Resources and Trade in Cameroon

GDP and Economic Growth

Cameroon's GDP continues to rise, but is still a country with a high poverty rate and a lethargic per capita income.  The projected GDP (purchasing power parity) for 2015 is $72.64 billion, ranking Cameroon 96th in the world. [1]  As of the year 2000, nearly a third of the country's population was below the poverty line at 30%. [2]  Exports, natural resources, and agriculture continue to assist the growth in GDP.

Natural Resources and Agriculture

 Add Caption by sjludwig@gmailcom (own work) [public domain]  via Wikimedia Commons 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bananier_Bana_Cameroun.jpg

Cameroon is home to many natural resources such as aluminum, cobalt, nickel, iron ore, diamonds, and rutile and the government is active in promoting the mining of these materials to help the economy. [3]  Agriculture is a growing sources of exports and each region of Cameroon is more favorable for certain crops.  On the coast bananas and cocoa; on the southern plateau it is coffee, sugar, and tobacco; In west it is coffee; and in the north it is cotton. [4]  Even with a large supply of resources and agriculture the two main industries are petroleum and timber. [5]  Petroleum exports has slowed but still accounts for a quarter of revenues. [6] The timber industry has led to Cameroon becoming one of the major suppliers of wood in the world; 60% of its raw timber goes to China and 80% of its processed wood goes to European Union countries. [7]

 Add Caption by AGRIPO (own work) [public domain]

               via Wikimedia Commons

                                             https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quotidien_de_Tayap.JPG

Issues in Trade

There are several issues that have a direct impact on trade and the people and geography of Cameroon.  First, even though Cameroon's coast is on the Atlantic Ocean getting materials to the coast is an issue at times.  Moving materials, such as timber, from the rainforests in the south to the coast can be a difficult task since there are only a few main roads/highways and many of the rivers in the south have rapids and waterfalls. Second, with many of the resources located within the forests the issue of deforestation has grown and caused many indigenous people to become transplanted. [8]  Third, Cameroon has not mined many of its natural resources and this hurts economic growth.  Finally, much of the agriculture in Cameroon is subsistence farming and any extra is sold at local markets and not contributing as a national export. [9]

Growth in Cameroon

Cameroon is a country with many valuable resources and industries.  The petroleum industry and timber have allowed for development as a country and certain crops such as cocoa and coffee are very important.  These resources have allowed for Cameroon to export products to countries such as France, Spain, United States, and China. [10] With the growth of industry you will have more trade routes and opportunities especially being located on the western coast.

[1] “GDP”, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cm.html , ¶1

[2] “Poverty”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Economy_and_infrastructure , ¶3

[3] “Natural Resources”, http://www.our-africa.org/cameroon/economy-industry , ¶4

[4] “Agriculture”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Economy_and_infrastructure , ¶4

[5] “Industry”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Economy_and_infrastructure , ¶7

[6] “Petroleum”, http://www.our-africa.org/cameroon/economy-industry , ¶1

[7] “Timber”, http://www.our-africa.org/cameroon/economy-industry , ¶6 and ¶7

[8] “Relocation”, http://www.our-africa.org/cameroon/economy-industry , ¶5

[9] “Subsistence Farming”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Economy_and_infrastructure , ¶4

[10] “Exports”, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cm.html, stats

RELIGIONS AND ORIGIN MYTHS OF CAMEROON

Current Religious Make-Up of Cameroon

 [1]

Saker Baptist Church, Limbe

As of 2013, Cameroon’s religious make-up consists of Christians, Muslims, Traditional African Religions, and a few others such as Orthodox Jews, people that have no associations with a certain religion, and Baha'i. [2] The breakdown of religion in Cameroon as of 2013 is: 70% Christian (mainly Roman Catholic or Protestant), 20% Islam (mainly Sunni), 6% Traditional African Religions, and 4% as other religious beliefs. [3] Cameroon is a very tolerant nation in regards to religious freedom and it is written within their country’s constitution. [4]

 [5]

MosquéeFadil

Origin Myths of Cameroon

Cameroon like many African countries has several origin myths.  In African Myths of Origin, Stephen Belcher gives the reader insight to three of these origin myths.  First, the Fang which reside in the forests of Cameroon today. [6] Second, he told the story of Jeki which can give insight to how the people near Duala lived before trade became such a high importance. [7] Third, the Bamun Kingdom tells of how the kingdom came to be located in what is currently northwest Cameroon. [8] Many of these origin myths show the culture in a more primitive time and uses mystic powers and animals, especially crocodiles, in the myths.

