Cameroons 265316 223835844 2008-07-06T01:51:10Z 24.86.250.24 disambig {{Infobox Former Country |native_name = |conventional_long_name = British Cameroons |common_name = British Cameroons | |continent = Africa |region = West Africa |country = Cameroon |era = World War I |status = [[League of Nations mandate|Mandate]] |empire = United Kingdom |government_type = |year_start = 1920 |year_end = 1961 |life_span = 1922-1961 | |event_start = [[Kamerun]] partitioned |date_start = [[July 20]], [[1920]] |event_end = Integration into [[Nigeria]] and [[Cameroon]] |date_end = [[October 1]], [[1961]] |event1 = |date_event1 = | |event_pre = |date_pre = | |event_post = |date_post = | |p1 = Kamerun |flag_p1 = Flag of the German Empire.svg |flag = |s1 = Nigeria |flag_s1 = Flag of Nigeria.svg |s2 = Cameroon |flag_s2 = Flag of Cameroon (1961).svg | |image_flag = British Cameroons Flag.gif |flag = |image_coat = |image_map = | |capital = [[Buea]] |national_anthem = [[God Save The Queen]] |common_languages = [[English language|English]] |religion = [[Christianity]] (Southern), [[Islam]] (Northern) |currency = }} [[Image:Cameroon boundary changes.PNG|300px|thumb|right|'''Cameroon over time''' {{legend|darkorange|German [[Kamerun]]}} {{legend|red|British Cameroons}} {{legend|blue|French [[Cameroun]]}} {{legend|green|Republic of [[Cameroon]]}} ]] :''This article is about the historical British colony. For the modern nation, see [[Cameroon]].'' '''British Cameroons''' was a [[British Empire|British]] [[League of Nations Mandate|Mandate territory]] in [[West Africa]], now divided between [[Nigeria]] and [[Cameroon]]. The area of present-day Cameroon was claimed by [[Germany]] as a [[protectorate]] during the "[[Scramble for Africa]]" at the end of the 19th century. During [[World War I]], it was occupied by British, [[France|French]] and [[Belgium|Belgian]] troops, and later [[mandate]]d to Great Britain and France by the [[League of Nations]] in 1922. The French mandate was known as [[Cameroun]] and the British territory was administered as two areas, '''Northern Cameroons''' and '''[[Southern Cameroons]]'''. Northern Cameroons consisted of two non-contiguous sections, divided by where the Nigerian and Cameroun borders met. French Cameroun became independent in January 1960, and Nigeria was scheduled for independence later that same year, which raised question of what to do with the British territory. After some discussion (which had been going on since 1959), a [[plebiscite]] was agreed to, and held in February 1961. The [[Muslim]]-majority Northern area opted for union with Nigeria, and the Southern favored Cameroon/Cameroun. Northern Cameroons became a region of Nigeria [[May 31]], 1961, while Southern Cameroons became part of Cameroon on [[October 1]]. In the meantime, the area was administered as a [[United Nations Trust Territory]]. == Postage stamps == The territory had long used [[postage stamp]]s of Nigeria, but in order to avoid the appearance of bias, the government issued the current Nigerian stamps [[overprint]]ed with <small>'''CAMEROONS / U.K.T.T.'''</small> in red. These went on sale [[October 1]], [[1960]]. Although available in both northern and southern areas, most usage was in the southern area, northerners continuing to use Nigerian stamps. These stamps became invalid in each area when its separate existence ended. The stamps are readily available to collectors today, the lowest values all selling at minimum price used or unused, with the 1-pound stamp of the series selling for about five US$. <gallery> Image:Stamp_Cameroons_1sh-250px.jpg|Shilling stamp used at [[Mubi]], now in Nigeria Image:Stamp_Cameroons_3d-250px.jpg|''Threepence stamp used at [[Kumba]], now in Cameroon'' image:Stamp_Cameroons_2d-600px.jpg|''Unused 2d postage stamp of Cameroons'' </gallery> ==External links== * [http://lucy.ukc.ac.uk/Chilver/Paideuma/paideuma-Introdu.html Discussion of politics of the time] {{Territories of the British Empire}} [[Category:History of Cameroon]] [[Category:History of Nigeria]] [[Category:League of Nations mandates]] [[Category:Former British protectorates]] [[Category:United Nations Trust Territories]] [[de:Britisch-Kamerun]] [[fr:Cameroun britannique]] [[nl:Brits Kameroen]] [[no:Britisk Kamerun]] [[pl:Kamerun Brytyjski]] [[pt:Camarões do Norte e Camarões do Sul]]