Cameroon, a nation often referred to as "Africa in Miniature" due to its rich tapestry of climates, landscapes, and cultures, offers an equally diverse linguistic experience. Cameroon stands out as one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. With a population of just over 29 million people, it is home to an astonishing array of languages, a testament to its complex history and myriad ethnic groups.
The moniker "Africa in Miniature" extends beyond geography and climate to encompass Cameroon's linguistic landscape. Just as the continent boasts a multitude of language families and cultural expressions, so too does Cameroon. From Bantu languages in the south to Chadic languages in the north, and with the lasting imprint of European colonial powers, Cameroon encapsulates a microcosm of Africa's linguistic diversity.
So, what language do they speak in Cameroon? How many languages are spoken in Cameroon altogether? Is a Cameroon native language among the country’s official tongues? Let’s explore the fascinating linguistic landscape of Cameroon.
CAMEROON: 20 Facts in 4 MINUTES
Official Languages: French and English
Cameroon official languages are French and English, holding equal status under the constitution. This linguistic duality stems from the period after World War I, when the former German colony of Kamerun was divided and administered by France and the United Kingdom.
After World War I, the former German colony of Kamerun was divided between France and the United Kingdom. This history has led to a fascinating linguistic duality. Cameroon's two official languages, French and English, are a direct result of its unique colonial history. From 1916 to 1960, the territory was divided between French and British rule, leaving a lasting imprint on its language and culture.
Read also: Understanding Cameroon Pidgin
Understanding the roots of the ongoing war and the significance of the law requires a brief historical overview. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, European colonial powers rushed to conquer and exploit Africa, often lumping together disparate tribes and ethnic groups into territories with little regard for historical boundaries. Colonial powers drew arbitrary borders and implemented their own methods of government, education, and language.
Present-day Cameroon was once a part of the German colony “Kamerun.” However, following Germany’s defeat in World War I, the territory of present-day Cameroon became a League of Nations mandate split between the British and French. British Cameroon was a narrow region snaking along the Nigerian border from the Gulf of Guinea to Chad, while the larger, southeastern portion of the territory, was controlled by the French.
French Cameroon gained its independence in 1960 as did neighboring Nigeria shortly thereafter. It was initially as status of British Cameroon would be (there was, apparently, no discussion of British Cameroon becoming an independent nation). Eventually, the predominantly Muslim northern portion of the British mandate, became a part of Nigeria while the Southern section voted to join Cameroon. “Northwest” and “Southwest” Cameroon, the two regions previously administered by the British, united on October 1, 1961.
The differing colonial legacies of the newly united Cameroon meant that a majority of the country was Francophone, while the autonomous western section, comprising approximately 20% of the population, was “Anglophone.”
French is the lingua franca across the majority of Cameroon's ten regions. In Cameroon, English is the main official language in two specific areas, which together are often called "Anglophone Cameroon" because of their historical ties to Britain. These regions are the Northwest Region, where you'll find cities like Bamenda, and the Southwest Region, which includes coastal towns such as Buea and Limbe. If you're a tourist visiting these parts of Cameroon, you'll notice that English is widely used for everyday communication.
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Eight out of the ten regions of Cameroon are primarily francophone and two are anglophone. The nation strives toward bilingualism, but in reality very few (11.6%) Cameroonians are literate in both French and English, and 28.8% are literate in neither.
The government has established several bilingual schools in an effort to teach both languages more evenly; however, in reality most of these schools separate the anglophone and francophone sections and therefore do not provide a true bilingual experience. Cameroon is a member of both the Commonwealth of Nations and La Francophonie.
The French spoken in Cameroon is largely similar to that spoken in France, with the addition of some local influences on accents and vocabulary. Likewise, Cameroonian English has its own distinctive accent and words borrowed from local tongues.
While German was Cameroon’s official language for many years under German colonial rule, it has since been largely subsumed by French, English, and native mother tongues. That said, many Cameroonians still study German as a foreign language at school and there are believed to be around 300,000 German learners and speakers in Cameroon - one of the largest clusters of German speakers in Africa.
According to the 2005 census of Cameroon, French is the most widely spoken (56% of the population), followed by English (23%) - both official languages.
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For visitors, it's really important to know about this language mix. Learning just a few basic French phrases will help you a lot in most parts of the country. But don't worry, English is also easy to understand in the English-speaking areas. You'll often find that people who work in hotels and tourist spots in bigger French-speaking cities like Douala and Yaoundé also understand English well.
Tourists should expect to encounter both languages, though their prevalence varies significantly by region.
- Francophone Regions (most of the country): Government offices, police stations, and hospitals will primarily operate in French.
- Anglophone Regions (Northwest and Southwest): English is the primary language for public services here. However, due to national integration efforts, French is also often understood or spoken by staff.
| City | Predominant Language |
|---|---|
| Douala | French |
| Yaoundé | French |
| Buea | English |
Douala: As the economic hub, Douala is overwhelmingly French-speaking. However, due to its cosmopolitan nature, you'll encounter a mix of indigenous languages and some English speakers, especially in business and tourism sectors.
Yaoundé: The political capital is also predominantly French-speaking.