 [9]

Location of the Bamun Kingdom

Indigenous Religions and the Change of Religion in Cameroon

Cameroon’s indigenous religions are based off of rituals, dance, ancestral worship, spirits, and at times magic. [10] One example of this religion is through the ceremonial Okuyi.  Okuyi is when a participant goes into a trance like state to the rhythm of drums and instruments.  The individual in the trance is symbolizing a deity or ancestor and can often speak words that give direction to the community. [11] Two of the indigenous religions practiced in Cameroon were Hausa Animism and Efik mythology. [12] Hausa Animism was the religion centered on the spiritual force in physical things [13] and Efik mythology was a belief in a single creator, Abassi, and was believed to be the spirit of health and nature. [14] Many of these religions began to change with opening of trade routes and colonization.  Many took on Christianity or Islam as their primary religion and syncretism was also used by some groups combining their beliefs and one of the other religions brought to their community.

Christianity and Islam in Cameroon

Christianity and Islam are the two dominant religions in Cameroon.  Factors such as trade routes, colonization, missionaries, and war brought these two religions into Cameroon.  Colonization by Britain, Germany, and after World War I the French allowed for Christian religions to be incorporated into Cameroon.  Catholic and Protestant missionaries came to spread the gospel.  The Muslims used trade routes to expand their territory and their religion.

[1] “Saker Baptist Church Limbe” https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Saker_Baptist_Church_Limbe.jpg

[2] “Religion in Cameroon” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Cameroon , ¶1

[3] “Religion in Cameroon” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Cameroon , ¶1

[4] “Religion in Cameroon” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Cameroon , ¶3

[5] “Mosque Fadil” https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mosqu%C3%A9eFadil.jpg

[6] Stephen Belcher. African Myths of Origin (New York: Penguin Books, 2005) 261-67

[7] Stephen Belcher. African Myths of Origin (New York: Penguin Books, 2005) 268-81

[8] Stephen Belcher. African Myths of Origin (New York: Penguin Books, 2005) 282-83

[9] Bamun Kingdom Map” https://common.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bamun_Kingdom.gif

[10] “Traditional African Religion” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_African_religion , ¶1

[11] “Religious Ceremonies” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_African_religion#Ceremonies , ¶1

[12] “West African Religions”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_African_religion#West_Africa

[13] “Hausa Animism” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hausa_animism#Terminology , ¶1

[14] “Efik Mythology” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efik_mythology , ¶1, Sect. 1 ¶1, Sect. 2 ¶1

THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF CAMEROON

FLAGS AND COAT OF ARMS OF CAMEROON

The first national flag of Cameroon was adopted in 1957 and was used as the country's official flag until 1961.  The color scheme of green, red, and gold is the Pan-African color scheme used by many nations in Africa.  For Cameroon the green represents the forests and vegetation in the south, the red represents sovereignty and unity, and the gold represents the sun of the northern part of the country and the savannas in the same area. [1] The Pan-African colors are represented in two ways either red, gold, green or red, black and green.  This movement is to encourage and make the bonds of solidarity stronger between all people of African American descent within the continent and outside of it. [2]

The second national flag was adopted in 1961 and remained the country’s flag until 1975.  The color scheme is the same as the original but there are two stars added to the flag.  These stars represent Cameroon and Southern Cameroon, a former British territory, joining together.  The two stars are a different shade of gold than the stripe on the flag. [3]

The current flag of Cameroon was adopted in May of 1975 when Cameroon became a single state.  The only change was using one star in the center of the flag which represents unity [4]

The coat of arms of Cameroon uses both English and French, at the bottom giving the country’s name and at the top giving its motto: Paix (Peace), Travail (Work), Patrie (Fatherland).  The shield is in the same color scheme as the flag and has an outline of the country and scales representing justice.  Two crossed fasces are behind the shield representing authority. [5]

ART OF CAMEROON

Like many of the other African countries; Cameroon uses art to express its history and culture but also uses art for economic, decorative, and religious reasons.  The most common art forms are woodcarvings and sculptures. Pottery and ceramics are also created because of the quality of clay in the western highlands. [6] An example of a Cameroon sculpture is on display at the Linden Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.  Cameroon was once a colonial territory of Germany.  This is a sculpture of a colonial officer when Cameroon was a territory of Germany.

