Doula- Cameroon Douala is Cameroon's largest city and its
economic hub. It is also the capital of the Littoral Region of Cameroon. It has been the
commercial and economic capital of Cameroon and all CEMAC region, encompassing Gabon,
the Congo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, central Africa and Cameroon, and is home to the largest
port in Central Africa and its major international airport, Douala International Airport. As
a result, it handles the majority of the country's principal exports, including oil, cocoa and
coffee, lumber, metals, and fruits. As of 2018, the city and its surrounding area had
a total population of 2,768,400 people. This cosmopolitan city of around 3 million residents
is home to nearly 20% of the country's urban population and is Central Africa's most populous
city. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean coast, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) west
of Yaoundé, on the southeastern shore of the Wouri River estuary.
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Brief History. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to
visit the area in 1472. The Wouri River estuary was known as the Rio dos Camares at the time
(Shrimp River). By 1650, it had become the site of a settlement populated by Duala-speaking
immigrants who had arrived from the Congo. It was the core of the transatlantic slave
trade in the 18th century. Douala appeared to be made up of four different settlements
in four different sites in 1826: Deido (Dido), Akwa, Njo, and Hickory-town (today Bonaberi,
located on the other side of Wouri River). The city was a German protectorate from 1884
and 1895. The colonial politics were centered on commerce and occasional exploration of
empty territory. Alfred Saker founded the British Baptist Church's first mission in
1885. In the same year, the city of Kamerun was renamed Douala and became the territory's
capital until 1902, when it was relocated to Buéa. Douala had 23,000 citizens when
the Ministry of Colonies was founded in 1907. Following World War I, in 1919, the German
colonial possessions became French and British protectorates. The Douala administration was
mandated to France. A treaty was signed with the local chiefs.From 1940 to 1946, it served
as Cameroon's capital. In 1955, the city had a population of more than 100,000 people.
Cameroon gained independence in 1960 and established a federal republic with its capital in Yaoundé.
Douala rose to prominence as a significant economic center. The federal republic became
a unitary state in 1972. Douala had a population of roughly 500,000 people at the time. Cameroon's
campaign for liberalization and multi-partyism escalated in the 1980s. Between May and December
1991, Douala was at the epicenter of the civil disobedience campaign known as the ghost town
operation (ville morte), in which economic activities were halted in order to render
the country uncontrollable and force the government to allow multi-partitism and freedom of expression.
Before coming under German control in 1884, the town was also known as Cameroons Town;
after that, it was renamed Kamerunstadt ("Cameroon City"), the capital of German Kamerun. In
1907, it was renamed Douala after the locals known as Dua ala Ijaws (Njos), and it became
a part of French Cameroon in 1919. During the Portuguese era, many Ijaw (Njo) inhabitants
relocated to Nigeria's Niger Delta. Culture and people
Cameroon is home to almost 250 different languages and dialects. Official languages are French
and English, however Douala is predominantly francophone. Douala's indigenous language
is "Douala," which also shares the city's name. Douala has a significant social-cultural
diversity, demonstrating the importance of local people's linguistic and cultural peculiarities.
Throughout history, the city has had relationships with people from all backgrounds. The most
represented foreign nationalities in Douala are Nigerian, French, Lebanese, Togolese,
Greek, Senegalese, Malian, Beninese, Central African, Indian, German. The nationals from
friendly countries firmly established in Douala, invest in the manufacturing industry, hotel
and catering services, general trading, import / export... This is why, in order to manage
these large foreign communities, 32 consular posts among the most representative of Cameroon
are present in Douala. The management of all these national citizens as well as of the
expatriates in the urban area involves the development of a "Living together" strategy
in order to foster harmony in the city. The challenges of living together in Douala have
therefore to find the balance between economic activities and socio-cultural diversity. This
also requires increasing the responsibilities of local authorities in order to enable citizens
to get involved in the management of their neighbourhood and their city, and ultimately
to live in harmony. The 'ngondo' festival, as well as other seashore pleasures, are strongly
rooted here, as the people of this region celebrate their close relationship with water.
Most people enter the country through here, and there are many historic monuments to see.
Natural features include the Ekom Kam waterfalls, Lake Ossa, and extensive commercial plantations.
City layout The city of Douala is divided into seven districts
and it has more than 120 neighborhoods. 1) Akwa is Douala's business district and
Bonanjo its administrative district. Plateau Joss is the old name for the modern Akwa district.
The districts' names refer to the Douala lineage as well as the neighborhoods. For example,
between Bell and Deido, Akwa was historically divided into Bonadibong, Bonamilengue, Boneleke,
Bonalembe, Bonejang, Bonamuti, Bonabekombo, Bonaboijan, and Bonakuamuang; the prefix "bona"
means "descendant of." 2)Bassa is a vast area in the eastern part
of the city. It is a mixed area including many neighborhoods such as Logbaba, Ndogpassi,
Cité des Palmiers, PK 8 and many others. It also includes one of the two major industrial
zones of the city (the other being in Bonaberi). 3)Bonaberi is located on the right of Wouri
River. It is primarily an industrial neighborhood but is gradually becoming a mixed area including
more residential and commercial areas. It is connected by the two only bridges of the
city. It is also the main opening toward the western anglophone area of the country.
