CAMEROON INFO
Cameroon has it all. Of course, other African countries could say that about themselves, but few can say it with the same confidence Cameroon can. Where else can you get from beach resorts through dense teeming rainforest; through the major cities of Douala, Yaounde to the arid, predominantly Muslim north, where you can find traditional village built on rocks? And all of that just in one country?
The country has a heritage of diverse, multi-lingual people living side by side. There are several highlights for travelers: hiking in the mountains of Cameroon and in the grassfield area, exploring the jungle in the south or lazing the hills and towns along the coast. All that plus the highest mountain in the region rising from near the sea, a deadly sea, sultans, kings, tribes and all night ceremonies and festivities are waiting for you. Oh, and there is a lion - wild in the bush and inflexible to those on the football field.
Art and Sport
Literature
Most of the famous Cameroonian writers deal with the legacy of colonialism and the history/traditions of the country. Below you will find a list with some of the most popular authors and their main novels:
Mongo Beti – The poor Christ of Bomba / Mission to Kala / Remember Ruben
Kenjo Jumban – The white man of God
Ferdinand Oyono – Houseboy / The Old Man and the Medal
Linus Asong – The Crown of Thorns
Music
Music is really important in Cameroon and it will be hard to find a spot in villages and towns where you won’t be surrounded by music; mainly Nigerian and Cameroonian music with a lot of rhythm and lyrics about religion. Sometimes you will also find bars that play some western music and especially American hip/hop.
The most famous musicians in Cameroon are Manu Dibango and Moni Bile who both represent the genre ‘makossa’ that includes elements of Soul. Opposite to this kind of music, the ‘bikutsi’ is more danceable and originally from Yaounde. If you hear it in one of the bars or nightclubs in the country, you will definitely see some hips moving. A famous song is “Les tetees brulees”.
Beside of the more popular music there is also a big variety in traditional and folk music. Depending in which area you stay, with this kind of music, the instruments and the style of dances can be really different.
Craftwork
Especially the Northwestern Highlands are known for crafts and traditional arts. The main products are carved masks that are used for ceremonies and dancing and represent the spiritual world. Other wood products are little stools and tables; mainly round except around Douala where they are rectangular.
Cameroon also produces also a lot bronze and brass work, especially in the north and around Foumban. Bali and Bamessing are mainly known for high-quality pottery and ceramic work.
Sport and Football
Cameroon is especially known for good football and has one of the best teams on the whole continent. Cameroon is one of the four African nations having qualified for the World Cup. Notably in 1990 the Cameroonian football gained a good reputation when they defeated World Cup holder Argentina in the first round of the final tournament. The country also won the African cup of Nations four times: in 1984,1998, 2000 and 2002. Only Ghana and Egypt have won the cup as often as Cameroon. Cameroon’s most famous player is Eto’o, who is currently playing for Inter Milan.
THE NORTH-WEST REGION
The North-West Region is mostly known for its craftworks. In the Bamenda Highlands and grassfield area you will find a lot of small villages with a huge tradition in local crafts such as Bamessing, Babanki or Babungo. In the capital Bamenda, the Presbyterian Craftstore (Prescraft) on Commercial Avenue as well as the Bamenda Handicrafts towards Upstation sell a huge variety of traditional crafts like masks, tables, instruments, jewelry and pottery.
Culture and People
Due to a huge diversity from North to South, it is difficult to draw a picture of a homogenous Cameroonian culture. In total more than 280 different ethno-linguistic groups live in Cameroon. Moreover, the country is divided regarding people’s religious beliefs. In the south of Cameroon the majority of people are Christians, and the north is dominated by Islam as the main religion.
Another factor that divides the country is definitely the language barrier due to the bilingualism of French (80%) and English (20%). Although children nowadays have to learn both languages in school, the country is far from being truly bilingual. Especially the Anglophone minority complains of discrimination in education and in the workplace.
Nonetheless there are also characteristics than can be associated to the whole country and its people. One of them is definitely the belief in traditional powers like witchcraft. In many rural areas, people still believe in treatments from witch doctors rather than in the scientific health. Cameroonians are generally really welcoming and friendly people and although there is such a big cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, it can be considered as one of the most peaceful countries in the whole of Africa.
