Douala is the largest city in

Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...

and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...

and its major international airport,

Douala International Airport MD-Douala International Airport (french: link=no, Aéroport international MD-Douala) is an international airport located in Douala, the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region. With its 4 terminals and an averag ...

(DLA), it is the commercial and economic capital of Cameroon and the entire CEMAC region comprising Gabon, Congo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic and Cameroon. Consequently, it handles most of the country's major exports, such as oil,

cocoa Cocoa may refer to: Chocolate * Chocolate * ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree * Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao'' * Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...

and

coffee Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulant, stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It is the most popular hot drink in the world. S ...

, timber, metals and fruits. , the city and its surrounding area had an estimated population of 5,768,400. The city sits on the estuary of

Wouri River The Wouri (also Vouri or Vuri) is a river in Cameroon. Cameroon has two major rivers, the Sanaga, the longest at about 525 km (325 miles) long and the Wouri, the largest. The Wouri forms at the confluence of the rivers Nkam and Makombé, ...

and its climate is

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

History

The first

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

ans to visit the area were the Portuguese in about 1472. At the time, the estuary of

was known as the Rio dos Camarões (Shrimp River). By 1650, it had become the site of a town formed by immigrants, said to have arrived from Congo, who spoke the

Duala language Duala (''ɓwambo ba duālā in douala)'' (also spelt Douala, Diwala, Dwela, Dualla and Dwala) is a dialect cluster spoken by the Duala and Mungo peoples of Cameroon. Douala belongs to the Bantu language family, in a subgroup called Sawabantu. ...

. During the 18th century it was the center of the transatlantic slave trade. In 1826 Douala appeared to be made of four different villages located in four specific locations: the village of Deido (Dido), of Akwa, of Njo and Hickory-town (today Bonaberi, located on the other side of Wouri River). Between 1884 and 1895 the city was a German protectorate. The colonial politics focused on commerce and some exploration of the unoccupied territories. In 1885,

Alfred Saker Alfred Saker (21 July 1814 in Wrotham, Kent – 12 March 1880 in Peckham) was a British missionary of the London Baptist Missionary Society. In 1858 he led a Baptist Mission that relocated from the then Spanish island of Fernando Po and landed ...

organized the first mission of the British Baptist Church. In the same year the city known as Kamerun was renamed Douala and became the capital of the territory until 1902, when the capital was moved to

Buéa Buea is the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The city is located in Fako Division, on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon, and has a population of 300,000 (at the 2013 Census). It has two Government Hotels, the Mountain Hotel and P ...

. In 1907 the Ministry of Colonies was established and Douala had 23,000 citizens.Diwouta-Kotto, Danièle (2010). ''Suites architecturales: Kinshasa, Douala, Dakar''. Épinal: Association VAA, p. 42. After

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

in 1919, the German colonial territories became French and British protectorates. France received a mandate to administer Douala. A treaty was signed with the local chiefs. From 1940 to 1946, it was the capital of Cameroon. In 1955 the city had over 100,000 inhabitants. In 1960, Cameroon gained independence as a federal republic, with its capital in Yaoundé. Douala became the major economic city. In 1972, the federal republic became a unitary state. Douala then had a population of around 500,000. In the 1980s, in Cameroon the struggle for liberalization and multi-party democracy grew. Between May and December 1991, Douala was at the center of the civil disobedience campaign called the ghost town operation (''ville morte'') during which economic activities shut down to make the country ungovernable and to force the government to allow multi-partitism and freedom of expression. Lake parcour vita douala Cameroon

Name

With the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century, the area was known as ''Rio dos Camarões''. Before coming under

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

rule in 1884, the town was also known as Cameroons Town; thereafter it became Kamerunstadt ("Cameroon City"), the capital of German Kamerun. It was renamed Douala in 1907 after the name of the natives known as Dua ala Ijaws (Njos), and became part of French Cameroon in 1919. Many of the Ijaw (Njo) natives migrated to the Niger Delta in Nigeria during the Portuguese era.

