German Kamerun

1884–1916

On 12 July 1884, the Duala kings Bell and Akwa signed a treaty of protection over the Cameroonian coast with the German Empire, the starting point of the colony of Kamerun. The German administration built plantations and railways through forced labour that cost many lives, moved its capital to Buea in 1901, and met resistance, including from the Duala king Rudolf Duala Manga Bell, hanged for high treason in 1914. The colony ended with the Allied campaign of the First World War (1914-1916).

Official sourceUNESCO – General History of AfricaPublished 1 Jan 1985Verified 4 Sept 2026

Events of this era

Events of this era
Date	Event	Source
12 July 1884 – 19 July 1884	The Germano-Duala protection treaty and the proclamation of Kamerun	Official sourceUNESCO – General History of Africa
c. 1896	Sultan Njoya and the invention of the Bamum script	Official sourceUNESCO – General History of Africa
1901	Capital moved to Buea and the colonial plantation economy	Official sourceUNESCO – General History of Africa
c. 1909–1914	Railway construction and forced labour	Official sourceUNESCO – General History of Africa
6 August 1914 – 10 March 1916	The Kamerun campaign of the First World War	Official sourceUNESCO – General History of Africa
8 August 1914	Resistance and execution of Rudolf Duala Manga Bell	Official sourceUNESCO – General History of Africa