Around 1900, during Cameroon's colonial period, the site was part of the lands ruled by Karl Atangana.

Atangana donated part of the area to the German Pallottine Fathers, a Roman Catholic missionary group.

The Ewondo people had previously been unable to settle it due to a large rock there.

The Fathers built a permanent mission, which opened Central and Eastern Cameroon to Christianisation.

The basilica is located at the southern exit of Yaoundé on the hill of Mvolyé.