Geography

The city is located on the banks of the

, the two sides linked by Bonaberi Bridge.

Climate

Douala features a

tropical monsoon climate An area of tropical monsoon climate (occasionally known as a sub-equatorial, tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate) is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

''Am''), with relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year, though the city experiences somewhat cooler temperatures in July and August. Douala typically features warm and humid conditions with an average annual temperature of and an average humidity of 83%. Douala sees plentiful rainfall during the course of the year, experiencing on average roughly of precipitation per year. Its driest month is December, when on average of precipitation falls, while its wettest month is August, when on average nearly of rain falls.

Population

Evolution of population in Douala ''(in thousands)'' With 1.9 million inhabitants in 2005, Douala is the most populated city of

Languages

Cameroon is home to nearly 250 languages or dialects. The local indigenous language is

Duala Duala or Douala can refer to: Relating to Cameroon * Duala people, an ethnic group in Cameroon * Duala language, part of the Bantu languages * Douala, the largest city in Cameroon, founded by the Duala people * Rudolf Duala Manga Bell (1873–1914 ...

, which shares its name with the city.

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

are official languages, but Douala is primarily

francophone French became an international language in the Middle Ages, when the power of the Kingdom of France made it the second international language, alongside Latin. This status continued to grow into the 18th century, by which time French was the l ...

. In 2014, 63.7% of Douala inhabitants of over 15 years knew how to read and write French, while 76.4% knew how to speak and understand French.

Urbanism and contemporary life

The city of Douala is divided into seven districts ( Akwa, Bassa, Bonabéri, Bonapriso, Bonanjo, Deïdo and

New Bell New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

) and it has more than 120 neighborhoods. Some of the neighborhoods of Douala include * Akwa. Akwa is Douala's business district and Bonanjo its administrative district. ''Plateau Joss'' is the name used historically for the current district of Akwa. The name of the districts refer to the Douala lineage, as well as the neighborhoods. For example, Akwa was historically divided between Bell and Deido into Bonadibong, Bonamilengue, Boneleke, Bonalembe, Bonejang, Bonamuti, Bonabekombo, Bonaboijan, and Bonakuamuang; the prefix "bona" means "descendant of". File:Monument des rois Akwa 01.JPG, Akwa Kings Monument File:LT32 (8) Monument des roi d'akwa.JPG, Palais Dika Akwa File:Teambeau des roi akwa (1).JPG, Akwa King tomb File:LT 19 TEMPLE DE BONALEMBE.JPG, Bonalembe Baptist church File:Akwa Palace 1.JPG, Akwa Palace *

Bali Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nu ...

, housing area located near Bonanjo administrative area. * Bépanda is a very densely populated neighborhood. It is probably the most inhabited area of the city with many inhabitants from West Africa and from all parts of the country. The seat of the University of Douala and an important telecommunication center of the Cameroon telecommunications are located there. * Deido is a historical neighborhood 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”). * 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. * Bonapriso is one of the wealthiest area of the city and even of the country. Historically a residential neighborhood, it has become a mixed area including commercial galleries, restaurants and shops. * Bonanjo is the administrative neighborhood, with many large administrations, larger companies and banks offices, with higher buildings than the rest of the city * Bonamoussadi is the main housing area located in the northern part of the city. In a first time very residential, it has recently witnessed a significant surge in the installation of malls, supermarkets, restaurants and even night clubs. * Kotto is a modern residential neighborhood next to Bonamoussadi. It developed in the early 1980s with the housing projects of the Société immobilière du Cameroun (SIC) and is now the prime area for the small but increasing middle and upper classes of the city. *

is an historical neighborhood 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 neighborhood with very tough conditions. Two of the main markets of the city (Central market and Marché Nkololoun) are in the area. Eglise notre de victoire de New bell 2.jpg, Church of Our Lady of Victories LT 38 Mosqué central de new-bell.jpg, central mosque Lycée de New bell 3.JPG, NewBell High School * Bassa is a vast area in the eastern part of the city. It is a mixed area including many neighborhoods (some wealthier than others) 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).

