Timeline of Douala
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Douala, Cameroon.
Prior to 20th century
- 1472 - the Portuguese visit the area during the Age of Exploration
- 1845 - Alfred Saker of the British Baptist Missionary Society arrives in Douala.
- 1849 - Native Baptist Church of Douala built.
- 1859 - Arrangement Anglo-douala signed.
- 1868 - The company Woermann-Linie in Cameroon
- 1881 - The company Woermann-Linie receives the authorization to build a factory (trading post) in Deido.
- 1884 - Germans in power of a prefabricate iron house for King Ndumbe Lobe.
- 1886 - The Protestant Mission of Basel takes the place of the Mission of London.
- 1887 - Construction of the postoffice.
- 1888
- * - Construction of a school in Joss.
- * Construction of a brickyard.
- * Fracture between the Protestant Mission of Basel and the "Natives". Construction of a new church by the natives and led by Josua Dibundu.
- 1890 - First documented plan of the city, Deutsches Kolonial Blatt.
- 1891 - German government headquarters built.
- 1893 - Revolt of the German troops composed of former slaves of Dahomey enrolled in the German army to pay back their liberation.
- 1896
- * General Hospital built.
- * The German Baptists Missioners of Berlin arrive in Cameroon.
20th century
- 1901 - "Kamerun" renamed "Duala" by decree of the Colonial Department of the Imperial Foreign Office of April 9, 1901, No. 296.
- 1905 - Palace of the Kings Bell built.
- 1906 - Mwendi Ma Musango Baptist newspaper begins publication.
- 1907 - Capital of German Cameroon relocated from Douala to Buea.
- 1908 - Elolombe Ya Cameroun Protestant newspaper begins publication.
- 1908 - Railway line sanctioned to run S.E. from Duala to the upper waters of the Nyong.
- 1909 - The railway line Bonaberi-Nkongsamba is inaugurated.
- 1910
- * Villa Mandessi Bell built.
- * Robbery from Deutsch Westafrikanische Bank.
- * Population: 22,000.
- 1911 - The railway line Douala-Edea is inaugurated
- 1913
- * Eseka-Douala railway constructed.
- * The German urban plan is implemented by moving the population to New Deido, New Akwa and New Bell and by creating a 1 km Freie Zone to separate those areas from the European city.
- 1914
- * September: British forces in Douala.
- * New Bell established.
- 1917 Louis-Ferdinand Céline is hospitalized in Douala.
- 1919 - Town becomes part of French Cameroun.
- 1921 - Capital of French Cameroun relocated from Douala to Yaounde.
- 1927 - Oryx Douala football club formed.
- 1928 - Chamber of Commerce building constructed.
- 1930 - Mbale newspaper begins publication.
- 1931
- * Palace of Justice built.
- * Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of Douala established.
- 1936 - Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Douala built.
- 1941 - Radio Douala begins broadcasting.
- 1944 - Population: 37,751.
- 1945 - Riots.
- 1948 - Brasseries du Cameroun in business.
- 1949
- * Association des femmes de l'Union Francaise au Cameroun headquartered in Douala.
- * Population: 67,925.
- 1954 - built to Bonabéri.
- 1955 - L'Effort Camerounais and La Presse du Cameroun newspapers begin publication.
- 1956 - Population: 124,703.
- 1957 - Union Douala football club formed.
- 1958 - Stade Akwa built.
- 1959 - 31 December: Unrest.
- 1960 - 1 January: City becomes part of the Republic of Cameroon.
- 1963 - Centre Culturel Americain active.
- 1964 - Centre Culturel Francais active.
- 1965 - Pan African Institute for Development regional headquarters established in Douala.
- 1970 - Population: 250,000 urban agglomeration.
- 1972
- * Stade de la Réunification built.
- * February–March: City hosts 1972 African Cup of Nations.
- 1974
- * Commune Urbaine de Douala established.
- * Cameroon Tribune newspaper begins publication.
- 1978 - American School founded.
- 1979 - Le Messager newspaper begins publication.
- 1983 - Population: 708,000 urban agglomeration.
- 1986 - founded.
- 1987 - created.
- 1990 - Population: 931,000.
- 1991
- * General strike.
- * Doual'art founded.
- 1992 - Commune Urbaine d`Arrondissement Douala V created.
- 1993 - University of Douala founded.
- 1997 - Commercial Bank Cameroon and Commercial Bank Group headquartered in city.
- 1999 - Festival International de Voix de Femmes begins.
- 2000 - Population: 1,432,000.
21st century
- 2001
- * 9 April: Political protest.
- * Douala Stock Exchange and Accueil Femmes Francophones de Douala founded.
- 2002
- * World Bank Douala Infrastructure Project launched.
- * Astres Football Club formed.
- 2004 - March: Taxi strike.
- 2005
- * City website online.
- * Art biennale begins.
- * Population: 1,907,479.
- 2007
- * Salon Urbain de Douala begins.
- * 5 May: Airplane crash near city.
- 2008
- * February: Anti-government protest.
- * City becomes capital of Littoral Region (Cameroon).
- 2010 - Drinking water shortage.
- 2016 - Population: 2,948,464.
- 2019 - Part of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations football contest to be played in Douala.