Due to the diversity it is also hard to draw a general demographic profile of Cameroon’s population. The ethnic groups can be divided into five large regional-cultural divisions: Western Highlanders, Coastal tropical forest people, Southern tropical forest people, Islamic people of the northern semi-arid regions and the “Kirdi” of the northern desert and central highlands.
Cameroon has about 19,000,000 inhabitants. About 50% of the whole population lives in rural areas and nearly a third in the Littoral and Central provinces.
Fast Facts:
Infant mortality rate: 76.88 deaths per 1000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: Total population 54.59 years
Fertility rate: 3.8 children born per woman
Age Structure: 0-14 years = 42.37%, 15-64 years = 54.28%, 65 years and over = 3.35%
Population growth rate: 2.41%
Birth rate: 36.12 births per 1000 population
Death rate: 11.99 deaths per 1000 population
Adult prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS: 7.73%
Religions: Christian 40%, Indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 20%
Main languages: French, English, Fulfulde, Pidgin English (24 major African language groups in Cameroon)
Literacy rate: 63.4%
THE NORTH-WEST REGION
The main ethnic groups represented in the North-West Region are the Tikar, who have largely migrated from Nigeria, the Bamileke as well as the Fulanis.
Economy
According to the International Monetary Fund Cameroon’s per-capita GDP was estimated at US$ 1100, coming in 127th out of 180 countries. In comparison with other African countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a GDP of US$161, Cameroon has a pretty high GDP in Africa. Especially in comparison with its neighbor countries Cameroon has a pretty high rate. This high rate can also be associated to the variety of natural resources that help the development of the country. These include petroleum, timber, iron, chromium, uranium and other metals.
The principal economic activity in the country is agriculture which employs more than 80% of the whole population. However, it has to be mentioned that a lot of agriculture is mainly subsistence and small-scale farming. The main agricultural products for export are cocoa, coffee, bananas, cotton, palm oil, wood and tobacco. Due to its diversity in climate conditions and landscapes, there is also a big variety in fruits and vegetables. But even though, according to a United Nations report from 2006, still 25% of the population is malnourished.
Factory-based industry accounted for an estimated 29.7% of GDP in 2009. More than 75% of Cameroon’s industrial strength is located in Douala and Bonabéri. Cameroon possesses substantial mineral resources, but these are not extensively mined. Petroleum exploitation has fallen since 1985, but this is still a substantial sector such that dips in prices have a strong effect on the economy. Rapids and waterfalls obstruct the southern rivers, but these sites offer opportunities for hydroelectric development and supply most of Cameroon’s energy. The Sanaga River powers the largest hydroelectric station, located at Edéa. The rest of Cameroon’s energy comes from oil-powered thermal engines. Much of the country remains without reliable power supplies.
Major export markets for agricultural and industrial products include France and the Netherlands, as well as Germany, USA, Italy, South Korea, Spain and the UK. Unemployment was estimated at 30% in 2001, and about a third of the population was living below the international poverty threshold of US$1.25 a day in 2009.
Since the late 1980s, Cameroon has been following programs advocated by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reduce poverty, privatize industries, and increase economic growth. Tourism is a growing sector, particularly in the coastal area, around Mount Cameroon, and in the north.
Regions
The constitution divides Cameroon into 10 semi-autonomous regions, each under the administration of an elected Regional Council. In practice, Cameroon still follows the system that was in place prior to the adoption of a new constitution in 1996. The country is divided into 10 provinces, each headed by a presidentially appointed governor. These leaders are charged with implementing the will of the president, reporting on the general mood and conditions of the provinces, administering the civil service, keeping the peace, and overseeing the heads of the smaller administrative units.
