Pre-Colonial Era: The region was home to diverse ethnic groups and significant pre-colonial states. The Bantu are believed to have originated in the Cameroonian highlands and migrated outwards around 2,000 years ago. In the north, the Sao civilization near Lake Chad flourished, later succeeded by the Kotoko and the spread of Islam by the Fulani people in the 18th and 19th centuries.
15th Century: Portuguese explorers reached the coast in 1472. They named the Wouri River “Rio dos Camarões” (“River of Prawns” or “Shrimps”), which eventually gave the country its name.
Early European Presence: For centuries, European presence was limited primarily to coastal trade, including the Atlantic slave trade, which was later replaced by trade in commodities like palm oil and ivory.
Early 20th century
Council Library
Photography, Prints
Picture, Paper
1945.81
68 x 67,5 cm
Internet
The Colonial Era (1884–1961)
German Colony (1884–1916): Cameroon became the German colony of Kamerun in 1884 during the "Scramble for Africa." The Germans made substantial investments in infrastructure (like railways) but often used brutal forced labor.
Partition (Post-WWI): Following Germany's defeat in World War I, Kamerun was divided in 1919 by the League of Nations as mandates between France (French Cameroun) and the United Kingdom (British Cameroons).
French Cameroun (the larger eastern part) was administered directly by France.
British Cameroons (a strip along the Nigerian border) was administered as part of Nigeria. This division laid the foundation for the country's unique Anglophone/Francophone divide.
Independence and Reunification
1960: Independence of French Cameroun: French Cameroun achieved independence on January 1, 1960, as the Republic of Cameroun, with Ahmadou Ahidjo as its first president.
1961: Reunification: A UN-supervised plebiscite was held in British Cameroons.
The Northern Cameroons voted to join Nigeria.
The Southern Cameroons voted to join the Republic of Cameroun.
On October 1, 1961, the two territories united to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.
Post-Independence History
1961–1982 (Ahidjo Presidency): President Ahidjo gradually centralized power. In 1972, he abolished the federal system in favor of a unitary state, renaming the country the United Republic of Cameroon. He established a one-party state and maintained close ties with France, overseeing a period of relative stability and economic growth, particularly after the discovery of oil.
1982–Present (Biya Presidency): Ahidjo resigned in 1982 and was succeeded by his Prime Minister, Paul Biya.
In 1984, Biya changed the country's name back to the Republic of Cameroon.
He oversaw the return to multi-party politics in 1990, though his party has retained power.
