Discover Cameroon: Top 10 Entertaining and Surprising Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. King Kong's Primate Playground

Where King Kong takes his holidays and volcanic facials are all the rage: Mount Cameroon is not only West Africa's highest peak, but also roams the world as the 31st-most prominent peak, providing a steamy home to an enchanting entourage of primates, including chimps, drills, and red-capped mangabeys, making primate watching an all-time favorite pastime in these volcanic hills.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Noah's Ark: Cameroon Edition

Move over, Noah's Ark! Cameroon is the VIP lounge for critters of all shapes and sizes: Boasting more than 400 species of mammals, 1,000 species of birds, and 700 species of fish, Cameroon's wildlife scene is home to endangered show-stoppers like forest elephants, chimpanzees, bonobos, as well as lowland and mountain gorillas, all comfortably settled in the Congo Basin's lush forests that span across six countries.
Source => worldwildlife.org

Did you know the Yoruba people of Nigeria have a surprisingly high rate of fraternal twinning? It might be due to their love for white yams! Learn more about this fascinating connection.

=> Fun Facts about Nigeria

3. Manu Dibango: Superhero of Groove

In a world where James Brown got funky and played jazz, Cameroon's Manu Dibango crawled out of the musical melting pot, donning his saxophone like a superhero cape for groovy rhythms: Famed for his 1972 hit single, "Soul Makossa," Manu Dibango ingeniously combined jazz, funk, and traditional Cameroonian music to create a unique sound, playing a significant role in popularizing the Makossa genre, though he was not its crowned "King."
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Cameroon's Scrabble Nightmare

If you thought playing Scrabble was a challenge, wait till you try it in Cameroon: the nation is home to an astounding 240 tribal languages, creating a magical melting pot that stretches far beyond its official French and English tongues.
Source => kengskitchen.com

5. The Irresistible Ndole Combo

If you're nuts about peanuts and have a soft spot for spinach, then Cameroon's Ndole dish will have you shrimply smitten: This national sensation combines peanuts, bitter leaves or spinach, and a medley of meats like shrimp, stockfish, and stew beef, seasoned to perfection with garlic and crayfish – and the party doesn't stop there! Ndole is often joined by its trusty dance partners Miondo/Bobolo (fermented cassava) or boiled/fried Plantains at Cameroonian festivities.
Source => africanbites.com

6. Matango: Miracle Drink Extraordinaire

Who needs Viagra when nature's got the perfect potion? Cameroon's got a drink that can cure impotence, along with a dozen other ailments: Matango, a traditional drink made from the sap of various palm trees, boasts medicinal properties galore, from treating chlamydia and gonococcal infections to stomach pain, jaundice and measles. This versatile brew doesn't stop there - it's been used for tooth decay treatment, stimulating milk flow for new mothers, and even tooth whitening. Cheers to Cameroon's cultural and unique concoction!
Source => losvinos.com.ar

7. Cameroon's Linguistic Smorgasbord

In Cameroon, it's safe to say that tongues quite literally wag in over 250 different directions: the country boasts an impressive linguistic repertoire that includes 55 Afro-Asiatic languages, two Nilo-Saharan languages, four Ubangian languages, and 169 Niger-Congo languages. While French and English are the official languages, Cameroonian Pidgin English, Fulfulde, Chadian Arabic, and Camfranglais flavor the country's everyday chatter – making it a veritable linguistic smorgasbord that spans from official bilingual schools to unexpected pidgin conversations.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. The Ultimate Cultural Party

If Cameroon were a party, it'd have the most epic guests' list and a babel of conversations: this African nation is not just a linguistic powerhouse but a cultural melting pot, boasting over 300 languages and welcoming more than 250 different ethnic groups.
Source => geography.name

9. Meet the Massive Goliath Frog

Imagine a world where frogs are the size of your average house cat and leap around with the grace of a heavyweight champion: Welcome to Cameroon, where the goliath frog reigns supreme. These massive amphibians, the largest living frog species on Earth, can grow up to 32 centimeters (12.6 inches) long and tip the scales at a whopping 3.25 kilograms (7.2 pounds). Sadly, our jumbo-sized jumpers' natural habitat, tucked away in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, is under threat due to habitat destruction and the ever-lurking powers of human appetite and collection for pets.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Dance Your Way Through Cameroon

Do the electric slidewire, the cultural cha-cha, and the geopolitical groove sound like your cup of tea? Then step right up for a fantastic folk dancing extravaganza that's anything but Cameroon-along: Discover seven unique folk dances from Cameroon's North West region, born from varying cultural backgrounds like the Bafouchu Clan in Mezam Division, the Nso Clan in Bui Division, and the Aghem Clan in Menchum Division. Sign up for a charming online course led by Bobo Leennox and COYAC, where you'll not only learn the engaging steps but also delve into the rich history of each dance, all while experiencing vibrant cultural costumes and melodious musical instruments!
Source => iftr.org