Architecture

Ars&Urbis International Workshop - Emiliano Gandolfi 176

According to Jacques Soulillou, historical images of Douala document the areas of Akwa (Plateau Joss) and the port between 1860 and 1960, while the districts of Bonaberi, Deido and New Bell have almost no images. The archives which provide documentation about the city are based in Paris, Basel, Hamburg, Potsdam, Douala and Yaoundé. In 1896 a first urban plan of the city was developed during the German colonial period. The plan included a

hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...

, the governor residency, the palace of justice, the

police station A police station (sometimes called a "station house" or just "house") is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, al ...

, administrative buildings and buildings for the port and customs (among those the Old Woermann Linie Bachelors House). The Bonakouamouang Chimney also dates back to this period. In 1904 construction of the

Villa Mandessi Bell The villa Mandessi Bell situated at Douala is a building constructed between 1904 and 1909 by David Mandessi-Bell a rich farmer and commissioner of the king Rudolf Manga Bell. This building is and architecture from the colonial period. It is a ...

was begun. In 1905 the palace of the King Manga Ndumbe Bell (also called la Pagode) was built, and in 1906 the general plan of Gross Douala was established. In 1914 the large population living in Bonanjo was moved to the new estate of Neue Bell (New Bell). Between 1925 and 1930, during the French colonial period, the

chamber of commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ad ...

, the new palace of justice, the new railway station, the

vault of the Kings Bell Vault may refer to: * Jumping, the act of propelling oneself upwards Architecture * Vault (architecture), an arched form above an enclosed space * Bank vault, a reinforced room or compartment where valuables are stored * Burial vault (enclos ...

and the catholic cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul were built. Constructions were intensified between 1930 and 1955 and in 1955 the bridge on Wouri River was built. In 1935 the

Mausoleum of the Kings Akwa A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be cons ...

was constructed. In 1947 the Temple of the Centenary was built. In 1959 a new city plan was designed (Plan Dorian); according to Danièle Diwouta-Kotto, this plan is still influencing Douala's urban development. After the independence of 1960 a new development and urban plan were established. In 1998 a research prepared the diagnostic for the 2015 horizon. In 2005 a new development and urban plan was designed and routes and public canalizations were reestablished and created. In the same year the Project Sawa-Beach was launched. Since 1888, terracotta bricks have been produced in Douala. The publication ''Suites architecturales'' focuses on heritage and reappropriation in the architecture of Douala, and it presents some of the characteristics of the buildings and architecture of Douala after its independence. Among those buildings are the casino, the show-room La Meublerie, the exhibition hall Cami-Toyota,

Union Bank of Cameroon Union Bank of Cameroon Plc. (UBC), is a commercial bank in Cameroon. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by the Central Bank of Central African States, the national banking regulator. History UBC was established in 1999 by a network of cred ...

, Immeuble Hollando, the Baptist church, Immeuble Victoria, headquarters of CA-SCB, espace doual'art, and Orange Flagship. The

Palace Dika Akwa Mukanda A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...

was built in 1990. Along the city's main thoroughfare lie some of Cameroon's best restaurants, coffee houses and French-style patisseries; along the waterfront, many bars and bistros may be found, commanding views of the

Gulf of Guinea The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean from Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Palmas in Liberia. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian (zero degrees latitude and longitude) is in the ...

and nearby mangrove swamps. Many of these are frequented by the city's large

expatriate An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. In common usage, the term often refers to educated professionals, skilled workers, or artists taking positions outside their home country, either ...

population, mainly French or Lebanese, most of whom work in the

petroleum industry The petroleum industry, also known as the oil industry or the oil patch, includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transportation (often by oil tankers and pipelines), and marketing of petroleum products. The larges ...

Culture

* Douala Maritime Museum, a museum showcasing the rich maritime history of Douala. The building is shaped like a boat (however, the museum only occupies 400 m² of the building). It is located in the administrative area Bonanjo *

Doual'art doual'art is a non profit cultural organisation and art centre founded in 1991 in Douala, Cameroon and focussed on new urban practices of African cities. History doual'art was registered as a non profit organization in 1992 and it was establish ...

