Yaoundé’s urban transformation: from village to political capital

«Yaoundé is no longer the city we knew twenty years ago, a marked evolution with modern infrastructure spreading from the downtown core. But today, the city where I was born extends beyond the seven hills it is known for. I truly love this development.» These are the words of a native of Cameroon’s political capital. Mbarga Obama, around 90 years old, joyfully recounts the major milestones of his village’s transformation into a large city.

«In the past, the urban center was limited to the Atemengué plateau with a slight expansion towards neighbourhoods like Mokolo and Nlong-Kak. The rest was semi-rural.» he added.

Since then, much water has flowed under the bridge, and the former village now attracts thousands of new residents each year, steadily swelling the population to the point where surrounding localities have been absorbed into the city.

This notable expansion raises questions among many urban planners, such as Blaise Feugang, departmental delegate of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in Nyong and So’o. «In a city like Yaoundé, we must adopt vertical construction rather than the horizontal sprawl we see now. Building upwards is more economical, especially when it comes to installing equipment on a site. Moreover, aesthetic buildings add to the beauty of cities.»

According to most experts interviewed, to make the political capital more attractive, Cameroon would benefit from relocating it entirely to meet international standards, failing that, at least helping families improve their housing.