On National Day, schoolchildren and students practise for weeks to take part in grand parades. Dressed in their school uniforms or traditional dress, they march through town centres as music plays and crowds cheer. Military bands, traditional drummers, and dance groups all perform. The parades are colourful, energetic and a source of great excitement for children and adults alike.
Government buildings, homes and streets are decorated in the national colours: green, red and yellow. Green represents the forests of the south, red represents the struggle and unity of the nation, and yellow represents the savannahs and sun of the north. The flag and its colours become visible everywhere during the celebrations.
In the evening, communities gather for feasts, outdoor concerts and fireworks. Traditional dishes like ndolé, poulet DG and fufu with jama-jama are cooked in large quantities. Families and friends who may not have seen each other for months reconnect. The atmosphere is joyful, warm and proud.
National Day also gives schools and communities a chance to celebrate the incredible diversity of Cameroon - sometimes called 'Africa in miniature' because its geography, cultures, languages and climates include so much variety in one country. More than 280 languages are spoken across Cameroon, and on National Day, this diversity is celebrated as a source of strength.