 [7]

Crafts such as basket weaving, bead working, calabash carving and painting, and bronze working are also very popular in Cameroon.  More recently, Cameroon has produced a wide variety of contemporary art.  One artist is Agnu Walters and an example of his work is the "Happy African Family"

 [8]

Music and Dancing in Cameroon

The music and dancing of Cameroon has long been an important part of their festivals, social gatherings, religious ceremonies, and storytelling.  Musically is mainly given orally by a soloist and a group of singers that repeat the soloist. [9] Cameroon has over 200 traditional dances and they use these dances for births, weddings, and funerals.  They also do war dances and dances to celebrate a successful hunt. [10]  There are restrictions to the dancing.  They are segregated by age, sex, and at times social status. [11]

This photo by Hannes Grobe shows a traditional Cameroon dance in 1969. [12]

Music is also an important part of Cameroon culture.  The use of drums, talking drums, whistles, rattles, and harped or stringed instruments are a few examples of instruments used.  Two of the most popular types of music are Makossa and Bikutsi.  Bikutsi is war music and dance originated by Ewondo people and Makossa was developed in Douala and became popular in the 1970's and 1980's. [13]

[1] “Flag of Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Cameroon#Description , ¶1

[2] “Pan-Africanism”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-Africanism , ¶1

[3] “Flag of Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Cameroon , ¶2

[4] “Flag of Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Cameroon , ¶1

[5] “Coat of Arms of Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Cameroon#Description 

       , ¶1

[6] “Local Arts and Crafts”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Local_arts_and_crafts , Sect 8.3, ¶1

[7] “Sculpture”, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kamerun_Deutscher_Kolonialoffizier_Linden-Museum_F54064.jpg

[8] “Contemporary Art”, http://artcameroon.com

[9] “Music and Dance”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Music_and_dance , Sect 8.1, ¶1

[10] “Dance in Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_in_Cameroon#Traditional_dance , Sect. 2, ¶1

[11] “Dance in Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_in_Cameroon#Traditional_dance , Sect. 2, ¶2

[12] “Dance of Cameroon”, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:kamerun1969-154_hg.jpg

[13] “Music and Dance”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Music_and_dance , ¶2,4

Cameroon is located in central Africa on the western coast.  It is the 54^th largest country in the world at 183,570 sq. mi, it is moderately bigger than Sweden and California. [1] Cameroon is bordered by Nigeria and the Atlantic Ocean to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic in the east; and Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea to the south. [2] The capital city of Cameroon is Yaoundé but the economic capital and main seaport is Douala on the Wouri River. [3] The population of Cameroon is over twenty million people and the main languages are French and English. [4]

One of the unique features of Cameroon is that it contains all of the considerable climates (coast, mountains, savanna, rainforest, and desert) and all of the major vegetation found on the continent. [5] Some of the geographic features located in Cameroon are part of Lake Chad, the Wouri River, and Mount Cameroon.  Mount Cameroon is over 4,000m (over 13,000 feet) and is the tallest point in Western Africa and is still an active volcano. [6]

The variety of climates and natural features in Cameroon have been both a help and a hindrance.  They have help by allowing agriculture to grow in areas and economic growth.  This is particularly evident in the city of Douala, the country’s major port city.  It exports timber, oil, fruits, cocoa, coffee, and metals. [7] The hindrance of having so many climates is that if an individual or family are not located in a major city they are usually poor and are subsistence farmers, this is majority of the population. [8] Travel in Cameroon is tough because of physical features and toll roads that connect the major cities are the best mode of transportation. [9] Because of the poverty conditions that many live in and the hot, wet climates in certain areas diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, and HIV/AIDS is prevalent. [10]

[1] “Geography of Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Cameroon, ¶1

[2] “Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Geography, ¶1

[3] “Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon, ¶2

[4] “Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon, ¶2 and Sect. 7 ¶1

[5] Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Geography, ¶2

[6] “Mount Cameroon and Bioko Montane Forests”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Cameroon_and_Bioko_Montane_Forests, ¶2

[7] “Douala”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douala, ¶1

[8] “Cameroon”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon, ¶5

[9] “Cameroon Economy and Infrastructure”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Economy_and_infrastructure, ¶8

[10] “Cameroon Education and Health”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon#Education_and_health, ¶5