The question of children’s work has been mostly considered within an ethical frame and the activi- ties of the youth were usually examined in terms of disillusion and talent for improvisation, given the high unemployment rate. Focusing exclusively on the tribal group of Bamiléké and taking into consideration the commercial activities of social fractions, as they transit from an informal to a more formal economy, three investment stages of gradual engagement in entrepreneurial activities are identified. This socialization process endows the young actors with knowledge, practices and competences that make the entrepreneurial achievement through which Bamiléké are defined in Cameroon accessible to them.

Keywords: Apprenticeship, Bamiléké, capital, enterprise, management, youth