, an art gallery/center *

La Nouvelle Liberté ''La Nouvelle Liberté'' is a public artwork in the Deido suburb, in Douala ( Cameroun). The Artwork La Nouvelle Liberté is the most famous and emblematic artwork of Douala, which today has become a symbol of the city. Produced by Joseph-Fra ...

, a 12m piece from

Joseph Francis Sumégné Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

inaugurated in 2007. A permanent monumental sculpture made with recycled material located at a main roundabout in Douala. It is 12 meters high with a wingspan of 5 meters. * The Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul * The Centennial Temple File:Nouvelle liberté 2.JPG File:Nouvelle liberté (2).JPG File:Nouvelle Liberté 01.JPG File:La Nouvelle Liberté 3.JPG File:La Nouvelle Liberté 7.JPG File:Nouvelle Liberté.JPG

Places of worship

The city's population is predominantly

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

and contains

houses of worship A place of worship is a specially designed structure or space where individuals or a group of people such as a wikt:congregation, congregation come to perform acts of devotion, veneration, or religious study. A building constructed or used for th ...

of numerous denominations :

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Douala The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Douala is the Metropolitan See for the Ecclesiastical province of Douala in Cameroon. The current archbishop is Archbishop Samuel Kleda; he had previously been the coadjutor archbishop to the Archbishop Emeritus ...

(

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

Evangelical Church of Cameroon The Eglise Evangelique Du Cameroun EEC (Evangelical Church of Cameroon) was born out of the European missionaries, the Paris Mission, Basel Mission and English Baptist Mission. After 1917 the Basel Mission handed over the majority of its mission s ...

(

World Communion of Reformed Churches The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) is the largest association of Calvinist churches in the world. It has 230 member denominations in 108 countries, together claiming an estimated 80 million people, thus being the fourth-largest Chris ...

Presbyterian Church in Cameroon The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) is a Reformed denomination in Cameroon and a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. It is the largest English-speaking church in Cameroon, founded by Basel Mission. In addition to its religious ...

(

Union of Baptist Churches in Cameroon The Union of Baptist Churches of Cameroon (french: Union des Églises Baptistes du Cameroun) is a Baptist Christian denomination in Cameroon. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Douala. History The Union h ...

( Baptist World Alliance),

Integrity for All Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. In ...

(

Christian Missionary Fellowship and Associated Churches Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ (title), Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive ...

), Full Gospel Mission Cameroon (

Assemblies of God The Assemblies of God (AG), officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 144 autonomous self-governing national groupings of churches that together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination."Assemblies of God". ...

). There are also

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

mosques.

Education

As in most large cities in Cameroon there are several nursery,

primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Works * ...

secondary Secondary may refer to: Science and nature * Secondary emission, of particles ** Secondary electrons, electrons generated as ionization products * The secondary winding, or the electrical or electronic circuit connected to the secondary winding i ...

and

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

s in the city. In recent years there has been a surge in the number of private schools. It is interesting to note that there is also a large, informal educational sector that caters to a huge part of the population, mostly individuals with a primary school certificate or those with no education at all. This form of education is common in sectors like cloth manufacturing, bread making, construction, security, and car repairing. Individuals from these informal sectors are by far the most visibly deprived in neighborhoods such as Ndokoti, Bepanda, Village, Logbaba. The city of Douala is home to a number of higher education institutions, including the

University of Douala University of Douala, or Université de Douala (UDla), is located in Douala in Cameroon. The University of Douala is one of the eight public universities of Cameroon. History The current structure of the University of Douala was established i ...

. There are also a number of professional schools, the most prominent one being the Douala Maritime institute. Douala has an

aviation school Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills. Flight training can be conducted under a str ...

called

CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Douala CAE Douala (formerly Sabena Flight Academy Africa) (CAE SFA-A) is an aviation school owned by Canadian group CAE (part of its CAE Global Academy), located at Douala, Cameroon. It was the first civil aviation university in the country. Former s ...

