I spent two summers in Cameroon: the summer of 1997 in Limbe, Southwest Province, and the summer of 1998 in Bamenda, Northwest Province. These are the only two English speaking provinces in largely francophone Cameroon.

Making a living. Perched atop his head are several bunches of bananas this young man will try to sell. Young street vendors, like the boy pictured here, contribute to the family's income, though such work may keep them out of school.

Daily life involves chores that most people in the United States take for granted such as this women in Limbe, Cameroon who collects water for all her household's need from the neighborhood water tap. While she makes it look easy, the water that she carries atop her head weighs over fifty pounds.

A chiefly family. With over fifty wives and one hunderd children this chief has a huge family. Why so many wives? Some he inherited from his father; others he married himself. In a society where women do most of the work many wives are an economic advantage. Furthermore marriage ties connect the chief with other families who are obligated to assist their "in-law." Thus many wives also equate to many in-laws and greater power and influence; it is an important part of what makes the individual a chief.

African art of the risque variety. These statues belong to the chief whose family you saw above. They were given to him by his subjects as tokens of esteem or reciprocation for favors.