[6] Ambazonian separatists regard both the North-West and South-West regions as being constituent components of their envisaged breakaway state.

[8] In 1884, the region was colonized by Germany under the regime of the protectorate until 1916 when it became a condominium administered jointly by the United Kingdom and the France.

It has one major metropolitan city, Bamenda, with several other smaller towns such as Wum, Kumbo, Mbengwi, Ndop, Nkambé, Batibo, Bambui, Bafut and Oshie.

The Northwest is a stronghold of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) which is one of the main opposition parties of Cameroon.

In 2008, the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, signed decrees abolishing "Provinces" and replacing them with "Regions".

As part of the Major National Dialogue, the region was given a "special status" in December 2019, granting additional rights and responsibilities in relation to economic, health, social, educational, sports and cultural development.

The most widely spoken languages in the province include Mungaka, Limbum, Yamba, spoken by the Yamba people also of the Donga Mantung Division; Bafmen, Oku, Lamnso, Ngemba, Pidgin English, Balikumbat, Papiakum, Moghamo, and Nkom.

As a result, parts of some ethnic groups now lie in different divisions and provinces, which is believed to have led to several land conflicts.

[citation needed] In the provinces, the social organization recognizes a chief as its head, also called the Fon.

The Northwest region has unique attractions, including the second highest mountain in West Africa, Mount Oku.