Bantu peoples began to migrate to what is now Gabon from Cameroon and eastern Nigeria at least 2,000 years ago. The Portuguese sighted the coast as early as 1470 and gave Gabon its name because the shape of the Rio de Como estuary reminded them of a "gabao," a Portuguese hooded cloak.
The Portuguese founded permanent outposts, notably at the mouth of the Ogooué River, and their missionaries followed shortly. After the Portuguese, the region was visited by the English, Dutch, and French.
During the 17th century, the great French trading companies entered the slave trade. French Jesuit missionaries were active along the coast during this period, and their influence eventually extended to the powerful native kingdoms inland.
French explorers gradually penetrated the interior after 1847. During 1855–59, Paul du Chaillu went up the Ogooué River, where he became the first European to see a live gorilla. He was followed by the Marquis de Compiègne, Alfred Marche, and other explorers, who mapped out its tributaries.
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza explored almost the entire course of the river during 1876–78. In 1880, he founded Franceville.
In 1885, the Congress of Berlin recognized French rights over the right bank of the Congo, an area that Brazza had explored extensively. In 1890, Gabon formally became a part of French Congo.
It was separated into a district administrative region in 1903 and in 1910 was organized as a separate colony, part of French Equatorial Africa. In 1940, Free French forces ousted the Vichy government from Gabon.
Léon Mba and Jean-Hilaire Aubame were the early leaders of the independence movement in Gabon, but their political inclinations were different. Mba led the Gabon Democratic Bloc; Aubame led the Gabonese branch of the Party of African Reunion. The latter actively sought the formation of federal, supranational groupings in Africa, whereas the former was strongly opposed to such associations.
Underlying the attitude of Mba was the belief that Gabon, having the richest economic potential in the region, would end up supporting its poorer neighbors in any federal system.In a referendum on 28 September 1958, the territory of Gabon voted to become an autonomous republic within the French Community. On 19 February 1959, a constitution was adopted, and a provisional government headed by Mba became the first official government of Gabon. Independence was formally proclaimed on 17 August 1960.
This Day in 2010:
Gabon marked its 50th anniversary of independence from France on Tuesday with a grand military parade of some 7,000 men on the Libreville seafront watched by invited heads of state. Troops of the French forces stationed in Gabon as well as soldiers from Senegal took part in the march. Relations between France and oil-producing Gabon have always been close.
On Monday night, a big sound and light show brought thousands of people to the beach of the central African capital. Tuesday night is to be marked by an "inter-generational" concert featuring more than 50 artists around the Omar Bongo stadium. Organisers expect tens of thousands of people to attend.
Gabon, a small west African oil-producer seeking to emerge from decades of dictatorship, is planning $4.5bn of agriculture and infrastructure ventures in what would rank among the biggest investment packages by Asian powers in Africa.
In an announcement timed to coincide with the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Gabon’s independence from France, the government said Indian and Singaporean groups would invest in timber, palm oil, housing and road-building projects as well as constructing a special economic zone.
Gabon was ruled for 41 years by Omar Bongo – Africa’s longest-serving ruler at his death. While most of the country languished in penury, Gabon’s thirsty elite made the country the world’s highest per capita consumer of champagne.
None could match Mr Bongo’s personal fortune, among the largest anywhere. He became a prime mover in the politics of France, the former colonial power.
Since succeeding his late father, Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba, previously defence minister, has sought to project a different image.
The investment plans would create tens of thousands of jobs in the nation of 1.5m people, Mr. Bongo said.
[Sources: various; Early colonial period illustrations from here]
French explorers gradually penetrated the interior after 1847. During 1855–59, Paul du Chaillu went up the Ogooué River, where he became the first European to see a live gorilla. He was followed by the Marquis de Compiègne, Alfred Marche, and other explorers, who mapped out its tributaries. Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza explored almost the entire course of the river during 1876–78. In 1880, he founded Franceville.
In 1885, the Congress of Berlin recognized French rights over the right bank of the Congo, an area that Brazza had explored extensively. In 1890, Gabon formally became a part of French Congo.
It was separated into a district administrative region in 1903 and in 1910 was organized as a separate colony, part of French Equatorial Africa. In 1940, Free French forces ousted the Vichy government from Gabon.
Léon Mba and Jean-Hilaire Aubame were the early leaders of the independence movement in Gabon, but their political inclinations were different. Mba led the Gabon Democratic Bloc; Aubame led the Gabonese branch of the Party of African Reunion. The latter actively sought the formation of federal, supranational groupings in Africa, whereas the former was strongly opposed to such associations.
Underlying the attitude of Mba was the belief that Gabon, having the richest economic potential in the region, would end up supporting its poorer neighbors in any federal system.In a referendum on 28 September 1958, the territory of Gabon voted to become an autonomous republic within the French Community. On 19 February 1959, a constitution was adopted, and a provisional government headed by Mba became the first official government of Gabon. Independence was formally proclaimed on 17 August 1960.
This Day in 2010:
Gabon marked its 50th anniversary of independence from France on Tuesday with a grand military parade of some 7,000 men on the Libreville seafront watched by invited heads of state. Troops of the French forces stationed in Gabon as well as soldiers from Senegal took part in the march. Relations between France and oil-producing Gabon have always been close. On Monday night, a big sound and light show brought thousands of people to the beach of the central African capital. Tuesday night is to be marked by an "inter-generational" concert featuring more than 50 artists around the Omar Bongo stadium. Organisers expect tens of thousands of people to attend. Gabon, a small west African oil-producer seeking to emerge from decades of dictatorship, is planning $4.5bn of agriculture and infrastructure ventures in what would rank among the biggest investment packages by Asian powers in Africa.
In an announcement timed to coincide with the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Gabon’s independence from France, the government said Indian and Singaporean groups would invest in timber, palm oil, housing and road-building projects as well as constructing a special economic zone.
Gabon was ruled for 41 years by Omar Bongo – Africa’s longest-serving ruler at his death. While most of the country languished in penury, Gabon’s thirsty elite made the country the world’s highest per capita consumer of champagne.
None could match Mr Bongo’s personal fortune, among the largest anywhere. He became a prime mover in the politics of France, the former colonial power.
Since succeeding his late father, Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba, previously defence minister, has sought to project a different image.
The investment plans would create tens of thousands of jobs in the nation of 1.5m people, Mr. Bongo said.
[Sources: various; Early colonial period illustrations from here]
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