History

After the First World War and the withdrawal of all its colonies to Germany, the building was taken over by the French to serve as the Governor’s Palace from 1930.

At the end of the 1940s, the building became a palace for French governors such as Roland Pré, André Soucadaux, Pierre Charles Cournarie and others until 1950

In 1988, Paul Biya decided to transform the former presidential palace into the National Museum. In 1993, the said museum became a department of the Directorate of Cultural Heritage, according to Decree No. 93/138 of 19 May 1993 on the organisation of the Ministry of Culture. This Ministry was created on 27 November 1992.

In 2009, the museum was closed for renovation at the instigation of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mrs. Ama Tutu Muna.

Finally, the decree n°2014/0881/P.M. of 30 April 2014 allowed the National Museum of Cameroon to have an organisational chart. These renovation works will last until 2015, with its official reopening on 16 January. These renovation works will last until 2015, with its official reopening on 16 January. A gala evening accompanies this reopening with the participation of several Cameroonian artists: X-Maleya, Stanley Enow, Kareyce Fotso, Sanzy Viany, Dynastie le Tigre…, a classical dance by the couple Maxim Beloserkovsky and Irina Dvorovenko, and many others.