The Looming Threat of Government Censorship in Print Media Outlets

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many publications in Cameroon will only print what the government news is also printing. For a country that has a constitution that grants all citizens the right to free press this seems extremely amazing that there would not be one opposing view of the government or anything that is happening. However, Cameroon does not really offer freedom of the press.

Should the government view that what is being published and printed is a threat to the government it could very well carry out sanctions against the press or publication. Sanctions that can be carried out by the government could include legal battles, closing of the publication and charges of treason. To prevent their publications from being accused of this type of writing most private publications will not publish anything that they view as opposing to the government.

While it might seem to an outsider that the only form of media that is under this threat is that of print newspapers it is not. The Internet, radio stations and TV stations are also under the same jurisdiction as the print media. However, since there are less private sectors for this the threat is less to the government and it gets less attention. In fact, there is only currently one TV station that broadcasts items to those in Cameroon and it is government owned and sponsored.

If you are heading to Cameroon you can understand exactly why all the media outlets seem to publish the same stories and opinions. It is because of the fear or government censorship or legal problems.

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An Overview of Cameroon’s Print Media

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Every media follows some type of official standards when it prints the stories that is receives. This can be the type of language that it is printed in, who has control over what stories go to print and even what is covered and not covered. Cameroon is no exception to this rule when it comes to how the media chooses to publish its stories. Here is a look at the various Cameroon print publications outlets and who has what say.

Almost all publications that are printed in Cameroon are printed in the official language of the country, French. However, there are various publications that are translated into Bulu, Duala and other languages that are commonly spoken throughout Cameroon. Some of the publications are also available in English.

The print publications in Cameroon are also limited in distribution. Unlike in America where distribution is daily, Cameroon lacks the resources and ability to update as often. The only publication that offers daily service is the official governmental newspaper The Cameroon Tribune. This is published daily in French. However, there is an English version that is printed at least once a week.

Although Cameroon’s constitution allows freedom of the press it does not really have that. The government controls a lot of what is published and should a story be considered a risk to national security the government has the right to pull the publication from the shelves and limit who gets to read the publication. However, the government will usually only do this on issues that are hot topics, those that speak about oppression of government or those that speak extremely bad about the government.

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Cameroon’s Limited Access to Media Outlets

March 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Americans are graced with having access to thousands and thousands of news media outlets. All they have to do is turn on a computer or turn on the TV and they can watch a wide range of news stories that range in how they are presented and what information is given. However, those in Cameroon are not as lucky. Here is an overview of the type of communication and access that those in Cameroon have to various media outlets and forms of technology.

Internet. In a recent study that was run in 2003 it was determined that people in Cameroon have access to the Internet. However the numbers are surprising. Out of 1,000 people only 5.7 actually owned a personal computer. Of those 5.7 people only 4 had access to the Internet. Surprisingly there are three internet service providers that provide access to the country.

Print Publications. There is estimated to be dozens of various government and private publications in Cameroon. The main source of print publications is the government run newspaper, Cameroon Tribune. However, there are also private presses and it was estimated that there are 40 to 50 of those in existence.

Radio Stations. There is a government run radio station that is used commonly by those in Cameroon. There are also various private radio companies and stations. It is estimated that there are over 20 radio stations throughout the Cameroon area.

TV Stations. There is only one official broadcast company in Cameroon. This is the Cameroon Radio Television Station. However the access people have to TVs is limited. There are only 75 TV sets per 1000 people.

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Freedom of Press in Cameroon

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Everyone in America is familiar with the idea of freedom of the press. This allows journalists and civilian people to publish whatever they want and say whatever they want. However, not every country is able to provide that type of freedom to their members of the press. In particular, Cameroon does not have the luxury of providing this type of freedom to their media outlets.

Cameroon is governed by the constitution. In this constitution it allows the people of Cameroon to have a freedom of the press and print or publish what they want. However, there is a slight snag in the theory.

Cameroon’s media is almost completely owned and operated by the Cameroon government. So while they may be granted the ability to have freedom of the press, the government can override what is published and printed.  While there are tiny small press operations they are few and far between. The government has also been known to run interference with these small, private presses and have been known to stop stories from running that they viewed as dangerous to the public safety and security of the citizens of the country.

So what does this mean for the citizens of Cameroon? This means that the government will usually prevent any negative press, opposing viewpoints and defaming publications on the government to go to print. Should the citizens only have access to the government run publications it could prevent them from seeing all sides of an issue and could develop very judgmental viewpoints to form.

