Cameroonians & Hygiene Culture
I want to ask a question about hygiene culture and Cameroonians purely from a place of understanding. I am African, my partner is Cameroonian and so I spend a lot of time with Cameroonians and I have visited your country a couple times. I have loved my visits.
I would just like to understand how Cameroonians generally approach hygiene. I have had so many unpleasant experiences with bad body odor and over the years. As an African with friends and family from all over the continent, I cannot help but notice that it is the worst with all our Cameroonian friends/family. Imagine long house visits and car rides where it is hard to breathe because of the odor. This is not meant to be a generalization - this is not my partner’s problem, but I can’t help but notice how extreme it is with many people we spend time with.
We live in the West so this is not an issue of accessing water or deodorant. I’ve noticed it over the years with men and women. It is very uncomfortable and I don’t know how to ask or talk about it.
Are some people maybe unaware? Are hygiene practices different and maybe people don’t use deodorant for instance? I do not understand. Please help me understand this - it literally does not matter if it is the coldest winter, it’s still an issue. I have hosted dinner parties that are so uncomfortable because the body odour over powers the food.