. File:LYCEE JOSS DE DOUALA.JPG, Lycée Joss Entrance File:Lycée Joss Douala.JPG, Interior of Lycée Joss File:LT25 (2) Lycée de New-bell.JPG, Lycée de New-Bell Entrance File:Lycée de New bell.JPG, Interior of Lycée de New-Bell File:Lycée de New bell 3.JPG, Lycée de New-Bell Classrooms

Transportation

Douala is linked by rail to Yaoundé,

Ngaoundéré Ngaoundéré, or N'Gaoundéré (Fula: N'gamdere 𞤲'𞤺𞤢𞤥𞤣𞤫𞥅𞤪𞤫𞥅) is the capital of the Adamawa Region of Cameroon. It had a population of 152,700 at the 2005 census. According to the film ''Les Mairuuwas – Maitre de l'e ...

, Kumba and

Nkongsamba Nkongsamba is a city in western Cameroon. It is in the Moungo department, which is in the Littoral region. As of the 2005 Census, the city had a population of 104,050. It is a centre for the farming of palm oil, bananas and coffee, and is bet ...

. Douala has a fairly developed road network compared to other cities in Cameroon. However many of the city's roads have decayed due to years of neglect and corruption. Efforts have recently been made to renovate the city's roads, especially in the most deprived neighborhoods. In spite of the numerous domestic and international investments, the roads remain in deplorable state largely due to embezzlement and corruption. A

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

network is planned for Douala, with the first line projected to open in 2021. The

is located in the eastern part of the city. There are direct flights to several European cities, including

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

, and

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

. Regional and continental destinations include

Abidjan Abidjan ( , ; N'Ko script, N’ko: ߊߓߌߖߊ߲߬) is the economic capital of the Ivory Coast. As of the Demographics of Ivory Coast, 2021 census, Abidjan's population was 6.3 million, which is 21.5 percent of overall population of the country, ...

Brazzaville Brazzaville (, kg, Kintamo, Nkuna, Kintambo, Ntamo, Mavula, Tandala, Mfwa, Mfua; Teke: ''M'fa'', ''Mfaa'', ''Mfa'', ''Mfoa''Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLI ...

Dakar Dakar ( ; ; wo, Ndakaaru) (from daqaar ''tamarind''), is the capital and largest city of Senegal. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar metropolitan area is estimated at 3.94 million in 2 ...

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

Kinshasa Kinshasa (; ; ln, Kinsásá), formerly Léopoldville ( nl, Leopoldstad), is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once a site of fishing and trading villages situated along the Congo River, Kinshasa is now one o ...

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

Malabo Malabo ( , ; formerly Santa Isabel) is the capital of Equatorial Guinea and the province of Bioko Norte. It is located on the north coast of the island of Bioko, ( bvb, Etulá, and as ''Fernando Pó'' by the Europeans). In 2018, the city had a p ...

, and

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ha ...

. The airport is the busiest in the CEMAC area and is the hub for Cameroon's national carrier, Camairco. The airport is in dire need of renovations due to poor circulation and old infrastructure. The

seaport A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...

has of draft.

Economy

Douala is a city with a modest oil resource in Africa, but is in excellent agricultural condition, therefore it has one of best economies in Africa. However, it also faces some problems like other underdeveloped countries such as heavy civil service and bad climate (flood, tornado, storm) to business. Main economic parameters are: *GDP: $42.2 billion (2006 est.): * GDP growth rate: 4.1% (2006 est.) * Exports-partners: Spain 17.3%, Italy 13.8%, France 9.5%, South Korea 8.1%, UK 8.1%, Netherlands 7.9%, Belgium 4.9%, US 4.3% (2005) *Imports - partners: France 21%, Nigeria 15%, Belgium 6.3%, China 5.6%, US 5.1%, Thailand 4.5%, Germany 4.2% (2005) Rue du marché Mboppi à Douala1

Wealth and poverty

Even though Douala is the economic center of Cameroon, a large percentage of its inhabitants live below the poverty line. Recent data shows that about thirty percent of the population lives in poverty (Avameg, Inc). While the aforementioned percentage is doubled for rural regions, poverty is a growing problem for Douala due to its steadily increasing population. Unlike the rural populations of Cameroon that can grow their own foods to lessen their expenses, Douala locals are disadvantaged by living in the port city where there are not many opportunities for monetary gain.