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How An Improved Telecommunications System Helped Cameroon’s Media

February 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Every county has their own unique history when it comes to how their media outlets have formed and what role that they play in the country’s history. Cameroon is no exception to that rule.

Cameroon has been developing their media outlets for a number of years. It used to be if one wished to get any type of news within Cameroon they had to depend on a complex system of runners, horseback riders and travelers. Important news would take days or even weeks to get from one village, town or city to the next. This made it extremely difficult to develop any type of media outlet that could be of any use to the country.

However, in recent years Cameroon has developed their telecommunications system and upgraded it dramatically. Now instead of relying upon runners and travelers for news cities and towns are able to use satellite phones and networks to communicate with each other. In fact, this development of satellite phones has also opened up Cameroon’s ability to communicate with foreign countries.

It is estimated that as of to date there are over 105 main telephone lines per 1,000 people throughout the country and that there are about 66 mobile telephones for every 1,000 people. This dramatic improvement in the number of phones and outlets that people have to communicate with each other has allowed Cameroon to develop their news outlets into what it is today.

Today the media and news outlets are able to encompass a far wider range of the country of Cameroon. In the past, media was limited to what the government broadcasted and allowed to be shown as well as what was going on in the main capital. This was because this was the only city to contain phones and a means to communicate. Now with the development of the telecommunication structure the news can cover all types of villages and cities.

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Top 300 Most Expensive Places to Live- Douala, Cameroon

December 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Location of Littoral Region within Cameroon
Image via Wikipedia

Cameroon itself is a pretty well off country as far as Sub-Saharan Africa goes but like many other countries where corruption and deceit clouds the judgment of their leaders, poverty is rampant. Ranked 112 out of 300, Douala in Littoral Province, is the hub of Cameroon’s export business. Oil, coffee, timber, and tropical fruits travel out of the country at a steady pace and money steadily flows in. There is an international airport in Douala and this where most immigrants enter. Yet, parents cannot feed their children and squalor remains.

In economies with their numbers all in the black, it is harder to understand why families are still going hungry, relegated to a lifetime of financial suffering. According to the financial reports of bustling businesses in Cameroon, based on all it has to offer as far as current and future prospects on natural resources and its ability to compete amongst other nations, citizens should be living well. All the same, lower earning classes of people have to pay high taxes on food or clothes they already cannot afford, never truly able to get ahead.

These major conflicts that one sees when looking at the economic climate of Cameroon, comparing it to what it is now and what it could be and should be, signifies that change in how the country is run from the local to national level is especially necessary. If not for the fear of civil unrest that has come about after changes set to take place in other countries where there are huge numbers of disenfranchised peoples, the citizens of Cameroon would be living very different lives right now. To rectify the government of Cameroon, presidential candidates announce their plans to make it a better place to live asking for the support of the Diaspora. The outcome of the election and the loftiness of the ambitions of candidates will soon become clear in coming months as we look for change.

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Fashion’s Threat to Cameroonian Culture

December 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Cameroon is a country unknown for fashion and fashionistas. The reason many people are ignorant to Cameroon’s fashion world is that they have no experience with it. Just like every other country on the planet, Cameroon expresses itself through fashion, its national palate for clothing, designs, and draping. The tastes that Cameroonians have for the type clothing that they wear is deeply rooted in tradition but as modernization overtakes this country as it has in so many others in the past, and still continues to do so in smaller and lesser developed countries, inhabitants have to decide where their loyalty lies before getting dressed.

For many centuries, tradition has required both men and women to dress in elaborate outfits consisting of patterned fabrics coordinated to draw in your attention. Headdresses and robes have a place in ceremony but for years, women in Cameroon have dressed in garb that was far much more than casual just to go out to do daily things around their city and they still do today. The major problem now is the question of what ideals this dress gives to foreigners and transplants to the country about that of the people of Cameroon. Leaders and contemporaries question how and if westerners and Europeans can accept them who both have held longstanding perceptions of African culture that are unfocused on the peaceful aspects of Cameroonian life. Critics and conformists support initiatives to get citizens to change to contemporary dress, suits, ties, and business skirts, argue that comfort is what Cameroonians should be thinking about as they work side by side by with expats.

Currently, Cameroon is still going through a transition, joining hands and meshing with cultures that are total opposites of their own. No laws have been set to force contemporary attire so civil liberties still prevail though the debate will surely go on for years to come.

