This study analyzes the distribution of ten protein genetic polymorphisms i
n eighteen populations from the most densely inhabited areas of Cameroon. T
he languages spoken belong to three different Linguistic families [Afro-Asi
atic (AA), Nilo-Saharan (NS) and Niger-Kordofanian (NK)]. The analysis of v
ariation of allele frequencies indicates that the level of genetic interpop
ulation differentiation is rather low (F-st = 0.011 +/- 0.006) but statisti
cally significant (p < 0.001). This result is not unexpected because of the
relatively small geographic area covered by our survey. This value is also
significantly fewer than the one estimated for other groups of African pop
ulations. Among the factors responsible for this, we discuss the possible r
ole of gene flow There is a considerable genetic differentiation among the
AA populations of north Cameroon as is to be expected because they all orig
inated from the first agriculturists of the fanning "savanna complex." The
Podowko and Uldeme are considerably different from all the other AA groups,
probably due to the combined effect of genetic drift and isolation. In the
case of the Wandala and Massa, our analyses suggest that genetic admixture
with allogeneous groups (especially with the Kanuri) played an important r
ole in determining their genetic differentiation from other AA speaking gro
ups. The Bantu speaking populations (Bakaka, Bamileke Bassa and Ewondo, NK
family, Benue Congo subfamily) settled in western and southern Cameroon are
more tightly clustered than AA speaking groups. This result shows that the
linguistic affinity among these four populations coincides with a substant
ial genetic similarity despite their different origin. Finally, the Fulbe a
re genetically distinct from all the populations that belong to their same
linguistic phylum (NK), and closer to the neighboring Fall and Tupuri, east
ern Adamawa speaking groups of north Cameroon. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.