The provinces are subdivided into 58 divisions (French départements). These are headed by presidentially appointed divisional offi cers (prefets), who perform the governors’ duties on a smaller scale. The divisions are further sub-divided into sub-divisions (arrondissements), headed by assistant divisional officers (sous-prefets). The districts, administered by district heads (chefs de district), are the smallest
Below you will find a list of all 10 regions in Cameroon and their capitals
- South-West Province (Sud-Ouest) – Buea
- Littoral Province (Littoral) – Douala (1.8 million inhabitants)
- Centre Province (Centre) – Yaounde (1.2 million inhabitants)
- North-West Province (Nord-Ouest) – Bamenda (220,000 inhabitants)
- West Province (Ouest) – Bafoussam (145,000 inhabitants)
- East Province (Est) - Bertoua
- South Province (Sud) - Ebolowa
- North Province (Nord) – Garoua (290,000 inhabitants)
- Adamawa Province(Adamoua) – Ngaoundere (150,000 inhabitants)
- Far North Province (Extreme Nord) – Maroua (over 200,000 inhabitants)
THE NORTH-WEST REGION
The North-West Province is divided into seven divisions called Mezam, Momo, Boyo, Bui, Menchum, Donga Mantung and Ngo-Ketunija. The whole region has about 1.4 million inhabitants. Belo belongs to the Boyo Division.
Environment, Flora and Fauna
Cameroon’s environment and geography can definitely be considered as diverse as its culture. The south of the country is a low coastal area covered in parts by equatorial and dense rain forest. Only the Mount Cameroon, with a height of 4095 meters West Africa’s highest mountain, sticks out. Heading to the muslim north, the Adamawa Plateau divides the country. The northern part of the plateau is a more flat landscape affected by a dry and hot climate. Getting closer to the border of Chad and the Sahel zone, the landscape gets dryer, sandy and appears more like a desert. The western part of the Adamawa Plateau, called Mandara Mountains, is a volcanic chain and close to the Bamenda Highlands that are home to the beautiful northwestern grass fields.
The rainforests in Cameroon and mostly those around the border with Nigeria are home to an exceptional biodiversity. Especially people who like bird watching and seeing the different species and unusual plants will enjoy a visit in Korup National parc or in the Kupe-Bakossi region. The forests are also still home to lowland gorillas, chimpanzees and the fierce-looking drill, the most endangered primate species in Africa that only lives in Nigeria and Cameroon. The national park of Waza in the far north is home to larger animals including elephants, buffalos and lions. Regarding the accessibility, it is also the best park in whole Cameroon. Other reserves and parks like the Korup National park or the Reserve of Dja face infrastructural problems or are not passable during the rainy season.
Although elephants and buffalos are also found in the rainforests, they are rarely seen due to the dense vegetation. In most other parts of the country, animals, especially monkeys have disappeared due to the destruction of their habitats and them being hunted for food.
Environmental Problems
Like many other African countries, Cameroon also faces major environmental problems. One of the problems is the huge urban demand for bushmeat and the resulting inequality between the resources and the demand. Especially in rural areas hunting is a financially attractive activity. People can earn around 600,000CFA a year, more than most of Cameroonians earn in one year. Although the selling of the meat is officially illegal, it is widely sold in the country. The consequence of this is that animals are killed in an unsustainable way, and many species are getting scarce.
Another main issue is the deforestation in the country that will, if it continues on the same scale, threaten the biodiversity of the country even more. Other environmental issues in Cameroon are the overgrazing and overfishing, the desertification in the northern parts of the country and erosions/hang slides in the hilly parts.
THE NORTH-WEST REGION
The North-West Province is situated about an average of 1500 meters above the sea level. It is mainly dominated by the Bamenda Highlands which are covered with the beautiful grassfields.
Geography and Climate
At 475,442 square kilometres (183,569 sq mi), Cameroon is the world’s 53rd-largest country. It is comparable in size to Papua New Guinea and twice the size of the UK. It comprises 369,400km2 of land and 6,000km2 of water, and has a coastline of 402 km. The country is located in Central and West Africa on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. Tourist literature describes Cameroon as “Africa in miniature” because it includes all major climates and vegetation of the continent: coast, desert, mountains, rainforest, and savanna. The country’s neighbors are Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south.
The country has several different climates depending on different factors. The northern part has a single wet season from April to October. The hottest months are March to May when the temperature can rise to 40°C. Where the north is very dry, the south has a humid and equatorial climate. It is almost continuously humid. The main rainy season is between June to October. From March to June light rains fall.
The annual average temperature in Cameroon is 23.6 °C (74 °F) and the annual average rainfall is 1580mm. This means that there are on average 152 days per year with more than 0.1mm of rainfall. The highest monthly average temperature is 29 °C in the first months of the year whereas the lowest is 18°C in October. Regarding the climate, the best time to visit the country, is between October and February when the rain has stopped and the dry season sets in. The worst time is between July and October as the rain is almost everywhere and a lot of the roads are impassable.
