The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Dakar, capital of present-day Senegal.
Prior to 18th century
pre-15th century - arrival of the Lebou on the Cap-Vert peninsula. 1448 - Álvaro Fernandes lands on Goree island, enslaves some locals 1501 - During a stopover in Dakar bay, Amerigo Vespucci began to construct his "New World" hypothesis about America.Vespucci's letter from Bezeguiche is reproduced in F.A. de Varnhagen (1865) Amerigo Vespucci, pp.78-82. 1549 - Battle of Danki, Cayor breaks away from the Jolof Empire mid-17th century - foundation of the Lebou village of Ndakaaru. 1677 - Capture of Goree by a French fleet led by Jean d'Estrées.
18th century 1786 - Dakar had around 5000 inhabitants, and was one of the largest towns of Cayor. 1795 - Revolt of the Marabouts of Cayor. Defeat of the marabout army by royalist forces at Loofe Retreat and fortification of the Cap-vert peninsula Repulse of the royalist attack Proclamation of the Lebou Republic
19th century 1812 - Cayor recognizes the independence of the Lebou Republic. 1857 Gorée merchants settle in Dakar. French build fort on Dakar Point. 1862 – "Master plan for Dakar is drafted by Émile Pinet-Laprade." 1863 Streets named. Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Senegambia established. 1867 - Port was opened for commerce. 1872 – Town becomes part of the commune of Gorée. 1878 – Population: 1,600. 1885 Rue Blanchot mosque built (approximate date). Opening of the Dakar–Saint-Louis railway (163 miles long). 1887 Dakar commune formed. Jean Alexandre becomes mayor. 1891 – Population: 8,737. 1900 – "Military seaport" built.
20th century
1900s–1950s 1902 – Capital of French West Africa moved to Dakar from Saint-Louis. 1903 – created. 1904 Avenue Gambetta, Avenue de la Liberté, and Boulevard de la République open. Population: 18,447. 1905 – Brest-Dakar telegraph in operation. 1907 built. L'A.O.F. newspaper begins publication. 1908 – Harbor constructed. 1913 Democratie du Senegal newspaper begins publication. National Archives of Senegal formed. 1914 Train station opens. Bubonic plague epidemic. 1918 French West Africa School of Medicine established. Population: 25,468. 1920 – Blaise Diagne becomes mayor. 1921 – Population: 32,440. 1924 – Dakar–Niger Railway begins operating. 1926 – Population: 33,679. 1929 Gorée annexed to Dakar. formed. 1933 Paris-Dakar newspaper begins publication. Foyer France Sénégal football club formed. 1934 – Armand-Pierre Angrand becomes mayor. 1936 – Catholic Cathédrale du Souvenir africain de Dakar inaugurated. 1938 - Institut Français d’Afrique Noire and museum founded. 1940 - Battle of Dakar. 1940s – photo studio in business. 1944 – Thiaroye Massacre. 1950 – Cours Sainte Marie de Hann founded. 1957 – University of Dakar established. 1959 City becomes capital of Mali Federation. French Cultural Centre created.
1960s–1990s 1960 – movement active. 1961 newspaper begins publication. Population: 374,700 urban agglomeration. 1962 – House of Slaves (Gorée) museum opens. 1963 December: Political demonstration; crackdown. Borom Sarret film released (set in Dakar). 1964 - Dakar Grand Mosque built. 1966 Daniel Sorano Theatre opens (approximate date). Amity Stadium opens (approximate date). World Festival of Black Arts held. 1969 – Population: 581,000 urban agglomeration. 1970 Le Soleil newspaper begins publication. Club Baobab opens. 1972 – Enda Third World and Centre Culturel Régional Blaise Senghor established. 1973 – Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa headquartered in Dakar. 1974 – Laboratoire Agit'Art (art group) formed. 1975 – Association Nationale des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes et Documentalistes Senegalais headquartered in city. 1978 – Dakar Rally motor vehicle race begins. 1984 Mamadou Diop becomes mayor. WalFadjri newspaper begins publication. 1989 May: Meeting of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie held in city. opens. Ethnic violence. 1990 Dakar Biennale begins. Public library established. art movement develops. Population: 1,405,000 (urban agglomeration). 1993 Sud Quotidien begins publication. West African Research Center established. 1994 Henriette-Bathily Women's Museum opens. Kermel market burns down. 1995 – Population: 1,688,000 (urban agglomeration). 1996 Municipal administration divided into 19 communes d'arrondissement: Biscuiterie, Cambérène, Dieuppeul-Derklé, Fann-Point E-Amitié, Gueule Tapée-Fass-Colobane, Gorée, Grand Yoff, Grand Dakar, Hann Bel-Air, HLM, Médina, Mermoz-Sacré-Cœur, Ngor, Ouakam, Parcelles Assainies, Patte d'Oie, Dakar-Plateau, Sicap-Liberté, and Yoff.(fr) City becomes part of Dakar Department, Dakar Region. Musée des Forces Armées Senegalaise established. 1997 Media Centre de Dakar in operation. Mosquée de la Divinité built. 1998 – Doole community exchange system established. 1999 – begins. 2000 – Population: 2,029,000 (urban agglomeration).
21st century
2001 – Student protests. 2002 – Pape Diop becomes mayor. 2003 Le Quotidien newspaper begins publication. West Africa Democracy Radio begins broadcasting. Meeting of the Association Internationale des Maires Francophones held in city. Closure of the Dakar–Saint-Louis railway, (approx date) 2005 – Population: 2,434,000 (urban agglomeration), 1,030,594 (city). 2006 – City hosts African Swimming Championships. 2007 – June: Economic protest. 2008 - Raw Material Company (art space) founded. 2009 City website online (approximate date). Khalifa Sall becomes mayor. 2010 – African Renaissance Monument dedicated. 2011 City hosts World Social Forum and ICANN conference. Google office in business. Population: 3,035,000. 2013 June: U.S. President Obama visits city. Air pollution in Dakar reaches annual mean of 34 PM2.5 and 141 PM10, much higher than recommended. 2014 November: Meeting of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie held in city. installed. 2025 – Charles de Gaulle Boulevard was renamed after former Senegalese Prime Minister Mamadou Dia.
See also Dakar history (fr) List of mayors of Dakar
Timeline of Saint-Louis, Senegal
References
This article incorporates information from the French Wikipedia.
Bibliography
in English published in 20th century
M. Diouf. (1999). "Urban youth and Senegalese politics: Dakar 1988-1994", In J. Holston, ed., Cities and Citizenship. Durham, NC: Duke University Press
published in 21st century
(Includes timeline)
in French
(+ table of contents)
External links
(Bibliography of open access articles) (Images, etc.) (Images, etc.) (Images, etc.) (Bibliography) (Bibliography) (Bibliography)