Buea: Located in the Southwest Region, Buea is distinctly English-speaking.
Map of Cameroon's official languages. Blue: French speaking regions and countries. Red: English speaking regions and countries.
Indigenous Languages
Beyond the official languages, Cameroon boasts an incredible linguistic tapestry of over 250 indigenous languages. While tourists won't be expected to learn them, an awareness of their presence is valuable.
Cameroon is home to at least 250 languages, with some accounts reporting around 600. These include 55 Afro-Asiatic languages, two Nilo-Saharan languages, four Ubangian languages, and 169 Niger-Congo languages.
Language in Cameroon is deeply intertwined with identity. For many, their indigenous language is a crucial marker of their ethnic group, family history, and cultural heritage. While French and English are official languages and provide a sense of national unity, the vast array of local languages reinforces regional and ethnic identities.
As we’re seeing happen around the world, many of those indigenous languages are being lost. According to the country’s National Institute of Statistics, 4% of the languages of Cameroon have become extinct since 1950. Languages such as Ekung and Mbiame simply have no native speakers left, having been usurped over the years by other tongues.
Most of the 260 languages spoken in Cameroon are indigenous languages. With a population estimated in 25 million people, UNESCO classified the country as a distinctive cultural density. The National Institute of Statistics of Cameroon reported that four percent of the indigenous languages have disappeared since 1950.
The Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM, or "Linguistic Atlas of Cameroon") lists about 250 languages in Cameroon.
Pidgin Languages
As so often happens when imported languages meet indigenous tongues, pidgin languages have been born in Cameroon to aid communication.
Cameroonian Pidgin English (often called Kamtok or simply Pidgin) is arguably the most vital lingua franca in Cameroon. It is a creole language based on English, with significant influences from French and various indigenous Cameroonian languages. While it's spoken as a first language by a small percentage, it is understood and used for everyday communication by an estimated 50% of the population, bridging the gap between different linguistic groups, especially between Anglophones and Francophones.
In the two anglophone provinces - Northwest and Southwest - many residents use Cameroonian Pidgin English as a lingua franca. Also known as Kamtok, Cameroonian Pidgin English has five varieties: Grafi Kamtok, Liturgical Kamtok, Francophone Kamtok, Limbe Kamtok, and Bororo Kamtok.
Estimates show that as many as 50% of Cameroonians speak this pidgin, while around 5% speak it as their native language (causing some linguists to define it as a creole rather than a pidgin - the link below explores the differences between the two if you feel inclined to go down that road).
Cameroonian Pidgin English, or Cameroonian Creole, is a language variety of Cameroon. It is also known as Kamtok (from 'Cameroon-talk'). It is primarily spoken in the North West and South West English speaking regions. Cameroonian Pidgin English is an English-based creole language. About 5% of Cameroonians are native speakers of the language, while an estimated 50% of the population speak it in some form.
Cameroonian Pidgin English: "How far?" (How are you?), "I fine" (I'm fine), "Thank you" (Thank you), "Wusai...dey?" (Where is...?)
In urban areas, meanwhile, young people are increasingly speaking a relatively new pidgin: Camfranglais. Also called Francanglais or Francamglais, the pidgin blends Cameroonian French, Cameroonian English, and Cameroonian Pidgin English, as well as incorporating various indigenous lexical elements.
Camfranglais, Francanglais, or Francamglais, is a vernacular of Cameroon, containing grammatical and lexical elements from Cameroonian French, Cameroonian English and Cameroonian Pidgin English, in addition to lexical contributions from various indigenous languages of Cameroon. The language blend is common among young people in the country, and rivals Cameroonian Pidgin English ("Creole") as the country's most common lingua franca. Speakers are already fluent in either English and French, and as such it is not used in situations where both parties lack a common tongue.
Some cities have seen the use of Camfranglais replace that of Cameroonian Pidgin English to the extent that it is Camfranglais that has emerged as the lingua franca within the city.
Other Notable Languages
Other than French and English, what language is spoken in Cameroon?
- Ewondo: Plays a similar role in parts of the Centre, South, and East regions, especially around the capital. A Bantu language that is also referred to as Kolo by its speakers, Ewondo is spoken mainly in Cameroon’s Centre region, as well as in part of the South Region. An important trade language, Ewondo has many dialects, including Badjia, Bafeuk, Bamvele, Bane, Beti, Enoah, Evouzok, Fong, Mbida-Bani, Mvete, Mvog-Niengue, Omvang, Yabekolo, Yabeka and Yabekanga. Ewondo is also mutually intelligible with Bulu, Eton, and Fang. There are over half a million Ewondo speakers in Cameroon, but there is some concern that the language is being subsumed by French.
- Around 300,000 Cameroonians speak Bassa as their mother tongue.
- A Bantu family dialect cluster spoken by Cameroon’s Duala and Mungo peoples, Douala is split by some linguists into five further languages: Douala itself, Bodiman, Oli, Pongo, and Mongo. Most speakers live in Douala, Cameroon’s most populous city and its economic capital. The Douala language shot to fame in Europe in 2020, thanks to Wes Madiko’s song Alane.