THE NORTH-WEST REGION
Due to its altitude, the North-West Region has in comparison to most parts of the country a really cool climate. The dry season runs from Mid-October until Mid-March whereas the rainy season covers the rest of the year. The annual average temperature is 21 degree Celsius. During the day it can get really hot with temperatures above 30 degree Celsius. But during the night and in the morning it can get really fresh and the temperature can fall under 20 degrees Celsius. Therefore we recommend you to bring warm clothes.
History
The territory of present day Cameroon was first settled during the Neolithic. The longest continuous inhabitants are groups such as the Baka and other ethno-linguistic groups of short stature such as the Pygmies, who still live in the forest of the south and east province. They were forced into the forests by the arrival of the Bantu-speaking people who came from the northern parts of the country as well as the Sahel zone around 200 BC. While the Bantu people settled in the southern part of Cameroon, the northern part became inhabited by a mixture between Arabic, Hamitic and indigenous people of central and southern Africa. The Sao people, migrated from the Nil valley, were one of the major African civilization around the Lake Chad.
The Fulani, a nomadic Islamic group of people, started to migrate to the north of the country at the start of the 15th century.
Portuguese sailors reached the coast in 1472. They noted an abundance of prawns and crayfish in the Wouri River and named it therefore Rio dos Camarões, Portuguese for “River of Shrimp”. This gave the country of Cameroon its name. The Portuguese started to plant sugar and started a slave and goods treaty with local chiefs. However, there was no attempt to fully colonise the country until the 19th century.
Over the following few centuries, European interests regularized trade with the coastal peoples, and Christian missionaries pushed inland. The Fulanis meanwhile conquered most parts of the Northern Cameroon and displaced the non-Muslim inhabitants. In the early 19th century, Modibo Adama led Fulani soldiers on a jihad in the north against non-Muslim and partially Muslim people and established the Adamawa Emirate. Settled people who fled the Fulani caused a major redistribution of population.
At the end of the 19th century, British missionaries established a presence in Cameroon and protested against the slave trade. European settlements followed pretty soon. In 1884, some of the local chiefs became afraid that tradesmen in the inner part of the country would deal directly with the Europeans. Therefore the chiefs of Douala and Bamileke signed a treaty where they gave their sovereignty to Germany. The German Empire claimed the territory as the colony of Kamerun. The capital became Buea and was later moved to Yaounde. German soldiers than began a steady push inland. They initiated projects to improve the colony’s infrastructure, relying on a harsh system of forced labour.
It was just World War I that stopped Germany’s expansion in Cameroon. Soon after the war began, British soldiers invaded the country and forced the Germans to leave Cameroon in 1916. With the defeat of Germany in World War I, Kamerun was split into French Cameroun and British Cameroons in 1919. The British zone took up 20% of the land and the French zone took up the remaining 80%.
The French people ruled from Yaounde, meanwhile the British people ruled from the Nigerian colonial capital of Lagos. In 1946 the French and British mandates were renewed as United Nations Trusteeships. As the British Cameroonian territory was still governed from Nigeria the territory and its people were divided. There was one group who wanted the reunification with the French Cameroon whereas the other group wanted to belong to Nigeria.
The French territory also pledged more and more for the reunification of the country. The result was the establishment of two major anti-French and British parties: the Union of Cameroonian People (UPC) and the Bloc Democratique Camerounais, led by Ahmado Ahidjo. The UPC then started to fight with weapons for the Independence of the country. Finally Ahidjo, after forming his new party called l’Union Camerounaise, became prime minister in 1958 and on 1 January 1960 French Cameroon got its independence.
In 1961 the majority of the population in the British territory voted in a referendum to join the newly formed Republic of Cameroon. The result of the reunification was the forming of the Federal Republic of Cameroon.
Nonetheless, the French and British sectors continued to maintain autonomy. From 1961-1963 large-scale unrests happened in the whole country. Most people believed they were caused by the UPC. President Ahidjo outlawed all political parties except for his own in 1966 and stopped the rebellion of the UPC by imprisoning thousand of opponents.