4)Bonapriso is one of the wealthiest area of the city and even of the country. Historically
a residential neighbourhood, it has become a mixed area including commercial galleries,
restaurants and shops. 5)Bonanjo is the administrative district,
with many large administrations, larger companies and banks offices, with higher buildings than
the rest of the city 6)Deido is a historical neighbourhood located
in the north central part of the city. It includes one of the main junctions of the
city known as Le Rond-Point Deïdo and the symbol of the city “the Njounjou” (“the
monster”). 7)New Bell is an historical neighbourhood
of the city. It was founded in the early 20th century with the expropriation by the Germans
of the natives Duala people from the plateau Joss. It is known for housing since then newcomers
in the city from all parts of the country and even from abroad (mainly west Africa).
It today a very populous neighbourhood with very tough conditions. Two of the main markets
of the city (Central market and Marché Nkololoun) are in the area.
Bali is a residential area near the Bonanjo administrative area. Bépanda is an extremely
heavily inhabited area. It is most likely the city's most populated area, with numerous
residents from West Africa and other parts of the country. There is the seat of the University
of Douala as well as a key telecommunications center for Cameroon. Bonamoussadi is the city's
main residential district, located in the northwestern section of the city. In a previously
quite residential area, there has recently been a considerable increase in the installation
of malls, supermarkets, restaurants, and even nightclubs. Kotto is a modern residential
area near Bonamoussadi. It grew in the early 1980s with the Société immobilière du Cameroun
(SIC) housing projects and is now the prime area for the city's small but growing middle
and upper classes.The chamber of commerce, the new palace of justice, the new railway
station, the vault of the Kings Bell, and the catholic cathedral of Saints Peter and
Paul were all completed between 1925 and 1930, during the French colonial period. Construction
was accelerated between 1930 and 1955, and the Wouri River bridge was completed in 1955.
The Mausoleum of the Kings Akwa was built in 1935.
In 1947 the Temple of the Centenary was built. According to Danièle Diwouta-Kotto, a new
city plan (Plan Dorian) was established in 1959 and is still influencing Douala's urban
growth. A new development and urban plan were formed after the country's independence in
1960. In 1998, a study was conducted to prepare a forecast for the year 2015. In 2005, a new
development and urban plan were built, as well as additional routes and public canalizations.
Project Sawa-Beach was launched the same year. Douala has been producing terracotta bricks
since 1888.
Suites architecturale is a periodical that focuses on legacy and reappropriation in Douala
architecture and it presents the characteristics of the buildings and architecture of Douala
after its independence. Among these structures are the casino, the La Meublerie showroom,
the Cami-Toyota exhibition hall, the Union Bank of Cameroon, Immeuble Hollando, the Baptist
church, Immeuble Victoria, the CA-SCB headquarters, espace doual'art, and Orange Flagship. Dika
Akwa Mukanda Palace was erected in 1990. Some of Cameroon's greatest restaurants, coffee
shops, and French-style patisseries can be found along the city's main avenue; along
the waterfront, several pubs and bistros provide commanding views of the Gulf of Guinea and
neighboring mangrove swamps. Many of these are frequented by the city's sizable expatriate
population, the majority of whom are French or Lebanese and work in the petroleum business.
Government and services Douala is home to roughly 20% of the country's
19 million people. It is also Cameroon's economic center, with an international airport and
one of the largest ports on Africa's Atlantic coast. There are two urban communities (Douala
and Yaoundé) separated into 11 urban districts (5 in Douala and 6 in Yaoundé), 9 towns with
special status (Nkongsamba, Bafoussam, Bamenda, Limbe, Edéa, Ebolowa, Garoua, Maroua, and
Kumba), 11 urban communes, and 305 rural communes as of 2005 (and since 1996). Mayors and municipal
councillors are chosen to lead the councils. Under the supervision of the State, the councils
are responsible in essence for the management of local affairs.
Commerce Douala, one of Central Africa's major industrial
centers, is home to breweries, textile manufacturers, and palm-oil, soap, and food-processing businesses.
Building materials, metals, plastics, glass, paper, bicycles, and timber goods are also
produced. Boat and ship maintenance, railway engineering, and radio assembly are some of
the other activities available. By the early 2000s, offshore petroleum and natural gas
reserves had not been explored. Douala's deepwater port handles the majority of the country's
international trade. It offers capabilities for handling forest products, bananas, gasoline,
and bauxite, as well as fishing. Transportation
The port of Douala serves numerous neighboring nations and is the principal gateway to Cameroon
and the Central African sub-region. Douala's deepwater port handles the majority of the
country's international trade. It has unique processing facilities for timber, bananas,
gasoline, and bauxite, as well as fishing facilities. The Wouri Bridge, which connects
Douala with the port of Bonabéri, is 5,900 feet (1,800 meters) long and transports both
road and rail traffic to western Cameroon. Douala, the
country's largest industrial center and port, is located on the Atlantic Ocean's Wouri River
estuary. The Wouri, 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Yabassi, is formed by the confluence
of two headstreams, the Nkam and the Makombé. The river then runs southwest for about 100
miles (160 kilometers) before emptying into the Gulf of Guinea. It is navigable for 40
miles (64 kilometers) along its lower channel, which is located below Yabassi. Douala is
served by an international airport with connections to destinations around Cameroon, the region,
and Europe. It is the busiest airport in the country. The airport is administered and partly
owned (34% ) by the business Aeroport du Cameroon (ADC), which also operates the country's other
13 airports. Education
Douala is home to the University of Yaoundé's economics section, as well as a number of
commercial, agricultural, and industrial institutions, as well as research centers in health, forestry,
textiles, oilseed derivatives, and meteorology. A museum and a handicraft center promote Cameroonian
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