In 1868, the German trading house of Carl Woermann established the first German settlement in Kamerun. This settlement was quickly followed by others, as German merchants raced to establish a presence in the territory before competing British and French agents.  On 14 July 1884, German explorer Dr. Gustav Nachtigal officially raised the German flag over Kamerun and declared it to be under German protection.

On 1 April 1908, a post office was opened at Dume, at the far eastern terminus of the road from Jaunde to the interior of Kamerun.  The Dume post office remained open until 22 July 1915, when Allied forces reached the area.