Greetings and Gestures in Cameroon
What to say, how to sit, and what to wear for a wonderful visit to Cameroon
One afternoon in the Cameroonian market, a vendor wouldn’t leave me alone. I was used to being called to and encouraged to come shop at each stall I passed, but this was different.The persistent young man followed me for blocks; he called loudly to me, and each time I paused he pushed a pair of sunglasses in my face, insisting I buy them. I declined several times, but he only became more demanding. After 10 or 15 minutes of this, I lost patience. I whirled around, glared at him, and told him firmly in French, “I am NOT going to buy those. I DON’T need any sunglasses. NOTHING you say will change my mind!”
“A direct ‘no’ is considered quite impolite in Cameroon. Sitting with crossed legs is a symbol of power or dominance.”
The market went quiet. Everyone stared, and my face flushed. I had forgotten a cardinal rule of polite Cameroonian society: It’s very rude to directly say “no,” and even more offensive to raise your voice. I paused, a little afraid of what might come next.
The young vendor looked at me quizzically. “Are you German?” he asked!
Today I can chuckle about this situation, but I really had made a cultural mistake and I was lucky this young man took it so well. In my home culture (the U.S.) aggressive sales tactics are considered impolite - hence my annoyance. But… I wasn’t in my home culture and the man’s behavior was perfectly reasonable for a Cameroonian marketplace. My direct “no”, on the other hand, was considered quite impolite and brash in Cameroon. Better answers would have been. “Not today”, “I’ll think about it”, or “I didn’t bring money for that”. In Cameroon, dealing with an unwanted sales person still requires a gentle and indirect response.
By the way, I let the guy think I was German.
Take Time to Greet Properly
Westerners tend to be more task-oriented than Cameroonians. The single biggest mistake westerners make in Cameroon is not greeting enough.
Cameroonians almost always greet each other with a handshake. To show extra honor, put your left hand on your right forearm and bow slightly as you shake hands. One or both people may show this extra symbol of respect.
Appropriate Titles
Cameroonians may refer to adults as “Ma” or “Pa” and the name of their oldest child. For example, when greeting the parents of Bernadette, you might say, “Bonjour, Ma Bernadette” to the child’s mother and “Comment ça va, Pa Bernadette?” to the father.
When speaking someone you don’t know, you can refer to them as “Monsieur” or “Madame”. For an older adult, you can use “Papa” or “Mama” to show respect for their age and wisdom.
Warm Relationships
Cameroonian society is very social and focused on keeping interpersonal relationships warm and frictionless. Cameroonians tend to take every opportunity to share information about their extended family and friends. It’s considered rude to jump into a business exchange without first taking several minutes to discuss each other’s health, inquire about family in-depth, and chit-chat about local happenings.
If you’re not sure what to talk about, discussing the progress of the Indomitable Lions, Cameroon’s national soccer team, is sure to elicit a strong reaction. Many Cameroonians are fanatical about their local team and would love to discuss details about the latest match.
A lot of Cameroonians are fanatical soccer fans!
Showing Friendship, Avoiding Insults
It is common in Cameroon to hold hands with a friend of the same gender. This is not a romantic gesture, but rather a sign of friendship and a warm emotional bond. As a teacher in a Cameroonian school, I remember the first time this happened to me. Another teacher, who I considered a friend and close colleague, took my hand as we walked together in the hallway. As an American, this felt very uncomfortable and a little shocking; fortunately, however, I knew enough about the culture to continue holding her hand and not let go. It was actually a very special moment to realize that I was being accepted and integrating into the culture. I’m glad I didn’t ruin it by following my impulse to let go of her hand.
Sitting with your legs crossed is considered arrogant or a symbol of power or dominance. While military or political leaders may sit with crossed legs, in daily life most Cameroonians sit with their feet planted on the ground. It is considered rude to show the bottom of your foot. (Here’s a news story about a 2019 controversy when a UN official sat with crossed legs in a meeting with Cameroon’s president!)
Cameroonians may prefer not to be photographed without their permission, so be considerate with your camera and avoid taking pictures in public spaces.
Clothing and Hairstyles
Clothing and hairstyles in Cameroon include a mix of traditional and Western influences. Cameroonian women always wear dresses or skirts. The most simple outfit is a t-shirt and a ‘pagne’ (pronounced pon-yay); a 2-meter long length of brightly colored cloth which the woman wraps around her waist. Mothers may use a second pagne to wrap their babies on their back. Other choices include colorful, loose-fitting dresses or western style dresses or skirts. Cameroonian women never wear slacks or pants, as showing the shape of the leg is considered immodest.
A t-shirt, colorful pagne, and headscarf is a very common outfit for Cameroonian women.
In traditional settings, many Cameroonian women will keep their hair very short, which is practical for the climate and is easier to wash. In urban settings, some women will keep longer hairstyles adorned with elaborate braids, beads, and even shells. In both settings, women show their style with bright headscarves or cloth headbands which may be incorporated into their hairstyle.
Traditional Cameroonian menswear is a lightweight robe along with loose-fitting pants and a pillbox hat. Today many men wear colorful shirts with slacks, t-shirts, button-down shirts, jeans or shorts.
In business settings, both men and women dress to impress, and Westerners operating in a business environment should lean toward more formal clothes. Cameroonians pay special attention to footwear; dress shoes with a pristine polish are valued.
Custom Fabric
Our family had matching outfits tailored for a family photo
For special events, Cameroonians like to have matching outfits tailored at one of the many small shops located on every street. It is common for a bride to choose a fabric, and then all the guests have an outfit made that fabric to wear to the wedding. Printing unique commemorative fabric is a favorite way to celebrate major events. I know of family reunions, churches, credit unions, and businesses who have printed commemorative fabric for celebratory events; the outfit becomes a souvenir of the special day.
A Cameroonian doll made from International Women’s Day fabric
Every March official fabric is printed to commemorate International Women’s Day, and this fabric is highly sought after by many Cameroonian women. There are stories of women who go on ‘strike’ and refuse to cook until their husbands buy them a few yards of Women’s Day fabric! My family sometimes gave gifts of Women’s Day fabric to our Cameroonian friends, and this gift was much appreciated.
Take Your Time!
Cameroonians value deep relationships. Take time to get to know your colleagues and neighbors and invest in their lives. Like everything, greeting in Cameroon gets easier and more comfortable with practice!
