Cameroon: What to Know Before You Go

Cuisine Highlights

• Ndolé, bitter leaves slow-cooked with ground crayfish, peanuts, and beef or shrimp; the national dish with deep Bassa cultural roots
• Eru, shredded wild vine leaves (Gnetum africanum) cooked with waterleaf, palm oil, and smoked fish or beef; a Cross River and southwestern specialty
• Koki, steamed bean cake made from black-eyed peas, red palm oil, and spices wrapped in banana leaves; a festive food of the west
• Fufu corn and njama njama, soft maize dough served with stir-fried garden huckleberry; the definitive dish of the Anglophone northwest highlands
• Suya and brochettes, spiced skewered meat common at roadside grills nationwide; a shared culinary thread across Cameroon's diverse regions

Traditions & Festivals

• Ngondo Festival, Sawa coastal people's annual water festival on the Wouri River in Douala; includes canoe races and consultations with ancestral spirits of the river
• Nguon Festival, biennial Bamoun kingdom royal festival in Foumban showcasing the throne, traditional artifacts, and the sultan's court; one of Central Africa's most elaborate royal ceremonies
• Festival des Arts et de la Culture, national cultural festival rotating across Cameroon's regions celebrating the country's extraordinary ethnic diversity
• Cameroon National Day (May 20), celebrates the country's 1972 reunification with parades and cultural events
• Maroua Craft Fair, annual showcase of Cameroon's rich artisan traditions including leatherwork, bronze casting, and cotton weaving from the far north

Language & Communication

" Over 280 indigenous languages are spoken. Camfranglais (a French-English-Cameroonian language blend) is widely spoken by urban youth.

), "I dey fine" (I'm fine), "Mbolo" (hello in Bassa). Cameroon's linguistic diversity is matched only by its ethnic complexity, sensitivity to regional and language identity is appreciated.

Cultural Etiquette

• Cameroon's Anglophone-Francophone divide is politically sensitive, avoid making assumptions about someone's linguistic identity or making light of regional tensions
• Elders are greeted with a slight bow and referred to respectfully; in chieftancy areas, the chief's authority is significant and protocol should be observed
• Never photograph military installations, government buildings, or border posts, this is illegal and can result in detention
• Bargaining is expected in markets; starting prices are typically inflated for foreigners so negotiating is normal and not considered rude