Many, if not all, Africans except the jealous ones refer to Cameroon as “Africa in miniature”. Did you know, it’s also called “Small Africa”? Those names mean that it has everything you can see in all other countries. For example, there are diverse geographic landscapes, and a myriad of cultures. It equally spans from the Atlantic coast, desert, mountains, rainforest, savanna terrains to rich wildlife conservation. Naturally, Cameroon has uncountable resources like oil and gas etc. That could be arguable, some have claimed. I didn’t believe it either until l took several trips to many African countries in comparison. After spending time in more than 10 National museums abroad in Asia and Africa, l can proudly say the Yaoundé National Museum is exceptional in more than one way.
As per December 2023 when l went there, the ticket price for Cameroonians was, 2000frs ($3). The price for foreigners will obviously be higher, but l would estimate carry along $5-$10.
Where is the Yaoundé National museum located?
This unique cultural garden is located in the heart of Yaoundé city-Cameroon’s current and second capital. It’s a short walking distance from the large Court building, popularly known as “Justice”. Any taxi driver around the town will leave you at the entrance, beside a large fortified gate.
This substantial culture world is hosted inside the former presidential palace of late President Ahmadou Ahidjo- Cameroon’s first president. Well gated from the main road, the entire premises occupy a large surface of land, including other smaller buildings.
Still on the yard, several crafted steel sculptures are made to stand at different places infront of the gigantic edifice. Some caught my attention as l walked through to the main door. You will be mesmerized too if you venture to go see arts made in Cameroon.
To my surprise, some people rented the outdoor space (lawn) for weddings and private events.
On the wall of the front main door, there are framed pictures of Cameroon’s past and current situation.
Inside the huge white painted building, there are numerous rooms. They were part of President Ahidjo’s office spaces and the living quarters of his family. That actually means, you will be walking into several small spaces. Most of them have different color wall paints. For example, there was a room with red hot paint, another with blue and yellow and so many with white. I have never seen that anywhere.
Continue reading to have a glimpse of what to expect when you make that trip.
What cultural artifacts are in the Yaoundé national museum?
As you open the steel made massive heavy doors, you will spot a pair of stairs and a large portrait of the current President, Mr. Paul Biya.
The first room on the right is a display of the heroic actions of late Ngosso Din. Historically, he contributed to the independence movement of Cameroon. Whether you want to read in English or French or watch the small tv displaying the history facts or just admire pictures of him, there’s enough information for the outstanding freedom fighter.
In another large room, there were displays of just four of the many ethnic groups in Cameroon: the Grassfield (Northwest and west), the Sawa (Littoral and Southwest), the northern groups (Far North, Adamawa and North), and the Beti (center and south). These sections are uniquely decorated with cultural items and pictures of traditional meals.
I was mesmerized to see realistic-looking mannequins wearing traditional outfits of all the sections. Diversity was displayed in the most special way in this space.
I remember smiling so hard to see the sawa “kaba” (female traditional dress), given l am from that ethnic group. This room captures everything you need to know about Cameroon.
What else can you see?
Equally, a small room nearby had many musical instruments, like ancient wooden drums used by different traditional groups. My guide did a great job of explaining some of the mystical tales behind a few drums.
On the right side to the, I saw a very big hall, presumably the living room of the presiden. It had some of the enormous wall paintings l have ever seen washed with bright colors. The designs weren’t unusual to me as an African but it was fascinating to see the detail. I had seen similar in Kenya, Tanzania and other African countries. However, the sizes were huge, perfect for what l would like to see in my living room too.
What surprised me the most?
A mighty hall at the edge of the building on the left side has 10 big wooden brown Cameroon shaped maps hung on the wall. Every map has a white region painted to identify its location in the country geographically. In front of the hanging maps were displayed small tables of the cultural houses and community life of those specific people. It was artistically done with mud and some other materials.
I was so impressed at the artistry such that l screamed a little bit. As a Cameroonian, l could relate with everything, though l haven’t been to all the regions. In fact, l even became interested in traveling to the South, East and the three Northern regions of Cameroon. Agreeably, western development has influenced the living style of many people, but if you visit the Yaoundé national museum, you will experience the original lifestyle and architecture of the people in the old days.
Still on the first floor, there is a smaller room with a display of beautiful traditional cowries hats used in ancient days by the kings and his deputies. It showcases the ancient leadership ladder and symbolized structure in those days.
Yaoundé national museum upstairs cultural items
The entire left section consisting of almost 9 medium size rooms had an unexpected kind of Arts. There were no physical items as l thought l would see.
Instead, l saw an estimated hundred or more large framed pictures hanging on walls. The method of hanging was strange somehow. It wasn’t like a nail on the wall holding the pictures in a single position, but there was a long rope attached to the ceiling suspending each picture on separate strands. That was very cool to me.
These were pictures of former national activities, the current president, ministers of the government and those who have played an applauded role both in the colonial and independence era of Cameroon.
