Cameroon National Anthem
O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers

Lyrics
O Cameroon, Thou Cradle of our Fathers, Holy Shrine where in our
midst they now repose, Their tears and blood and sweat thy soil
did water, On thy hills and valleys once their tillage rose. Dear
Fatherland, thy worth no tongue can tell! How can we ever pay thy
due? Thy welfare we will win in toil and love and peace,
Will be to thy name ever true!

Land of Promise, land of Glory! Thou, of life and joy, our only store!
Thine be honour, thine devotion, And deep endearment, for evermore.

From Shari, from where the Mungo meanders From along the banks of lowly
Boumba Stream, Muster thy sons in union close around thee, Mighty as the
Buea Mountain be their team; Instil in them the love of gentle ways, Regret
for errors of the past; Foster, for Mother Africa, a loyalty That true shall
remain to the last.

Flag History

Cameroon originally a German colony, partitioned by the French and British,
became controlled by the French after 1959. The actual design of the first flag
was based on the French Tricolor but the original design did not have a star.
In 1961, the southern part of British Cameroon joined the former French colony
forming the current state of Cameroon. To mark this, two yellow stars were placed
in the upper hoist. In 1975, two stars were replaced by a single star in the center
of the flag to symbolize unity of the state.

Geographic Coordinates:
6 00 N, 12 00 E
Area:
475,440 sq km
Population:
19,294,149
Life Expectancy:
54.04 years
Government Type:
Republic
Capital:
Yaounde
GDP:
$42.76 billion (2009 est.)
Unemployment:
30% (2001 est.)
Currency:
Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Calling Code:
+237