The history behind Cameroon's May 20 national day
Ingrid Nováková, international specialist, May 20, 2025
Why May 20?
Cameroon celebrates its national day on May 20. However, January 1, 1960 is the date on which Cameroon, then under French administration, gained independence. The choice to celebrate the national day on May 20 rather than January 1 stems from the political developments that followed independence. Although January 1 remains a public holiday in Cameroon to mark the New Year, its role as the national day has gradually faded.
The origins of Cameroon's national day
Cameroon's national day commemorates the referendum held in 1972, in which Cameroonians voted to abolish the federal system set up after independence, in order to form a unitary state. This change, promoted by President Ahmadou Ahidjo, aimed to strengthen national unity and consolidate the government's centralized control, ending the coexistence between East Cameroon (the former French colony) and West Cameroon (the former British colony).
Before 1972, the national day was celebrated on different dates depending on the region: January 1, 1960 for the independence of the French-administered part, and October 1, 1961 for reunification with the British-administered part. Choosing May 20 as a single date of celebration made it possible to unify these historical memories into one shared day.
The colonial context and the emergence of an independent nation
Initially colonized by Germany in 1884, the territory, known as Kamerun, was administered as a protectorate until the First World War. After Germany's defeat, the League of Nations divided Cameroon into two mandates entrusted respectively to France and the United Kingdom in 1922. This partition gave rise to two distinct administrative entities: French Cameroon, administered directly by the metropole, and British Cameroon, subdivided into Southern Cameroons and Northern Cameroons, and administered as an extension of Nigeria.
Independence was marked by a struggle for national liberation, led notably by the Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC), a nationalist movement founded in 1948. The UPC, though suppressed by the French colonial authorities, played an important role in mobilizing popular support for independence. Under pressure from independence movements and amid worldwide decolonization, French Cameroon gained independence on January 1, 1960, under President Ahmadou Ahidjo. The following year, southern British Cameroon voted to reunite with independent Cameroon, while the northern part chose to join Nigeria. This reunification, effective October 1, 1961, marked the birth of a bilingual Cameroon.
The challenges Cameroon faced after independence
One of the first challenges was overcoming the divisions inherited from colonization, particularly between the former French and British administrations. The coexistence of two different legal, educational and cultural systems complicated the running of the country, especially after the 1961 reunification. Ethnic and regional tensions also emerged, worsened by the country's diversity, which includes more than 250 ethnic groups. On top of this, the repression of nationalist movements, such as the Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC), fueled internal conflicts, particularly in the Bamiléké region.
Economically, Cameroon inherited a colonial economy geared mainly toward exporting raw materials, with little infrastructure to support diversified development. Dependence on exports of commodities such as cocoa, coffee and oil left the economy vulnerable to swings in international prices. In addition, centralized rule under Presidents Ahmadou Ahidjo and Paul Biya at times deepened frustrations in the English-speaking regions, where a sense of marginalization persists.
How Cameroonians celebrate January 1 today
Today, January 1 is celebrated in Cameroon mainly as New Year's Day. Although this date carries historical significance tied to the independence of French Cameroon in 1960, it is now above all a time for festivities, gatherings and family celebration. Cameroonians use this public holiday to share hearty meals, often made up of traditional dishes such as ndolé, skewers, and fish or cassava-based dishes. Celebrations also include fireworks, shows and dancing, particularly in large cities such as Yaoundé and Douala.
Comparison with other African independences
While many countries on the continent gained independence after relatively peaceful negotiations with colonial powers in the 1960s, Cameroon's history is marked by a more violent nationalist struggle, led notably by the Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC). This movement, suppressed by the French authorities, triggered a war of independence that left deep divisions in certain regions of the country, particularly among the Bamiléké. Unlike countries such as Ghana, where independence in 1957 was achieved through peaceful political mobilization under Kwame Nkrumah, Cameroon's independence involved armed clashes and harsh repression. While some countries chose an immediate break with their former colonizers, Cameroon, under Ahmadou Ahidjo, maintained close ties with France, particularly in the economic, military and cultural spheres.