Cameroon: North

The North of Cameroon stretches into the Sahel and towards the Sahara. The religion here is pre-dominantly Muslim, and traditionally it has taken its cultural influences from Muslim regions in Nigeria and Chad rather than the coast. Indeed trade with Nigeria, which frequently means smuggling across a porous border, remains big business.

Islands of traditional culture thrive in the more remote areas. In the Alantika Mountains (meaning ‘Allah hasn't yet arrived’ in the Kanuri language) the Koma people live a traditional life, which is centuries old. While male members of the group may wear some Western clothes, women are generally dressed only in leaves. Taking refuge in the mountains in the 19th Century to avoid paying taxes they remained essentially ‘undiscovered’ until 1986.

These photographs were taken in November 2011.