Cultural Rifts Assesment |
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The Challenges of Ethnic Diversity The cultural challenges in Cameroon revolve around the many different ethnic and religious cultures that have existed there. Cameroon is divided along the Bantu Line and in the south the Bantu stock dominates with semi-Bantus living in the north. Hamitic, Fulani, Arab Choas and Sudanese Negroes dominate the northern areas. Identifying all 200 of the country’s ethnic groups is nearly impossible as in many cases they have not established names. The Fulani are descendants of Muslim conquerers and are the dominant northern group that has maintained a political structure made up of chiefdoms known as lamidats. The non-muslim group known as the kirdi have generally sided with this group on political issues. In the countryside the Bamileke dominate cultural and economic life. These people hold 70% of professional jobs and make up for 60% of the merchant class. Cameroon’s principal port is named after The Doualas who are the most educated people in the country and make up the elite in the coastal area. The remaining two ethnic groups that can be identifies are the Bassa and Pahouin among whom relations have often been challenging. These groups have been characterized by constant conflict, rivalry and hositility that stems from geographical, religious and linguistic differences as well as a history of fighting. Ethnic aliens include more than 50,000 Africans from Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Central African Republic, Gabon and Mauritania. Additionally there are around 20,000 Europeans and North Americans in the country that include, United States, British and French citizens. There are not many anti-western feelings within the country and Europeans and North Americans tend to control the major industries. The main cultural rift in Cameroon deals with the vast array of languages and the demise of the vernacular and historical oral traditions. The official languages of Cameroon are French and English with French as the dominant language which reflects the colonial history where French were the ruling elite in West Cameroon. English is more commonly spoken in East Cameroon because of the history of British colonists. A number of indigenous languages such as Ful in the north and Pahouin in the south also have an important role. Intergroup and interregional communication is mostly done through Wes Cos which is a pidgin English developed during the slave trade. Most of the northern communities speak Chadic languages and people in the south tend to speak Bantu languages such as Bamileke. Cameroon does not have an official religion but Animists constitute 40 percent of the population, the Christian community is about 40 percent and Muslims account for 20%. Christianity is predominate in the south and Islam in the north. Christian tribes include Pahouin, Doula, and Bamileke. Muslim affiliated tribes are the Fulani, Koloko, Mousgoum, Mandara and Bamoun. Cameroon is a microcosm of the rest of Africa in that culturally and geologically it embodies typical life and society in all of Africa. It is well known for native styles of music such as makossa and bikutsi as well as its successful football team. Compared to some of its African neighbors, Cameroon has relative political and social stability which has allowed a certain degree of development in terms of agriculture, railways and the petroleum and timber industry. At the same time poverty and illiteracy is rampant throughout the country and government criticism is not permitted. There is corruption with Paul Biya and his Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement party. There are some conflicts with the Anglophone community which since independence has become alienated from government issues and laws. Anglophone politicans seek decentralization and the possibility of secession of the territories formerly governed by the colonial British. In terms of civil rights within the country Cameroon is not considered free because it is an authoritarian state with government corruption and supression of civil liberties. Despite this, Cameroon has managed to mantain political stability and a certain degree of economic and social development. The main cultural issue in Cameroon deals with ethnic factionalism and the struggle for the government to deal with so many ethnic, religious and linguistic divides. As the country has continued to develop it has gained some civil liberties for citizens through an emphasis on national unity and institutions. Freedom of movement throughout the country is often supressed by security checkpoints where identity cards and tax receipts are required.
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