The most unexpected picture was that of the National men football team of 1960. Though l couldn’t identify any face, I was impressed to know Cameroon has been participating in football competitions for so long. While some of the pictures had lengthy description of the people and the events, some had mainly names. With a few minutes to read, I am sure, you will have a broader knowledge of the complex political situation of Cameroon.
What will shock you the most?
That sounds like I am assuming what you will like right? I guess you said that. There was a large table covered with glass containing Cameroonian spices. Displayed in small calabashes, l saw almost 30 unique spices typical to our almost 600 national traditional meals. I could recognize many of them, but a few were very strange.
Cameroon doesn’t have a single national meal as many countries do. Our traditional dishes are particular to local tribes. That is, within the 250 plus estimated tribes, some have more than one local food. Therefore, to taste our varieties, you might have to travel around the entire country. Many people cook the meals of other tribes at home but there are some delicacies you will enjoy only if you go to the region/city of those people.
It will amaze you to know that, in my 30s, I haven’t eaten half of Cameroon’s delights because I shamefully haven’t traveled widely around my country.
What was my impression about this room?
Personally, l didn’t like the fact that the spices were hidden under a glass. It would have been great to be able to smell them and to see a picture or name of the meals which these are commonly used.
Somehow, I felt sad that there were no labels on them, meaning its hard for me to ask the name if I buy them from the market.
A wall in this same room has pictures of some of our famous Cameroonian meals like eru, koki beans and cocoyam, bobolo and meondo, pepper soup fish and plantain, achu and yellow soup, ndole and palm wine.
My anglophone guide didn’t have to speak much here because I was familiar with our local cuisine.
On your souvenir list, l guess you are considering buying Cameroon clothes. Unfortunately, we don’t have a single traditional outfit because there are many small ethnic groups. You will see a few pictures of some here. Why not search in the market for something similar?
What is in President Ahidjo’s former office?
The entire room was transformed into a traditional kitchen, depicting the typical life of some Cameroonians till date. The idea of putting ground in the center area and making a fake fireplace with an old pot was so funny at first glance. I wouldn’t have imagined I could see something like this.
The small mortar and pestle showcases how we blended ingredients before modern blenders and grinding machines were imported to Cameroon. Some people still use mortars today, it is believed that the meal tastes differently though its time consuming.
Every local kitchen till date has a stable chair made from the bamboo plant tied with ropes or wood.
Though very few people use small calabashes to eat as plates to eat these days, it was typical in the past. Actually, many mothers will serve a huge amount of food in the bowls and children ate together with washed hands.
Personally, I don’t have any calabash, but l still enjoy eating some local meals with my fingers. Licking them after every bite has a unique taste.
What are the most common items in a traditional kitchen?
Hung from the ceiling above the three stone fireplace, there’s always a suspended basket-like object used to dry food. For example, during the maize season, there’s always surplus. We have both fresh corn and dry corn meals. Therefore, people put the fresh corn inside this object for a few weeks. The heat from the fire makes the corn dry, especially during the long 6 months raining season where there’s no sun to dry the corn outside.
For instance, in my village – Likombe down in the Southwest region of Cameroon, we call that “nbanda”. I don’t know if that’s from my local language- Bakweri, or a Pidgin English word. Some people use it to dry other food items like beans, plantain etc.
Generally, traditioanl outdoor kitchens do not have dried plantain/banana leaves hung on the wall as you see on the picture. I guess the museum designers added that just to give an extra vibe, simulating typical mud, bamboo or wooden huts. In this modern era, some people have cemented local kitchens mostly built seperate from the main house because of the smoke.
If you were to walk around backyards of many homes in both cities and villages in Cameroon, you will unfailing see firewood kitchens built close to the main house’s kitchen.
Normally, there’s a section for unused logs, and specific cooking pots. Most people use the fireplace kitchen when they want to cook time-consuming local food. I must remark some low-income people use this everyday because they cannot afford the expensive cooking gas.
On the contrary, a lot of people use gas in cylinder bottles to cook on a modern cooker inside the house. It is convinient especially in the evenings when no one wants to go outside to warm food or cook something light.
Enjoy arts on calabashes
Finally, l saw a display of calabashes and large clay pots, beautifully designed. Sincerely, I liked the skill and effort used by the artists to decorate the outside. Some of the mixed colors were unique and delightful to see. In one part of my mind, l considered buying one or two at the market to decorate my house.
In conclusion, f l were to tell you everything in pictures, there’ll be nothing to intrigue you to see. Seriously, there is more to what l could allow my camera to capture. I was sincerely surprised at every piece of art l saw, and can almost guarantee you will too.
The Yaoundé National Museum embodies a tip of the iceberg of what you can experience in beautiful Cameroon. Depending on how long your trip to my country will be, l strongly recommend you spare an hour or two to visit this place.
Bonus point: Given that Cameroon is a bilingual country, based on your request, you can have a French or English guide to ease your tour. You can check Tripadvisor to read reviews of what others have said about this history place.
Please share with me your experience when you go there.
To read more articles about things to do in Cameroon, go here.
