[edit]
Politics
Cameroon President Paul Biya (right)Main article: 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, 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. 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. The Supreme Court may review the constitutionality of a law only at the president's request.
Administrative divisions of Cameroon.[edit]
Administrative Divisions
Main articles: Provinces of Cameroon, Departments of Cameroon
Cameroon is divided into 10 provinces and subdivided into 58 departments (départements).
The provinces include: Adamawa Province, Centre Province, East Province, Extreme North Province, Littoral Province, North Province, Northwest Province, West Province, South Province, and Southwest Province.
Departments: see Departments of Cameroon
[edit]
Geography
Main article: 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 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.
Mount Cameroon craters[edit]
Natural regions
Cameroon's coastal plain extends 10 to 50 miles (15–80 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 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 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 feet (450–600 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, Bamiléké, and 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 (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 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.
[edit]
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 Kadeï, however, drain southeastward into the Congo River. In northern Cameroon, the Benoué River (Benue) runs north and west, eventually into the Niger, while the Logone River 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.
[edit]
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.
Tiko, Southwest Province[edit]
Economy
Main article: 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, widespread corruption, 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.
tea bag produced in CameroonAs with many developing countries, rapid urbanisation has created many strains on the economy. The single largest economic activity in Cameroon is still subsistence agriculture. Many obstacles are slowing Cameroon's growth; some of these include onerous levels of bureaucracy, crumbling infrastructure, and ingrained corruption. Recently, the government has claimed to be making another attempt to crack down on corruption and to create a more transparent business environment.
[edit]
Demographics
Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon (2003)
photo from the north of Cameroon
The palace of the sultan of the Bamun people at Foumban, West ProvinceMain 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%).
[edit]
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
Holidays Date English Name
January 1 New Year's Day
February 11 National Youth Day
May 1 Labor Day
May 20 National Day
August 15 Assumption
December 25 Christmas
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: 'Id al-Fitr and 'Id al-Adha
See also: Music of Cameroon, Cuisine of Cameroon, List of writers from Cameroon
[edit]
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.
[edit]
Miscellaneous topics
Njem house in CameroonCatholic Church in Cameroon
Communications in Cameroon
Foreign relations of Cameroon
List of Cameroon-related topics
List of cities in Cameroon
Military of Cameroon
Transport in Cameroon
Les Scouts du Cameroun
[edit]
External links
Maka woman going to fields
a Tikar family in the north westFind more information on Cameroon by searching Wikipedia's sister projects:
Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Quotations from Wikiquote
Source texts from Wikisource
Images and media from Commons
News stories from Wikinews
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
Cameroon travel guide from Wikitravel
Cameroon tourism Information and pictures
Cameroon In Colour Cameroon pictures. Largest Online picture collection of Cameroon. Images of Cameroon. Cameroon Photos.
Countries and territories of Africa (UN subregions)
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Algeria · Egypt · Libya · Morocco · Sudan · Tunisia · Western Sahara Western Africa
Benin · Burkina Faso · Cape Verde · Côte d'Ivoire · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Liberia · Mali · Mauritania · Niger · Nigeria · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Togo
Central Africa
Angola · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Equatorial Guinea · Gabon · Republic of the Congo · São Tomé and Príncipe Eastern Africa
Burundi · Comoros · Djibouti · Eritrea · Ethiopia · Kenya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mauritius · Mozambique · Rwanda · Seychelles · Somalia · Tanzania · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Southern Africa
Botswana · Lesotho · Namibia · South Africa · Swaziland Dependencies and other territories:
UK: Indian Ocean Territory · St. Helena · France: Mayotte · Réunion · Portugal: Madeira · Spain: Canary Islands · Plazas de soberanía
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
IN SPORTS
The sports world was shocked when Canadian Ben Johnson was denied his gold medal at the 1988 Olympics after tests showed he had taken anabolic steroids. The incident called international attention to the use of anabolic steroids among world-class athletes to gain competitive advantage.Still, athletes and nonathletes persist in taking them. Teenagers are taking anabolic steroids not just to succeed in sports but to enhance their self-images by perfecting their physiques.
The nonmedical use of anabolic steroids raises more ethical and moral issues. Steroids use is illegal. Users acquire these drugs through illicit and expensive ways. Athletes who use these drugs are cheating. They gain an unfair advantage over opponents and violate the ban on steroids imposed by most major sports organizations.
What are anabolic steroids ?
Steroids are drugs derived from hormones. Anabolic steroids include one group of these hormonal drugs. In certain cases, some may have therapeutic value. Anabolic steroids - or more precisely, anabolic/androgenic steroids - belong to a group known as ergogenic, or so-called "performance-enhancing," drugs. The medical ones are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, a natural male hormone. "Anabolic" means growing or building. "Androgenic" means "masculinizing" or generating male sexual characteristics.
Most healthy males produce between 2 and 10 milligrams of testosterone a day. (Females do produce some testosterone, but in rare amounts.) The hormone's anabolic effects help the body retain dietary protein, thus aiding growth of muscles, bones, and skin. The androgenic characteristics of testosterone are associated with masculinity. They foster the maturing of the male reproductive system in puberty, the growth of body hair and the deepening of the voice. They can affect aggressiveness and sex drive.
Do They Really Work?
Anabolic steroids are designed to mimic the body building traits of testosterone while minimizing its "masculinizing" effects. There are several types, with various combinations of anabolic and androgenic properties. The International Olympics Committee to date has placed 17 anabolic steroids and related compounds on its banned list.