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Cameroon Cuisine

November 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Republic of Cameroon is a country of cultural diversity. With a population upwards of 18,879,301 people, this West African country has given passage to the development of roads and rail, agriculture and petroleum production. Cameroon has deep historical ties to both England and France. They are no strangers to European pastries and desserts, as well as French bread. However, the essence of tradition remains in the flavors of this countries edible fare.

Each of the ten regions of Cameroon have their own style of cooking. Many root vegetables are grown and eaten as dietary staples. Tubers such as cassava (also known as yucca), yams, and potatoes are enjoyed regularly. Other widely eaten foods include plantains and various types of fish. Where you live influences what you eat.

A classic dish eaten in many areas of Cameroon is called Fufu. Fufu is made much like mashed potatoes are in European and American culture. Root vegetables, which may be mixed with plantains, corn and other ingredients, are boiled and pounded into a thick paste that is typically served with a hearty soup or spicy stew.

Ndole is considered to be the food that best represents the country of Cameroon. This national dish is eaten in various regions of the republic. A stew made from nuts, seeds and fish or meat, Ndole also contains the bitter leaves of the Ndoleh plant. A plant native to West Africa.

In general, meat is a highly priced food item in Cameroon and is not typically the focus of a dish, but added to it. Bush meats, or animals hunted in the wild, is more commonly eaten. Types of bush meat that may be found on the dinner table include porcupine and pangolin.

It is common for Cameroonians to share their meals. Eating together is an important aspect of social relationships. It helps solidify a bond of generosity and trust. Evening meals are usually the biggest meal of the day.

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Sports In Cameroon

November 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Eto playing for Cameroon
Image via Wikipedia

In Cameroon, sports are popularly practiced. People all over the country enjoy a a good game. Activities such as wrestling and canoe racing are common nationwide. But the most popular and beloved sport by far is football(soccer). Here’s a look at football in Cameroon.

The Cameroon National Football Team has been in the running for the FIFA World Cup six times. Known affectionately as Les Lions Indomptables (The Indomitable Lions), this team attained a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. It highest ranking with Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) hit number 11 in 2006, 2007 and 2009. The Indomitable Lions are known worldwide as one of the strongest and most successful teams in Africa. This team is no doubt the pride of football fans in Cameroon nationwide.

In 1990, Roger Milla helped lead the team to the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup games. Milla was 38 at the time, giving him the distinction of being one of the oldest players in the world cup games. During that game he scored four goals for Cameroon.

Born May 20, 1952, Roger Milla played forward for the Lions in three world cups. Playing on his first team at 13 years of age, Milla is named among the FIFA 100. This list is selected by Brazilian legendary player Pele. It boasts the top 125 players of the sport.

Another popular player is Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o. Eto’o serves as captain for the Cameroon national team. He’s played for Real Madrid, Mallorca, and Barcelona. He became the youngest player on the FIFA World Cup scene at age 17 in June 1998. Samuel Eto’o was also on the gold medal winning 2000 Summer Olympic squad.

One of the world’s best goalkeepers, Thomas Nkono was both a controversial figure and a talented player. Nkono played with Roger Milla on the 1990 FIFA World Cup squad.

Football is the great pastime of Cameroon.

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Cameroonian Sports

November 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Javier Clemente at Bilbao Airport
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All across Africa, the sport of football (or soccer to the Americans) is HUGE! People all over the continent play the beloved sport, but no country is more involved than Cameroon.
In Cameroon, there are many traditional sports that are frequently played. The Nation strongly supports participation in any kind of sport. From running and wrestling to canoe racing and football, there’s no shortage of sports in Cameroon. But by far, the most played and loved is football. Cameroon is currently one of the countries that make up the Council of East and Central Africa Football Federations (or Cecafa). In addition to many amateur football clubs, Cameroon has a national football team that competes places such as the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. Current news out of Cameroon says that there will be a one day tryout hosted by national team coach Javier Clemente. They are searching for local talent that they can add to their already stunning national team.
Football dominates the headlines of news coming out of Cameroon. It is one of the major parts of the Cameroonian culture, so naturally there should be a lot of talk about it and a lot of people interested in it. Many of the current stories are discussing the national team coach, Javier Clemente. In general, many of these stories discuss whether or not the coach is doing as much as he can for his team. The Cameroonian team has lost or tied a few of their games recently, and the fans and football councils want answers. Is the coach slipping? Is the current Cholera epidemic taking the players focus away from the game? Was the lack of key players the problem? Whatever the case may be, the people of Cameroon want to know and the news stories are sure giving them plenty to discuss.

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