The earliest inhabitants of Cameroon were probably the Baka (Pygmies). They still inhabit the forests of the south and east provinces. Bantu speakers originating in the Cameroonian highlands were among the first groups to move out before other invaders.
The Portuguese
arrived on Cameroon's coast in the 1500s, malara
prevented significant European settlement and conquest of the interior
until the late 1870s, when large supplies of the malaria
suppressant,quinine, became available. The early European presence in
Cameroon was primarily devoted to coastal trade and the acquisition of
slaves.The slave trade was largely suppressed by the mid-19th century.
Christian missions established a presence in the late 19th century and
continue to play a role in Cameroonian life.
In 1900, the German protectorate of Kamerun covered a little more territory than Cameroon does now.
On 1911-11-04, it was augmented by a cession of 270,000 sq. km. taken from French Equatorial Africa.
In 1916-01, during World War I, France and England seized Kamerun from Germany. France immediately
re-integrated its 1911 cession into French Equatorial Africa. On 1922-07-20, former Kamerun was
mandated partly to England (90,000 sq. km.) and partly to France (700,000 sq. km.). The British
mandate (British Cameroons) was treated as two parts: Northern and Southern Cameroons. After World
War II, the mandate was converted to a trust territory under the aegis of the United Nations. The
French mandate became the territory of Cameroun. Cameroun gained its independence from France on
1960-01-01. Southern Cameroons united with it on 1961-10-01
Origin of Name:
from the Cameroon River, Portuguese Rio dos Camarões: Crayfish River
Country Name:
Republic of Cameroon
ISO Code:
CM
Time Zone:
+1
President and Head of Government:
H.E President Paul Biya
Capital City: Yaounde
Economic capital: Douala
Administrative Divisions:
Regions (10), Divisions (58), Sub-divisions (269) and Districts (53).
Official languages: English and French
Currency: Franc CFA
Seasons:
Cameroon has two seasons; Dry (November to May) and Rainy (April to October) seasons.