Athletes who have used anabolic steroids-as well as some coaches, trainers, and pysicians do report significant increases in lean muscle mass, strength, and endurance. But no studies show that the substances enhance performance. Anabolic steroids do not improve agility, skill or cardiovascular capacity.Some athletes insist that these substances aid in recovery from injuries, but no hard data exists to support the claim.
"There is little compelling scientific evidence to support the
concept that steroids enhance athletic performance.
Theodore J. Cicero, Ph.D., and Lynn H. O'Connor, Ph.D., 1990
Megadosing
Anabolic steroids are usually taken in pill form. Some that cannot be absorbed orally are taken by injection. The normal prescribed daily dose for medical purposes usually averages between 1 and 5 milligrams. Some athletes, on the other hand, may take up to hundreds of milligrams a day, far exceeding medically recommended dosages.
Operating on the faulty "more-is-better" theory, some athletes engage in a practice known as "stacking." They take many types of steroids, sometimes in combination with other drugs such as stimulants, depressants, pain killers, anti-inflammatories, and other hormones. Many users "cycle," taking the drugs for 6 to 12 weeks or more, stopping for several weeks and then starting another cycle. They may do this in the belief that by scheduling their steroids intake, they can manipulate test results and escape detection. It is not uncommon for athletes to cycle over a period of months or even years.
Health Hazards
Although controlled studies on the long-term outcome of megadosing with anabolic steroids have not been conducted, extensive research on prescribed doses for medical use has documented the potential side effects of the drug, even when taken in small doses. Moreover, reports by athletes, and observations of doctors, parents, and coaches do offer visible evidence of dangerous side effects. Some effects, such as rapid weight gain, are easy to see. Some take place internally and may not be evident until it is too late. Some are irreversible.
The Dangers
... to Men
Males who take large doses of anabolic steroids typically experience changes in sexual characteristics. Although derived from a male sex hormone, the drug can trigger a mechanism in the body that can actually shut down the healthy functioning of the male reproductive system. Some possible side effects:
Shrinking of the testicles
Reduced sperm count
Impotence
Baldness
Difficulty or pain in urinating
Development of breasts
Enlarged prostate
... and to Women
Females may experience "masculinization" as well as other problems:
Growth of facial hair
Changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle
Enlargement of the clitoris
Deepened voice
Breast reduction
... and to Both Sexes
For both males and females, continued use of anabolic steroids may lead to health conditions ranging from merely irritating to life-threatening. Some effects are:
Acne
Jaundice
Trembling
Swelling of feet or ankles
Bad breath
Reduction in HDL, the "good" cholesterol
High blood pressure
Liver damage and cancers
Aching joints
Increased chance of injury to tendons, ligaments, and muscles
"Athletes would rather confess to cocaine use than to steroids use"
Dr. Charles E. Yesalis, Pennsylvania State University
v
Special Dangers to Adolescents
The nonmedical use of anabolic/androgenic steroids among adolescents and young adults is of growing concern. Teenagers under age 18 may be abusing these drugs to improve athletic performance, appearance and self-image. Anabolic steroids can halt growth prematurely in adolescents. Because even small doses can irreversibly affect growth, steroids are rarely prescribed for children and young adults, and only for the severely ill. Data gathered by researchers and doctors showed interpretive evidence that preteens and teens taking steroids may be at risk for developing a dependence on these drugs and on other substances as well.
Are Anabolic Steroids Addictive?
Evidence that megadoses of anabolic steroids can affect the brain and produce mental changes in users poses serious questions about possible addiction to the drugs. While investigations continue, researchers have found that long-term steroids users do experience many of the characteristics of classic addiction: cravings, difficulty in ceasing steroids use and withdrawal symptoms.
Adolescent users display a primary characteristic of addicts-denial. They tend to overlook or simply ignore the physical dangers and moral implications of taking illegal substances. Some athletes who "bulk up" on anabolic steroids are unaware of body changes that are obvious to others, experiencing what is sometimes called reverse anorexia.
Treatment
Treatment programs for steroids abusers are just now being developed as more is learned about the habit. Medical specialists do find persuasion is an important weapon in getting the user off the drug. They attempt to present medical evidence of the damage anabolic steroids can do to the body. One specialist notes that medical tests, such as those that show a lowered sperm count, can motivate male athletes to cease usage.
One health clinic considers the anabolic steroids habit as an addiction and develops treatment around the techniques used in traditional substance abuse programs. It focuses on acute intervention and a long-term follow-up, introducing nonsteroids alternatives that will maintain body fitness as well as self-esteem.
Safe-And Healthy-Alternatives
Anabolic steroids may have a reputation for turning a coward into a winner, but the truth is that it takes a lot more to be a star athlete. Athletic prowess depends not only on strength and endurance, but on skill and mental readiness. It also depends on diet, rest, overall mental and physical health, and genes. Athletic excellence can be, and is, achieved by millions without reliance on dangerous drugs.
Education
Prevention is the best solution to stop the growing abuse of anabolic steroids. The time to educate youngsters is before they become users. Efforts must not stop there, however. Current users, as well as coaches, trainers, parents, and doctors need to know about the hazards of anabolic steroids. The young need to understand that they are not immortal and that the drugs can harm them. An education campaign must also address the problem of covert approval by some members of the medical and athletic communities that encourages steroids use.
The message needs to be backed up by accurate information and spread by
responsible, respected individuals.