In 1972 a new constitution was taken into place and the country was renamed into the United Republic of Cameroon. Cameroon started to grow economically by developing the agricultural and industrial sectors. Despite the success, Ahidjo resigned as president of Cameroon and in 1982 and Paul Biya got elected to be the new president. After the election he also changed the name of the country to the current name: Republic of Cameroon. Three years later, Biya also declared that there would be no legal opposition to his party which he renamed the Rassemblement Democratique du People Camerounais (RDPC). In the early 1990s especially in the Anglophone part of the country, larger parts of the population did not agree with the policy. A pro-democracy demonstration with more than 35,000 participants in Bamenda led to the death of 6 people when presidential soldiers intervened. The Anglophone part started to feel neglected by the Francophone majority.
Opposition parties therefore asked for a multi-party system. The result was that their meetings were banned, independent press and media restricted and ten provinces put under military rule. In 1991 finally a multi-party presidential election was held. Paul Biya was reelected. In 1995 Cameroon also became part of the Commonwealth.
Today the conflict between the Anglophone and the Francophone part is still present. The biggest opposition to the party of president Paul Biya is based in the North-West Region’s capital of Bamenda and led by… . The next presidential election will be held in 2011.
Transportation in Cameroon
Air
The main air hub in Cameroon is not its capital Yaounde, but the coastal town of Douala. From there you will find daily connections to Europe and other African countries. Major airlines are Air France, Kenya Airways, Swiss International Airlines, Ehtiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Royal Air Maroc. The international airport of Yaounde has several flights to Europe during the week, but not daily. Cameroon’s airline Camair-Co also has connections to Garoua and Maroua and from Yaounde to Paris since 2011.
Buses
Buses run throughout the country along major and minor roads. The most frequent connections are between bigger towns. The only exception is across the Adamawa Plateau between Yaounde and Ngaoundere, where the best means of transport is the train. There are dozens of bus agencies in the country. Each agency has its own office in the towns which it serves, and arrivals as well as departures are from there rather than the town motor park. A bus journey from Douala to Bamenda will cost you 5000CFA and takes about 7 hours.
Train
In Cameroon, there are three major rail lines, although the most frequent one is between Yaounde and Ngaoundere. It is the main way to go from the South up to the North of the country. Trains leave daily in each direction. The trains leave Yaounde at 6pm and Ngaoundere at 7pm. The arrival time is around 11am the next morning, but can also take longer. Prices vary according to the traveler class you choose.
Taxi
Shared taxis are the main mean of transport in the country and especially in bigger cities. If you want to get a taxi, you will have to stand on the roadside in the direction you want to go and shout your destination when a shared taxi passes- if the driver is going your way he may stop! Prices depend on the distance you are travelling and the location. Taxis in Yaounde are generally a bit more expensive than for example in Bamenda. In some areas, shared taxis will take up to 7 passengers for a journey which can become a bit uncomfortable! If you want to travel more comfortable and feel safer, you can also hire your own taxi or pay for two seats. This option is more expensive though. In some towns and areas, you will also find a lot of motorbike taxis. In rural areas with bad roads, motorbikes are often the main means of transport.
Car
In the bigger towns of Yaounde and Douala you can also rent your own car. But generally it is more expensive than travelling by bus or train. You also have to be aware of the fact that there are police checkpoints on mostly every road in the country. At some of these checkpoints you will need to pay a small amount of money in order to pass.
THE NORTH-WEST REGION
The main travel hub in the North-West Region is its capital Bamenda. There are several bus agencies going to Bamenda from other major cities in the country. Some of the bus agencies are Amour Mezam Express, Vatican Express, Mondial and Guarantee. Smaller buses also connect other towns in the region with the capital of Bamenda. There are several buses every day to Kumbo and Nkambe. Other destinations such as Bafut, Bali as well as Belo can be reached in a shared taxi.
Other Travel Facts
Money
The currency in Cameroon is the Central African Franc (CFA), which is also used in 13 other African countries. The CFA franc was created on the 26th of December 1045 with a fixed exchange rate to the French Franc. Since 1 January 1999, 1€ is 656 CFA.
