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Cameroon Arts

With a population dating back to the Neolithic age, the culture of Cameroon as a nation justifiably age old and traditional. As archeological evidences and modern day statistics show, the Pygmies have influenced the culture in their own way till date. The Sao Culture of the Pygmies has been among the earliest. Before being formally recorded in history the African culture developed and flourished in this country. Inhabited by about 280 different ethnic groups with their own cultural form, the Cameroonian culture has become a melting pot of various African ethnic cultures. Music and dance are integral parts of the Cameroonian culture, the two most popular forms being makossa and bikutsi. Traditional art forms include working with wood, stones and clay and are used throughout the country for commercial, decorative and religious purposes. Although a part of the national budget have been kept reserved for cultural activities, most artists are self supporting. Largely influenced by Europe, Cameroonian literature and films have highlighted the national struggle for independence and also on the over all state of the continent at large.

Music:- Music and dance are integral parts of the Cameroonian culture. Almost all occasions and events are accompanied by music. Generally transmitted orally, the general accompaniments are claps or stomping feet. In traditional performances, there is a chorus baking up a soloist, accompanied by traditional instruments like bells, drums, talking drums, flutes, horns, rattles, scrapers, whistles, xylophones and stringed instruments all of which varies from one group to another. In certain cases performers sing by themselves only with a harp-like instrument.