Yaounde - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
This has not been an issue for us. There are a lot of problems for local women/girls in Cameroon, but that does not seem to affect the expat community. i don't feel less safe as a woman here. - Jan 2020
Cameroon seems to be an aggressive paternalistic society. A Cameroonian's way of communicating may be perceived by Westerns as being very loud and aggressive. I have seen a motorist clearly at fault arguing as if his life depended on it with the other motorist. According to him, he should have been able to drive around the round-about while speaking on his phone and not have run into the car in front of him. The culture is also one of bullying - seen from adults all the way to small children. I have seen locals who are scared of dogs and will often make fun of others by actively pushing them into the way of a nearby dog to scare them. Children and adults may taunt others by saying the dog will eat them or attack them. - Jun 2018
Gender equality is better than many places in Africa. There is an issue with the Anglophone region, but Anglophones and Francophones get along relatively well in Yaounde. Catholicism and Protestant Christianity are most common, but there is a sizable Muslim minority, and there are no major issues with this. - Apr 2017
Not that I've witnessed. - Apr 2014
I think being a member of the expat community, you are a bit separated from this. There are not a lot of White people about, so if you are White, you'll be a minority, but women can walk around in regular clothes and the country is both Christian and Muslim. - Jan 2014
Not that we have witnessed, but there are prejudices from the French Cameroonian toward English-speaking Cameroonian - May 2012
People seems pretty low-key about other people's religions. Racial? There aren't enough of any minority (including whites) to be an issue. - Sep 2011
The local women do not get treated well by local men, but I have not had any bad experiences myself. - Mar 2010
No problems whatsoever. - Jan 2010
I happen to be Caucasian/White. When I go to the outdoor markets I am generally the only White person there. Some people may cry out "le blanc" but it is usually harmless. They are just shocked at seeing a White guy. Cameroon enjoys religious freedom and I have not seen any prejudices of that kind. - Nov 2008
Expatriates are spared most of these injustices, but the role of women in society is certainly an issue for the locals. Religious tolerance is a strength of cameroon, and tribal tensions are very well hidden, but there are undercurrents. - Sep 2008
None that I've encountered. - Jun 2008
The country is bilingual and mainly dual religious, Muslim and Christian. If you are White, you will have attention and be asked for money/gifts everywhere you go, but there is not so much negative racism. - Jun 2008
