A predominantly Christian country
Christians are still in the majority in the country (around 70% of the population). Although it was Protestant missionaries who first established themselves on Cameroonian soil (as early as 1845, the English pastor Alfred Saker settled in Douala, while the first representatives of the Catholic Church did not arrive until 1890), the distribution of Christians today is as follows: 38% Catholics and 26% Protestants. Pentecostal and "awakened" churches are growing in size and number. Originating in neighbouring English-speaking countries, these movements emphasize the practice of a more "living" faith, and play a social role in their communities through a variety of actions such as financial aid or job-seeking assistance, sometimes replacing a state that has difficulty in fulfilling its social missions.
Islam in Cameroon
Islam was introduced to Cameroon in 1715 by the first Muslims from the Kanem-Bornou kingdom, which extended over a large part of what is now Chad. Muslims in Cameroon make up around 20% of the population, the majority of whom live in the Adamaoua, North and Far North regions, as well as in the West with the Bamoun people. Cameroon's Muslim communities have inherited the entire ancestral culture of the Lamibé, the Muslim chiefs of the Adamaoua region, and that of the Sultans in the north of the country. This religious, as well as cultural, heritage is still very much alive and contributes to Cameroon's diversity. Travelling in a Muslim country means adopting the right codes.
Animism and ancestral beliefs
The many local beliefs, first and foremost animism, still appeal to almost 6% of the population, even though more and more animists are converting to Christianity or Islam. Local beliefs, whatever the religion, are still very much alive. Anchored in the ethnic constructs of Cameroon's peoples, animist beliefs are closely linked to the tribes and their respective cultures. This is why they vary from one region to another, from one ethnic group to another, adding yet another form of diversity and complexity to the local population. More or less accepted and more or less practiced, animism still strongly influences mentalities and human relationships, and codifies them according to the ethnic groups and beliefs involved.
These beliefs somewhat complicate the relationship with science and medicine, and many illnesses are still too often attributed to maraboutage and mystical practices. Some see it as superstition, others as clairvoyance, but one thing is certain: animist beliefs remain a heritage of Cameroon's ancestral beliefs and customs, and whether you subscribe to them or not, expressing yourself with respect and discretion about this aspect of Cameroonian culture is the ABC of courteous travel.
