History, Cameroon

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The first inhabitants of Cameroon were the pygmy Baka tribes. The Bantu language originated in the highlands of Cameroon, but many of its speakers moved out before foreign invaders came into the nation. The first European contact was in the 1500s with the Portuguese, but they did not stay. The first permanent settlements were started in the late 1870s, with Germany emerging as the major European Power. After World War I though, the country would be split by Britain and France. In 1961 the French and British portions of Cameroon were united, the French portion having gained independence a year earlier. The new coalition government was led by Ahmadou Ahidjo who led a crack down 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 latest elections were in 1997 with the next scheduled for late 2004.

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General Tips about Cameroon

» Required travel documents for Cameroon
» Electric power
» Area code Cameroon
» Tourism
» Politics and Economy
» Population and Culture
» The Forest, the Savanna, the Steppe - Cameroon,
» Cameroon, The Sea and Beach
» Cameroon, Rich and Varied Fauna
» Cameroon, Living Traditions
» Visas in Cameroon
» Climate in Cameroon
» Water in Cameroon
» Electricity in Cameroon
» Cameroon - Suggested travel pack
» Transportation in Cameroon
» Communications in Cameroon
» History
» Yaounde, Cameroon
» Cameroon
» Bafoussam
» The Benoue National Park
» Ngaoundere
» Foumban
» Limbe
» Kribi
» Dschang
» Buea
» Douala
» Bamenda
» Cameroon - The Mountains
» Mount Cameroon
» Cameroon - main cities
» Northwest Province, Cameroon
» East Province, Cameroon

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