The Littoral Region (french: Région du Littoral) is a
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...
of
Cameroon
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...
. Its capital is
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport (DLA), it is the com ...
. , its population was 3,174,437.
Cameroon at GeoHive
Its name is due to the region being largely littoral
The littoral zone or nearshore is the part of a sea, lake, or river that is close to the shore. In coastal ecology, the littoral zone includes the intertidal zone extending from the high water mark (which is rarely inundated), to coastal a ...
, and associated with the sea coast.
The Douala Edéa Wildlife Reserve
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Ai ...
is in the region.
2008 presidential decree abolishes provinces
The President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya
Paul Biya (born Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo; 13 February 1933) is a Cameroonian politician who has served as the president of Cameroon since 6 November 1982. , signed decrees in 2008 abolishing "Provinces" and replacing them with "Regions". Hence, all of the country's ten former provinces are now known as Regions.
Demographics
Divisions
The region is divided into four departments (''départements''):
# Moungo, with its capital at Nkongsamba
Nkongsamba is a city in western Cameroon. It is in the Moungo department, which is in the Littoral region. As of the 2005 Census, the city had a population of 104,050. It is a centre for the farming of palm oil, bananas and coffee, and is b ...
.
# Nkam
Nkam is a department of Littoral Province in Cameroon. The department covers an area of 6,291 km and as of 2001 had a total population of 66,979. The capital of the department lies at Yabassi.
Subdivisions
The department is divided admin ...
, with its capital at Yabassi
Yabassi is a town and commune in western Cameroon, and capital of the Nkam department. Its population in 2001 was estimated at 12,000. The main dialect spoken is the Yabassi. However, there are also other dialects originating in the Nkam which are ...
.
# Sanaga-Maritime, with its capital at Édéa.
# Wouri, forming the area around the major city of Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport (DLA), it is the com ...
.
These are in turn broken down into subdivisions. Presidentially appointed senior divisional officers (''préfets'') and subdivisional officers (''sous-préfets'') govern each. Traditional leaders, usually referred to as ''chiefs'' in English, often preside over particular ethnic groups or villages; nevertheless, many of these wield very little power today.
Culture
Traditional Dance
File:Danse sawa7.jpg
File:Danse sawa3.jpg
File:Danse sawa8.jpg
File:Danse sawa1.jpg
File:Danse sawa2.jpg
File:Danse sawa4.jpg
File:Danse sawa6.jpg
File:Danse sawa9.jpg
File:FestivalMbogLiaa35.jpg
File:FestivalMbogLiaa36.jpg
Traditional musical instruments
File:Instrument sawa.jpg
File:Danse sawa.jpg
File:Danse sawa10.jpg
Traditional dance accessories
File:Instrument sawa1.jpg
Traditional clothes
File:Ning Kum Prosper 3.jpg, ''Sanja'' wear by King Kum Prosper III
GedAutoriteNgondo.JPG, Traditional hat
File:KdfkabaNgondo.JPG, Kaba Ngondo scarf
File:KdfKabacerac.JPG, Women with Kaba Ngondo
Hair style and head covers
File:KdfKaba02.JPG
File:Kdfsawawomen02.JPG
File:KdfSawa11.JPG
Monuments in the Region
File:Deido.JPG, Statue of Liberty, Douala
File:Temple du centenaire de Douala.JPG, Temple du Centenaire, Douala
File:Ma cathédral 4.JPG, Cathedral in Edea
File:PALAIS DES ROIS BELL (2).JPG, Kings Bell Palace, Douala
File:Caveau des rois bell.jpg, King Bell's Monument
File:Mandessi bell la merveille.jpg, Villa Mandessi
File:CATHEDRLE St PIERRE & PAUL DE DOUALA...JPG, Inner view of the St Peter & Paul Cathedral in Douala
File:Monument au Général Leclerc.JPG, Monument of General Leclerc in Douala
File:Temple de Bonalembe de Douala.JPG, Bonalembe Temple, Douala
File:Les benedictins1k.JPG, The Benedictine
File:Ancienne résidence du chef de circonscription à Douala.JPG, Ancient Residence of the District Chief in Douala
File:LT 16 (1) Ancien résidence du chef de circonscription.JPG, Former residence of the head of constituency
File:Monument Gustave Nachtigal 1.JPG, Monument of Gustav Nachtigal, Douala
File:Mausolée de Din Ngosso 04.JPG, Monument of Ngosso Din, Douala
File:LT4 (1) Chambre de commerce.JPG, Chamber of Commerce, Douala
File:Cathédrale st Engelbert (1).JPG, St Engelbert Cathedral
File:Teambeau des roi akwa (1).JPG, Tomb of King Akwa in Douala
File:Église Notre-dame des Victoires de New Bell I 1.JPG, Our Lady Victories in New Bell, Douala
File:LT 16 (3) Ancien résidence du chef de circonscription.JPG, Former residence of the head of constituency
File:LT 43 Mosqué central de new-bell.jpg, New Bell Central Mosque
File:Monument des rois Akwa 01.JPG, Monument of King Akwa in Douala
Common Dishes in the Region
File:Ndolè à la morue.jpg, Ndole
File:Bâtons de manioc de Tayap.JPG, Soaked cassava flour (Bobolo)
File:Sauce d'arachides au pisson fumé.jpg, Groundnut soup
Wildlife
Animals in the Douala Edea Wildlife Reserve
File:Singe de la réserve de faune de Douala - Edea 01.jpg, Chimpanzee
File:Singes de la réserve de faune de Douala - Edea 15.jpg, Chimpanzees
File:Singes de la réserve de faune de Douala - Edea 21.jpg, Chimpanzees
File:Singes de la réserve de faune de Douala - Edea 11.jpg, Chimpanzees
File:Loxodontacyclotis.jpg, Adult and young elephants
File:Chimpanzé, R.F Douala-édea,Mouanko.png, Chimpanzee
Notes and references
{{Authority control
Regions of Cameroon