Cameroon is one of the most culturally and geographically diverse countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to having both French-speaking and English-speaking provinces, there are more than 130 ethnic groups and over 200 local languages among its population of 18 million. The economy is dependent on agricultural production, over half of the population is under 25 years old, and HIV/AIDS and maternal and infant mortality rates are significant health issues.
Peace Corps in Cameroon:
The Peace Corps has had a continuous presence in Cameroon since 1962, focusing initially on education and rural development. The program subsequently expanded into small enterprise development, health education, and agroforestry.
Cameroon’s diversity presents some challenges to the Peace Corps. The country is in several ways “two countries in one” with distinct cultural and geographical characteristics. In the Grand North, the Muslim population struggles to survive in the harsh climate of the Sahel. In the mostly Christian Grand South, the climate ranges from forest to humid highlands. Cameroon’s diversity affects Peace Corps programming in several ways. For Volunteers working on agricultural projects in the north, the lack of rain, the need to dig in the sandy dry river beds for water, the short growing season, and the extreme poverty pose special challenges. Health Volunteers are able to access women in the southern provinces more easily than in the north. There is a longer tradition of self-organization and community initiative in the south. Generally, there is a cultural divide between Francophone and Anglophone Cameroonians. Cameroonians living in the south tend to be better educated and prosperous.
Culture:
The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi, and for its successful national football team. English and French are the official languages.Music and dance are an integral part of Cameroonian ceremonies, festivals, social gatherings, and storytelling. Traditional dances are highly choreographed and separate men and women or forbid participation by one sex altogether. The goals of dances range from pure entertainment to religious devotion. Traditionally, music is transmitted orally.
Cuisine varies by region, but a large, one-course, evening meal is common throughout the country. A typical dish is based on cocoyams, maize, cassava (manioc), millet, plantains, potatoes, rice, or yams, often pounded into dough-like fufu (cous-cous). This is served with a sauce, soup, or stew made from greens, groundnuts, palm oil, or other ingredients. Meat and fish are popular but expensive additions. Dishes are often quite hot, spiced with salt, red pepper, and Maggi. Water, palm wine, and millet beer are the traditional mealtime drinks, although beer, soda, and wine have gained popularity. Silverware is common, but food is traditionally manipulated with the right hand. Breakfast consists of leftovers of bread and fruit with coffee or tea, generally breakfast is made from wheat flour various different foods such as puff-puff (doughnuts), accra banana made from bananas and flour,bean cakes and many more. For more info on Cameroon go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon
or http://www.peacecorpswiki.org/Cameroon
