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Cameroon is a lively Central African nation that is renowned for its geographical, religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity. Affectionately known as “Africa in Miniature,” Cameroon includes all the continent's major geographic landscapes including white beaches in the south, mountains in the west, tropical rainforests in the Congo basin, savannah grasslands further north and sparse deserts in the far north. The Cameroonian population, which the U.S. government estimates at 28.5 million (midyear 2021), is made up of an estimated 240 different ethnic groups with 240 corresponding local languages which you can hear spoken throughout the public sphere. Each of Cameroon's ethnic groups has its own unique cultural forms including music, style of dress, and traditional dishes, which have become increasingly intermixed over the years.

Cameroon is divided into 10 regions: Center, Littoral, South, West, Northwest, Southwest, Adamawa, North, Far North and East. Urbanization is evidenced by bustling markets and industries in the capital city of each region, with inhabitants of Douala and Yaounde comprising over twenty percent of the national population. 

English and French are the official languages of the country, and Cameroon has an official bilingualism policy that mandates the use of both languages in public offices. However, French speakers outnumber English speakers by a 4:1 ratio. Two of the country’s regions are predominantly English speaking, and eight regions are French speaking. As a result, working knowledge of French is recommended.

The Fulbright Program was established in Cameroon in 1962. Since its inception, over 70 Fulbright U.S. Scholars have been sent to Cameroon to teach and conduct research in fields ranging from languages and anthropology to biomedicine and engineering. The work of these scholars has contributed to scientific, academic and social progress in Cameroon, and some scholars have even supported the development of academic structures such as the Center for Transformative Education at the University of Ngaoundere and the School of Engineering at the Catholic University of Cameroon-Bamenda.

Cameroon has 11 public universities and more than twice as many private institutions of higher education. In Cameroon, undergraduate classes are large (350-3,500+ students) in public schools, but advanced and graduate classes are smaller (less than 350). The academic year runs from October through July. There are two semesters: October-January and February-June. 

There are several international-standard elementary (primary) schools in Yaounde and Douala for dependent children in Pre-K and K-12. Grantees residing outside of these two cities will need to research school options and decide if they are appropriate for their dependents.