Another African state, which has taken an independent path, demonstrates a desire to solve its own problems, a readiness to defend the fatherland to the last drop of blood. The coat of arms of Cameroon can tell even an uninitiated viewer about this and much more.
Coat of arms as a reflection of the country's history
The most ancient inhabitants of these territories are pygmies, after them representatives of the Bantu tribe settle on the lands of modern Cameroon. During the Middle Ages, the first contacts with Europeans began, who formed their colonies here.
Three great European powers claimed to have Cameroon under their rule. Germany was the first, followed by Great Britain and France. In 1922, the last two states received government mandates from the League of Nations. Echoes of those distant times are reflected on the coat of arms of Cameroon. On the main emblem of the country there are inscriptions, including the name of the country and the motto, they are made in English and French.
The first emblem of Cameroon appeared in 1960 with the acquisition of independence, on it was the image of a woman's head. The state seal of this type did not last long. A year later, a new emblem appeared, many of its details are present on the modern Cameroon coat of arms.
The main changes were associated with the inscriptions, which were either modified or removed altogether. Minor changes include the disappearance of one of the blue stars and the change in the color of the star to gold.
Remember the past, cherish the present
The modern emblem of the Republic of Cameroon in its composition is close to the traditional European and American coats of arms. It consists of the following elements:
- a shield painted in the colors of the national flag;
- fasciae, criss-cross behind the shield;
- a gold base with the name of the state in two languages;
- the motto crowning the composition.
The shield itself has a not quite traditional shape, divided into three parts, painted in different colors. In the central part of the scarlet color there are important symbols: a gold star, scales and a map of the country. Each of these symbols is important. The map demonstrates the desire of the authorities to unite the country, the scales are a symbol of justice. The star is traditionally used in world heraldry.
No less important elements are the fascia located behind the shield. This is how bunches of birch and elm twigs were previously called, which were associated with monarch (royal, royal) power. On the coat of arms of Cameroon, the fasces are crowned with axes and are perceived as a symbol of the country's defense, the protection of statehood.