- Considered the lingua franca of northern Cameroon, Fulfulde is a dialect continuum that spans 20 West and Central African countries. Also called Fula, Fulani, and Fulah, it is a non-tonal language that is spoken as a second tongue by many Cameroonians. The importance of Fulfulde as a Cameroon language was highlighted recently by Fabienne Freeland, director general of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, who pointed out:“French and English has its limits on development in this country.
- Bulu has around 860,000 native speakers in Cameroon, mainly in the South Province, with significant clusters at Ebolowa and Sangmélima. Speakers can also be found in the Centre and East regions. A Bantu language, Bulu’s dialects include Bene, Yelinda, Yembana, Yengono, and Zaman.
- Spoken in Chad, Ghana, and Nigeria, as well as being one of the indigenous languages in Cameroon, Hausa is a Chadic language that is estimated to have between 100-150 million total speakers.
The Francophone/Anglophone Divide
The Francophone/Anglophone Divide Article I of the Cameroonian Constitution states that the official languages of the republic are both French and English. Both languages have “the same status” and the government is to “guarantee the promotion of bilingualism throughout the country.” In addition to the two official languages, Cameroon is also home to around 280 local languages, some with official regional recognition.
Despite the Constitutional guarantee, French remains the lingua franca and continues to dominate many aspects of life in Cameroon. Over the years, Anglophone Cameroon’s autonomy waned and for years, non-Francophone Cameroonians have called out the neglect and discrimination they have faced. English speakers face significant barriers to society, particularly in access to public life. While the judiciary in Cameroon is a mixture of both common law, inherited from the British, and French civil law, many judges don’t speak English.
Access to public services for non-French speakers is often difficult, if not impossible. The National Entrance Examinations for higher education are prepared by Francophone administrators and often disadvantage English speakers. It is difficult for non-Francophone Cameroonians to pursue higher education, obtain basic information about the law and obtain employment.
Tensions in the Anglophone region have escalated, and in recent decades the Francophone central government has violently responded to protests in the region. Tensions escalated in 2016 when lawyers in the Anglophone regions went on strike, upset with the government appointing Francophone judges with no common law experience to their courts. Teachers in the region joined in on the strike on behalf of their students who feel they don’t have access to jobs. The government’s response was deadly and the protests soon devolved into a civil war.
In a nutshell, the division of Cameroon into francophone and anglophone regions has left scars on the country that remain to this day. The two colonial powers introduced not just different languages, but different systems of education and justice, as well as cultural differences. While Cameroon has been an independent nation for 50 years now, the divisions remain.
Some 83% of Cameroon is classed as French-speaking, while just 17% is English-speaking. English speakers accounted for 21% of the population at the time of Cameroon’s independence, but their number has been declining ever since. This is in stark contrast to the growth of English elsewhere in the world, which has led to it becoming the fastest-growing language on the planet.
It is only in recent years that the differences in Cameroon have become increasingly contentious and violent. Armed English-speaking separatists have been pushing to create an independent nation - Ambazonia - along the country’s north-western border with Nigeria. Thousands of Cameroonians have died in the conflict between the separatists and government forces and 500,000 or more have been displaced, with the lines becoming increasingly blurred as to which side is the more violent. Language has become a key factor in the conflict, but moves are underway to try and heal the situation.
A pilot program is promoting the teaching of Ewondo, Bassa, Douala, Womala, and Fufulde in 43 schools, while all schools have been instructed to promote the teaching of the national languages most spoken in their area.
According to Seraphine Ben Boli, who is in charge of the pilot language program, the country will choose one Cameroon native language to become an official language (in addition to French and English) by 2030. The idea is to use the chosen Cameroon national language to unite people behind the concept of being Cameroonian, rather than feeling defined by their francophone or anglophone origins.
It follows relatively ineffective attempts for Cameroonians to become bilingual in both French and English. Despite the government’s establishment of bilingual schools, just 11.6% of Cameroonians speak both of the country’s official languages, while 28.8% are literate in neither.
2019 Language Law
Cameroon passed Law 2019/19 “Portant Promotion des Langues Officielles au Cameroon” on December 24, 2019, stating that French and English are of equal importance and that the state is to encourage the promotion of each official language. Specifically, the law seeks to guarantee the use of both languages in public services and guarantee the rights of citizens to obtain information in the language of their choice.
Laws must be available in French and English, the state is required to promote the teaching of both languages in the education system, traffic signs and court decisions must be translated into both languages, and made public administration officials are responsible for ensuring they have staff trained in French and English. The law goes beyond simply ensuring Cameroonians have access to information in both languages, but takes steps to call for equality of the language.
Article 9 notes that languages are equal for administrative, economic, social, and political activity. In translated “signs, logos, placards and various notices” the two languages must have an “equality of formal presentation” such that the French and English text have the same font, the same size, and same color so as not to differentiate the two.
In the midst of an ongoing separatist conflict between the Francophone and Anglophone Cameroon, the officially bilingual nation’s President Paul Biya has called for the enforcement of a 2019 law calling for equality of both languages. Last October, Cameroon’s long-serving president Paul Biya announced he would be enforcing a 2019 law calling for equality of French and English in the officially bilingual nation.
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