Cameroon, lying at the junction of western and central Africa, is often referred to as the ‚Äúhinge‚Äù of Africa” and, due to its geological and cultural diversity, as an ‚ÄúAfrica in miniature‚Äù. In fact, Cameroon is one of the most culturally diverse countries on the continent, being home to as many as 300 distinct ethnic groups. The region may have been the first homeland of the Bantu peoples and distant descendants still live in Cameroon‚Äôs dense rainforests, where they proudly maintain their ancestral culture. Portuguese explorers reached the Wouri River estuary in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camar√µes, which means ‚ÄúRiver of Prawns‚Äù, because of the abundance of ghost shrimps. At this time, outbreaks of malaria prevented large-scale European colonization of Cameroon. However, Cameroon later fell under the control of three European powers for 77 years before becoming fully independent in 1960. Since independence, Cameroon has enjoyed relative stability allowing for the development of roads and railways, as well as profitable agricultural and petroleum industries.