Notable people

Ibrahim Amadou Ibrahim Amadou (born 6 April 1993) is a French professional footballer. who plays for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua. Primarily a defensive midfielder, he also plays as a centre-back. Club career Nancy Born in Douala, Cameroon, Amad ...

(1993–), footballer *

Patrick Baudry Patrick Pierre Roger Baudry (born March 6, 1946 in Cameroon) is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the French Air Force and a former CNES astronaut. In 1985, he became the second French citizen in space, after Jean-Loup Chrétien, when he flew aboar ...

(1946–), second French

astronaut An astronaut (from the Ancient Greek (), meaning 'star', and (), meaning 'sailor') is a person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member aboard a spacecraft. Although generally r ...

and first astronaut of an African country * Prince

René Douala Manga Bell René ('' born again'' or ''reborn'' in French) is a common first name in French-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and German-speaking countries. It derives from the Latin name Renatus. René is the masculine form of the name (Renée being the feminin ...

(1927–2012), chief of Douala *

Francis Bebey Francis Bebey (, 15 July 1929 in Douala, Cameroon – 28 May 2001 in Paris, France) was a Cameroonian writer and composer. Early life Francis Bebey was born in Douala, Cameroon, on 15 July 1929. Bebey attended college in Douala, where he studied ...

(1929–2002), author * BeBe Zahara Benet (1980-), drag queen * Mister Bibal (Samuel Ludwig Salla), (1988-) musician and producer *

Hemley Boum Hemley Boum (born 1973 in Douala, Cameroon) is a Cameroonian writer. She received the Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire. She won the Prix Les Afriques in 2016. Boum studied Social Sciences at the Catholic University of Central Africa in ...

(1973–), writer *

Jean-Alain Boumsong Jean-Alain Boumsong Somkong (born 14 December 1979) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender. He began his senior career with French club Le Havre in 1997 before joining AJ Auxerre in 2000. His performances at Auxerre ...

(1979–), footballer *

Louis Brody Louis Brody (born Ludwig M'bebe Mpessa; 15 February 1896 – 11 February 1951) was a Cameroonian-born German film actor, musician and showfighter. Brody was born in Douala, in the German colony of Kamerun, now Cameroon. His career began in the 1 ...

(1892–1951), German actor * Manu Dibango (1933–2020), musician, saxophonist and singer, world jazz, ethno-jazz. *

Herman Dzumafo Herman Dzumafo Epandi (born 21 February 1980) is a is a Cameroonian-born Indonesian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Liga 2 club Persela Lamongan. Club career PSPS Pekanbaru He moved abroad and joined PSPS Pekanbaru in 2007 ...

(1980-), footballer *

Angèle Etoundi Essamba Angèle Etoundi Essamba is a Cameroonian photographer living and working in Amsterdam. She is most famously known for her work in black and white, humanistic photography, that often focuses on the African woman as a subject matter. Essamba is one o ...

(1962–), photographer * Samuel Eto'o (1981–), footballer *

Kareyce Fotso Kareyce Fotso is a Cameroon, Cameroonian singer who performs around the world and in various styles, including African popular music, Afro pop, blues and mangambeu. Biography Fotso was born in Bandjoun and grew up in Yaoundé. In Yaoundé she l ...

(2010-), singer *

Kenny Kadji Kenneth Kadji (born May 19, 1988) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player who last played for Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played college basketball for the University of Florida and University of Miami. High ...

(born 1988), basketball player in the

Israeli Basketball Premier League Ligat HaAl ( he, ליגת העל, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is the top-tier level league of professional sports, professional competition in Israeli sports club, club basketball, making ...

Christian Koloko Christian Junior Koloko (born 20 June 2000) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats men's basketball, Arizona Wild ...

