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Cameroon was named by the first European explorers who discovered the coastline from the Atlantic Ocean. The Portuguese explorers were sailing in the Wouri River, which emptied into the ocean. They found a variety of shrimps in the bay and named it Rio dos Camaroes (Shrimp River). After exploring the headland of the country, they called it Camaroes after the river.

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In 1884, the Germans occupied the country after the Portuguese. The name Camaroes was changed to Cameroon. German rule lasted until the end of World War II. The victorious Allies took over all German colonies as a punishment for Germany. Cameroon, being one of them, was divided between Britain and France to create the Anglophone and Francophone regions. France ruled two-thirds of the country as part of its greater central African colony, while Britain ruled one-third as part of Nigeria.

In preparation for independence, the two parts of Cameroon formed a federal republic. English-speaking Cameroon, which the British ruled, voted to become part of the country. The country was divided into seven provinces from independence until ten regions were created recently. North-West and South-West are the English-speaking regions. Since independence, Bamenda has been the capital of the North West region. Under the leadership of a governor, the North West region of Cameroon is governed by administrators.

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English-speaking regions are divided into two cultural regions. The grass field people of the North West and South West regions. The North West region has nearly one hundred chiefdoms, each headed by a divine king (Fon). Most chiefdoms have patrilineal or dual kinship systems; some, like the Kom, have matrilineal systems. Two main sectors comprise the North-West people: the TIKARIS and the WIDIAKUMS. 

There are seven divisions in the North West region (known before 2008 as the North West Province): Boyo, Bui, Dongamantung, Menchum, Mezam, Momo, and Nkoketunja. There are 58 subdivisions in Bamenda, which is the capital of the North West region, as well as 58 smaller towns like Wum, Kumbo, Mbengwi, Ndop, Nkambe, Batibo, Bambui, and Oshie. It is important to note that the underlying culture is very similar despite these administrative divisions. For this reason, a woman born and raised in Batibo will act and reason as one raised in Nkambe, even though they speak different dialects. A population density of 1.8 million people per square kilometer is higher than the national average of 22.6 people per square kilometer. Women make up 65% of this population.

 

 

 

The North West Woman! Who is the Northwest Woman? To understand who the Northwest woman is and her role, we will examine her in four spheres: socially, economically, culturally, and religiously. North West Women are social, interactive, hospitable, welcoming, and caring to foreigners and sisters. North West women, for example, are always prepared to welcome guests with a cup of water or a plate of food like achu, corn fufu with vegetables and katikati, mashed potatoes and beans, porridge plantain, porridge yams, and koki.​Women in the North West are very organized and have a good sense of time management. They belong to different social groups influenced by their cultures, occupations, and religions. A few examples include the Akongyi Women group, the Women of Peace group, Know Your Neighbor, the Women of Hope group, and Mother is Gold. Within the meetings, they encourage their members to save and lend. They also serve as a sister's keeper in times of joy and sorrow, something we must preserve. Among the goals of these socio-cultural groups is to empower their community economically and developmentally. The different groups participate in International Women's Day, Mother's Day, and International Rural Women's Day, where they display their talents.

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According to statistics, 65% of the women are employed in agricultural sectors, which include farming and cattle rearing. Agricultural production is the population's mainstay and economic lifeline, and women play a crucial role in raising their families' living standards through agriculture. Among the crops cultivated are maize, beans, cassava, groundnuts, cocoyams, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, etc. Among the animals are birds, goats, pigs, cows, fowl, and fish. Several of these products are being sold in our local markets or imported from other countries to empower women economically and financially. Most of our women are employed in small to medium-sized businesses such as sewing, beauty, catering, petit trading, and buyam sellams. 15% are employed by the government, the military, bankers, teachers, lawyers, managers, nurses, and doctors. 

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North West Women are known for their talents and skills, which have contributed to the economy of the North West Region and of Cameroon as a whole. An excellent example of this is the diversity of empowerment and community development activities and the variety of credit unions, nongovernmental organizations, and women's organizations created by Northwest women.

In terms of culture, North West Women are very active in various cultural activities. Their goal is to ensure the continuation of the culture by raising children steeped in it. They value and respect their culture and traditions. A North West Woman cannot pass by a group of men or an elderly person without greeting them by clapping, bowing, or kneeling. Nationally and internationally, the North West region is known for its rich and multicolored traditional regalia. It can be made from black material with multicolored thread designs. Usually, these regalia are worn at cultural events such as village dances. These dances include the Mbagalum, Nquem, Manjong, Mbaya, Njang, Bottle dance, Makongey, Vuma, and Leila. The regalia could also be worn at meetings, weddings, parties, and other events if some groups have constitutionalized it.

In Northwest Regina, most dynasties were founded by women; e.g., Nso was founded by Ngonso. This is significant since it illustrates the importance of Northwest women's cultural role: they often take on a role when there is a need for land cleansing. They act as ritual cleansing groups during drought, epidemics, or plague. The "Takumbeng", for example, is a form of social control designed to encourage women to maintain tradition, respect, and conduct themselves in acceptable ways. As well as acting as law enforcement, "Takumbeng" encourages women to refrain from excessive drinking, adultery, gossip, etc.