The peopling of Sub-Saharan Africa: The case study of Cameroon

Abstract

This study analyzes the distribution of ten protein genetic polymorphisms in eighteen populations from the most densely inhabited areas of Cameroon. The languages spoken belong to three different linguistic families [Afro-Asiatic (AA), Nilo-Saharan (NS) and Niger-Kordofanian (NK)]. The analysis of variation of allele frequencies indicates that the level of genetic interpopulation differentiation is rather low (F(st) = 0.011 +/- 0.006) but statistically significant (p < 0.001). This result is not unexpected because of the relatively small geographic area covered by our survey. This value is also significantly lower than the one estimated for other groups of African populations. Among the factors responsible for this, we discuss the possible role of gene flow. There is a considerable genetic differentiation among the AA populations of north Cameroon as is to be expected because they all originated from the first agriculturists of the farming "savanna complex." The Podowko and Uldeme are considerably different from all the other AA groups, probably due to the combined effect of genetic drift and isolation. In the case of the Wandala and Massa, our analyses suggest that genetic admixture with allogeneous groups (especially with the Kanuri) played an important role in determining their genetic differentiation from other AA speaking groups. The Bantu speaking populations (Bakaka, Bamileke Bassa and Ewondo, NK family, Benué Congo subfamily) settled in western and southern Cameroon are more tightly clustered than AA speaking groups. This result shows that the linguistic affinity among these four populations coincides with a substantial genetic similarity despite their different origin. Finally, the Fulbe are genetically distinct from all the populations that belong to their same linguistic phylum (NK), and closer to the neighboring Fali and Tupuri, eastern Adamawa speaking groups of north Cameroon.

HLA class I diversity among rural rainforest inhabitants in Cameroon: identification of A*2612‐B*4407 haplotype

“…The slow southward movement of the Bantu-speaking group from West-Central Africa throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the migration of people of different origins and languages into Cameroon in the 19th century created the basis for gene flow, which has led to the description of Cameroon as a crossroads in Africa (8). One of the largest migrations in human history of the Bantu linguistic group began from Cameroon and split into the Eastern and Western Bantu groups.…”

Montagnard ethnicity and genetic relations in Northern Cameroon: comment on “the peopling of sub‐Saharan Africa: The case study of Cameroon,” by G. Spedini et al.

“…In their recent paper, "The Peopling of Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case Study of Cameroon" (Spedini et al, 1999), the authors undertake a very useful analysis of population histories in Cameroon, Central Africa, using data on the distributions of 10 genetic polymorphisms among 18 ethnic groups, in the northern and western areas of that country and around Yaoundé, the capital. These data are used to examine the varying levels of genetic similarity between all of these populations, allowing preliminary hypotheses about the historical relations between peoples in various parts of the country.…”

“…At the same time, there are potential problems with these techniques, some of which involve the contexts of data collection and the comparison and reconciliation of different forms of data gathered through different kinds of research (MacEachern, 2000). Some of these issues may be illuminated through a consideration of the populations sampled by Spedini et al (1999) around the Mandara Mountains in Extrême-Nord Province of Cameroon. I have undertaken archaeological and ethnoarchaeological research around the territories of these populations (and especially the Uldemé, Mada, and Podokwo ethnic groups) at various times since 1984.…”

“…The northern Mandara Mountains of Cameroon and Nigeria are home to approximately 50 small Montagnard ethnic groups, with other populations occupying the plains around the massif. Spedini et al (1999) describe these Montagnard ethnic groups, and especially the Mada, Uldemé, and Podokwo, as isolated in their territories before recent times: their environment "makes contact with other groups dif-ficult" (Spedini et al, 1999, p. 152) for Montagnards. This impression of isolation is reinforced by the curious location of these and other northern Cameroonian ethnicities in the map that accompanies the article (Spedini et al, 1999, their Fig.…”

“…These ethnographic observations of interactions across ethnic group boundaries are not easily reconcilable with the 100% endogamy rates reported by Montagnard blood donors during the study reported in Spedini et al (1999, p. 152), nor with the general image of population isolation presented in that paper. Collection of Montagnard blood samples was not undertaken in the traditional territories of these ethnic groups (Spedini and Destro-Bisol, 1988;Spedini et al, 1999), but in plains communities that have over the last five decades attracted members of these groups as market centers and as residential areas. Colonial and later national governments have worked since the 1950s to coax and coerce montagnards out of the Mandara massif and into settlements on the plains below, where they could more easily be controlled and taxed.…”