The Bantu-derived peoples of the south comprise many ethnic groups. Although these groups share many cultural and economic connections, they did not establish large-scale political systems like those that dominated the north at regular intervals in precolonial times.

European explorers encountered the coastal region of Cameroon in the fifteenth century. Eventually, trade developed. These economic arrangements satisfied the Europeans until the end of the nineteenth century, when annexing territory in Africa became the favorite form of competition among the European governments. Cameroon was annexed by Germany in 1884. German rule was actually productive in some ways: the Germans built public buildings, roads, and other engineering projects of practical value.

Cameroon, like most African countries, was created by people in Berlin, London, or Paris drawing arbitrary lines on a map of the world. These boundaries seldom coincide with any pre-existing geographic or cultural divisions.

The nineteenth century also saw important missionary work in Cameroon. Catholics, Baptists, and American Presbyterians all sent many missionaries to Cameroon. The result was not only the Christianization of Cameroon, but the introduction of European culture and education.

After World War I, German territories in Africa were handed over as prizes for the victors. The westernmost parts of Cameroon, bordering British Nigeria, became British territory, while the remainder of the country became French. Colonial rule was usually exploitative, especially (as was common in French Cameroon) when the people's own social and political institutions were systematically undermined and destroyed.

A notable figure from this time was Njoya, the fon of Bamum. A rare combination of scholar and natural leader, Njoya was impressed by the literacy and culture of his muslim and European courtiers. He invented a script for accurately transcribing the Bamum language, and educated his people in its use. He corresponded with European heads of state and wrote a history of Bamum. All this was considered a threat by the French colonial government, and Njoya was removed from power and died in exile.

After World War II, colonialism was gradually removed under the oversight of the United Nations. When independence eventually came in 1960, a plebiscite was held in the British portions of Cameroon to determine whether these territories would join Cameroon or Nigeria. The northern portion of British Cameroon voted to join Nigeria, while the southern portion entered into a federation with French Cameroon. Under this arrangement, the former British and French territories retained some separate autonomy. Ahmadou Ahidjo, from northern Cameroon, became the first president.

In 1972, the federation was replaced by a united republic. The unification had the ironic effect of increasing dissension among the anglophone minority, who view it as a transfer of even more power to the central (francophone-dominated) national government.

Paul Biya replaced Ahidjo as president in 1982.In late August 1986 an explosive discharge of gas from a volcanic lake near the Nigerian border killed more than 1700 people; international medical and economic aid was sent to the area. Biya ran unopposed in the presidential election of April 1988, held a year ahead of schedule to coincide with legislative balloting. Facing rising popular discontent in the early 1990s, he began to implement political reforms. Biya won a 40 percent plurality in the nation's first multiparty presidential election, held in October 1992.

Early in 1994 a border dispute arose between Nigeria and Cameroon after Nigerian troops invaded the petroleum-rich Bakasi Peninsula of Cameroon. The Nigerian government claims a 19th-century treaty makes Nigeria the rightful owner of the peninsula. The Cameroonian government filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice and the two nations started negotiations in March. Nigerian troops led a surprise attack on the region in September, leaving 10 Cameroonian soldiers dead. Short skirmishes sporadically broke out between January and May 1996 while each nation accused the other of being the aggressor. In late May both nations agreed to allow a UN fact-finding mission access to Bakasi to help settle the dispute. By mid-1996 the International Court of Justice had not yet reached a decision on ownership of the peninsula. In November 1995 Cameroon became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, an organization of former British colonies.

Most problems faced by Cameroon today can be traced directly to the practice of colonialism. The schism between anglophone and francophone is a prime example. More subtle is the continued economic exploitation of Cameroon (and many other countries around the globe) by the former colonial masters, which has stunted the development of independent industry and commerce in Cameroon.YAOUNDE in the present time is the capital city of Cameroon.