Once you get to Cameroon it is possible to withdraw money from ATMs in larger cities like Douala, Yaounde or Bamenda by using a VISA Card (Mastercards often do not work). Before you leave your country, you should tell your bank that you will be using your credit card in Cameroon. Otherwise the bank may block your card. Please note, that although you can pay with credit card in some touristic places, in most areas shops, hotels and other touristic places only accept payment in cash.
Another option is to exchange EUR and USD bank notes to CFA notes in many of the bigger cities, especially in Douala and Yaounde.
Time
The time in Cameroon is one hour later than Greenwhich Mean Time (GMT+1). If it is noon in Cameroon, it is 11am in London, 6am in New York, Noon in Paris and Berlin and 9pm in Sydney. In comparison to European countries and the USA, the Daylight saving time is not applied in the country.
Opening Times
Government offices and banks are open from 7.30am to 3.30pm from Monday to Friday. Shops and businesses vary, depending on the place. They are either open from 8.00am to 3.00pm daily or from 9.00am-12.30pm and 3.30pm to 7.30pm. Pharmacies tend to be open from 8.00am-8.00pm. Post offices are open from Monday to Friday 8.00am-3.30pm and Saturday 8.00am-1.00pm. Most of the urban markets are generally open every day from 7.00am-6.00pm.
Electricity
The electricity supply is 220V and the plugs are generally the European two-pin type that is also used in France and Germany. The British three square-pin can occasionally also be found in Anglophone regions, although it is recommendable to bring an adaptor.
Weights and Measures
The metric system is used
Public Holidays
- 1 January New Years Day
- 11 February Youth Day
- March/April Easter
- 1 May Labour Day
- 20 May National Day
- 15 August Assumption Day
- 25 December Christmas Day
Please note: If you go to the north of the country, Islamic holidays have a great significance in this area. Especially Ramadan, the fast season, is an important time of year (August/September, lasts about 5 weeks)
Special Events and Festivals
- Late January Mount Cameroon Race
- 21 May Sheep Fesival
- Mid-November Nso Culturl Week in Kumbo; horses are raced through the streets
- Mid-December Ngoun Festial, Foumban
- Mid-late December Lela Festival, Bali
Photography
Although you don’t need a photography permit any longer for Cameroon, you should be aware that taking pictures can offend some people and is not well seen everywhere. Due to traditional belief and for other reasons, some Cameroonians don’t like to be snapped or they may expect a payment for it. Therefore, if you want to take a picture of a person, it is always better to ask before snapping. You should also keep in mind that it is forbidden to take pictures of governmental, military, strategic or official institutions. This includes things like airports, harbours, railway stations, police stations, soldiers and members of the government. You should also be careful with taking pictures of places of any traditional beliefs and major significance to the people.
Telephone and Internet
Telephoning abroad is mainly no problem in bigger towns such as Douala, Yaounde or Bamenda. Here you can find small call shops where you pay mostly 25 CFA per minute. If you want, you can also get a SIM Card for your mobile phone. The main mobile providers in Cameroon are MTN and Orange. If people want to call you, they have to dial the international code for Cameroon: +237.
In major towns and some smaller settlements, you will also find cyber cafes with email and internet service. The costs vary from around 300CFA to 1000CFA per hour. Do keep in mind that the service is often slower and more unreliable than in the western world.
Languages
Cameroon’s official languages are French and English. The majority, about 80% of the population, speaks French whereas English is only mainly spoken in the South-West and the North-West Province by about 20% of the whole population. In the north of the country Arabic is also widely spoken. Alongside the main official languages, more than 275 dialects are spoken in the country. The main dialects are the Fulfulde (spoken by the Fulani), Douala (language of the Douala people) and Ewondo (the dialect of a clan near to Yaounde). Pidgin-English is popular in the western part of the country near to the Nigerian border.
THE NORTH-WEST REGION
The only possibility to withdraw money at the moment is in Bamenda. On Commercial Avenue you will find some banks (for example BICEC and Ecobank) where you can withdraw money at an ATM. But please note that they just accept VISA Cards. The official language in this region is English, although a lot of people also communicate in Pidgin English. In rural areas of the Region it will be harder to communicate in English as most people manly communicate in their local dialect. The local dialect of the people around Belo is called Kom, which is also spoken in the rest of Boyo Division.
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