# Timeline of Douala

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Douala, Cameroon.

## Prior to 20th century

Part of a series on the :
History of Cameroon :
Pre-colonial :
Sao civilisation
Kotoko kingdom
Mandara Kingdom
Kingdom of Bamum :
Colonial :
| Kamerun | 1884–1919 |
| Bafut Wars | 1889–1907 |
| Neukamerun | 1911–1916 |
| French Cameroons | 1918–1960 |
| British Cameroons Southern Cameroons | 1922–1961 |
Post-colonial :
| Cameroon | 1961–present |
Cameroon portal :
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* 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 (July 8) - 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 (the treaty between the Douala and Germans is signed; Cameroon becomes a German protectorate.
* 1885 - Construction (1885-1890) of a prefabricate iron house for King Ndumbe Lobe.
* 1886 - The Protestant Mission of Basel takes the place of the Mission of London.
* 1887 (February) - Construction of the postoffice.
* 1888
** (March) - Construction of a school in Joss (directed by Théodor Christaller arrived in Cameroon in 1887).
** Construction of a brickyard (before, building materials were imported by Germans from Hamburg).
** 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 - Kamerunstadt renamed "Douala."
* 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 (160 km) is inaugurated.
* 1910
** Villa Mandessi Bell (residence) 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 (February) 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 - Pont sur le Wouri [fr] (bridge) 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 (urban council) established.
** Cameroon Tribune newspaper begins publication.
* 1978 - American School founded.
* 1979 - Le Messager newspaper begins publication.
* 1983 - Population: 708,000 urban agglomeration (estimate).
* 1986 - Musée maritime de Bonanjo [fr] (museum) founded.
* 1987 - Communauté urbaine de Douala [fr] created.
* 1990 - Population: 931,000 (urban agglomeration).
* 1991
** General strike.
** Doual'art (art centre) 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 (women's fest).
* 2000 - Population: 1,432,000 (urban agglomeration).

## 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 (approximate date).
** Art biennale begins.
** Population: 1,907,479.
* 2007
** Salon Urbain de Douala (art fair) 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 (estimate).
* 2019 - Part of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations football contest to be played in Douala.