Douala, Cameroon

Douala is the largest city in Cameroon, and capital of the Littoral Province. It is the commercial capital of the country and home to its largest port. The Bonaberi Bridge over the Wouri River divides the city into two parts. The population of Douala is about 1.6 million as of 1991 and is currently likely to be over two million.

Douala is a transportation center handling most of the country's exports (oil, cocoa and coffee) as well as transit trade from Chad. It developed as a center of the slave trade after the Portuguese arrived in 1472. It later became part of a German protectorate in 1884 and of the French Cameroons in 1919.

The city is also home to Lagos Market, the largest in the nation. The most important districts of Douala are Bonanjo (the commercial and administrative centre) and Akwa (known for its nightlife). Douala Airport is the busiest in Cameroon, while railway lines run to Yaoundé, Kumba and Nkongsamba.

Duala (from Douala) is the language spoken around the city. Douala is also famous as the home of makossa music, and many Cameroonian musicians are from Douala.