(2000–), basketball player *

Narcisse Mouelle Kombi Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, born on May 6, 1962, in Douala, is a Cameroonian academic and writer. Associate of public law and political science, professor at the University of Yaounde II, he was appointed Minister of Arts and Culture of Cameroon o ...

(1962– ), writer and politician * Maka Kotto (1961–), Canadian politician *

Guy Kouemou Guy Kouemou (born 15 January 1970 in Bafoussam, Cameroon) is a German Aerospace -Engineer and Inventor, with a Camerounian origin. Biography Childhood, education and beginnings Date of birth January 15, 1970 in Bafoussam Cameroon (father p ...

(1970-), inventor and aerospace engineer *

Bobby Kamwa Bobby Kamwa (born 18 March 2000) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays for club Burton Albion as a forward. Club career Leeds United A product of the Leeds United Academy, Kamwa signed a two year contract in July 2020 with the ...

(2000-), footballer *

Jacques Kuoh-Moukouri Jacques Kuoh-Moukouri (1909-2002) was a Cameroonian writer and Cameroon's Ambassador to the United States. He is most well known for his 1963 book ''Doigts noirs.'' He was born in the Akwa District of Douala on 6 June 1909 and attended secondary s ...

(1909-2002), author and diplomat *

Thérèse Kuoh-Moukouri Thérèse Kuoh-Moukoury (born 7 February 1938) is a prominent Cameroonian feminist and author. Kuoh-Moukoury was born in 1938 in Douala, Cameroon. Her father was Jacques Kuoh-Moukouri, a prominent Cameroonian writer and diplomat. After primary s ...

(1938–), feminist and author *

Véronique Mang Véronique Ngo Mang (born December 15, 1984) is a track and field sprint athlete, competing internationally for France. Biography She arrived in France with her mother, brother and sister in 1995. She represented Cameroon until 2003 when she gai ...

(1984–), track athlete *

Marc Kibong Mbamba Marc Kibong Mbamba (born 15 October 1988) is a Cameroonian footballer who plays as a midfielder A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, an ...

(1988–), footballer *

Christian Ngan Christian Ngan (born 23 December 1983 in Douala, Cameroon) is a Cameroonian businessman, entrepreneur, music producer, songwriter and author the owner of Adlyn Holdings and Madlyn Cazalis Group, which has interests in cosmetics, agribusiness, ...

(1983– ), entrepreneur, businessman and financier *

Paul-Georges Ntep Paul-Georges Ntep de Madiba (born 29 July 1992) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays for the Cameroon national team. He plays as a forward and is known for his quick pace and technical skill. Club career Ntep was born in Douala ...

(1992–), footballer *

Petit Pays Petit-Pays (born Adolphe Claude Alexandre Moundi in Douala, Cameroon on 5 June 1967) is a Cameroonian musician. Petit-Pays has over 35 albums to his credit and is the Cameroonian musician with the highest number of songs ever. In 1996, he ha ...

(1967–), singer, dancer, author *

Jean-Pierre Dikongué Pipa Jean-Pierre Dikongué Pipa (born 1940) is a Cameroonian film director and writer. He produced Cameroon's first full-length feature film, '' Muna Moto'', in 1975. Dikongué Pipa's films deal with the interrelationships between elements of tradition ...

(1940–), cineast *

Pascal Siakam Pascal Siakam (born 2 April 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Siakam played college basketball for the New Mexico State Aggies and was named the Western At ...

(1994– ), basketball player - 2019 NBA Champion *

Pierre Womé Pierre Nlend Womé (born 26 March 1979) is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as a defender. A journeyman, Womé was a versatile and skillful left wingback who played for 14 clubs in six countries. At international level, ...

(1979–), footballer

Twin towns – sister cities

Doula is twinned with the following places: *

Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...

, France * Akhisar, Turkey *

, Senegal *

Newark Newark most commonly refers to: * Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States * Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area Newark may also refer to: Places Canada * Niagara-on-the ...

, United States *

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...