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Culture and Customs of Cameroon (Culture and Customs of Africa)
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| List Price: | $51.95 |
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Product Description
Cameroon, in Central Africa, has been called "Africa in miniature." It is characterized by exceptional social and ethnic diversity, with more than 250 ethnicities now forming five major regional-culture groupings. This volume is the first to encapsulate Cameroon's rich indigenous and modern customs and traditions in depth. The narrative emphasizes those aspects that define its modern nation, its peoples, the unique societies, their institutions, and various lifestyles. The origins of Cameroon's diverse culture are traced back to the various ethnic groups and languages as well as the influence of European colonialism, Christianity, Islam, and other external factors, including globalization. In each topical chapter, examples from ethnic groups are presented to give some sense of the variety of experiences. Cameroon has had a turbulent and eventful modern history with German, English, and French incursions, and students and general readers will be able to understand the current struggle for democracy post independence. The history colors the substantial coverage of the many topics examined, from education, to marriage and women's roles, sports, and holidays, daily life, the arts, and much more. This volume will stand as the definitive, accessible introduction to Cameroon and will be essential for building a well-rounded Africa collection.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #414975 in Books
- Published on: 2005-06-30
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 284 pages
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Culture and Customs of Cameroon gives a clear, informative analysis of the dynamic Cameroonian world-view and offers the reader tools to delve further into Cameroon's cultural patterns.”–
“Mbaku summarizes Cameroon's indigenous and modern customs in depth, emphasizing aspects that define the modern nation, its people, their institutions, and their various lifestyles. He traces the origins of Cameroon's diverse culture back to its various ethnic groups and languages, and examines the influences of European colonialism, Christianity, Islam, and globalization. In each chapter, examples from different ethnic groups are presented to give a sense of the variety of experiences within the country. B&w photos are included.”–
“This volume is an in-depth overview of the country's history and geographic features. Other topics featured include religion; literature and media; art, architecture and housing; cuisine and traditional dress; gender roles, marriage, and family; social customs and lifestyle; and music and dance. For each of these subjects, different ethnic manifestations are covered.”–
About the Author
JOHN MUKUM MBAKU is Professor of Economics at Weber State University.
Customer Reviews
Very good, no maps
This is the best book I have seen so far about the cultures and customs of Cameroon. There are over 250 ethnic groups in Cameroon. The mixture of the old and the new is very difficult to unravel. The author does a remarkable job of presenting the complexities of life in Cameroon. The author's description is in agreement with my experience with the life in the Cameroon Grasslands. I highly recommend this book. The only drawback is the lack of maps.
Great source of information
This is a great source of information on the people and culture of Cameroon. A great beginners guide for people who haven't had a chance to visit Cameroon yet.
