In Cameroon the sap used to create palm wine is most often taken from wild date palms such as the silver date palm (Phoenix sylvestris), the palmyra, and the jaggery palm (Caryota urens), or from oil palm such as the African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineense) or from Raffia palms, kithul palms, or nipa palms. In part of central and western Democratic Republic of the Congo, palm wine is called malafu. Palm wine tapping is mentioned in the novel Things Fall Apart by the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe and is central to the plot of the novel The Palm Wine Drinkard by Nigerian author Amos Tutuola. Palm wine plays an important role in many ceremonies in parts of Nigeria such as among the Igbo (or Ibo) peoples, and elsewhere in central and western Africa. Guests at weddings, birth celebrations, and funeral wakes are served generous quantities. Palm wine is often infused with medicinal herbs to remedy a wide variety of physical complaints. As a token of respect to deceased ancestors, many drinking sessions begin with a small amount of palm wine spilled on the ground (Kulosa malafu in Kikongo ya Leta). Palm wine is enjoyed by men and women, although women usually drink it in less public venues.
Palm wine drinking spots in the city of Yaounde are increasing. In the evenings, many a consumer gather not only to enjoy the "Tori for mbu house," or the story-telling that accompanies its consumption, but to savour the "sacred" liquid of the gods in the company of friends. Palm wine is that drink that can be shared by many people no matter its quantity. It has a social binding effect and is generally consumed in the company of others. The palm wine consumed in Yaounde is tapped in the neighbouring villages. Some tappers go as far as 80 km away to get the precious liquid that is present at almost every occasion. Palm wine is generally considered a drink for men.