Cameroonian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Cameroon lies in central Africa, where West Africa meets the Congo basin. It has rainforests, savannah, mountains and beaches, and more than two hundred ethnic groups. French and English are both official languages. Cameroonians in Birmingham include students, professionals and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 274 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Cameroonian.

Working for Birmingham

Cameroonian residents work in healthcare, IT, engineering, education and business, and many are bilingual in French and English, a valuable skill in the city's international workplaces. Cameroonian nurses and carers serve patients across Birmingham, and students study at its universities.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Cameroonian community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Football is a national passion, and Cameroon's Indomitable Lions are famous for their World Cup runs. Ndole, a dish of bitter leaves and peanuts, and grilled fish with plantain are favourites. Makossa and bikutsi music bring energy to every celebration, and National Day on 20 May is marked with pride.

The story of the Cameroonian community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.