Emancipados


Emancipado was a term used for an African descended social-political demographic within the population of Spanish Guinea that existed in the early to mid 1900s. This segment of the native population had become assimilated into the former White society of Spanish Guinea which primarily existed along the coastline communities of the continental part of the country, as well as on the islands of Bioko and Annabon.

Population specifics

This population included:
Emancipados were socially and culturally mixed. Many were part of the native tribal landscape, and most others contributed to the once-thriving intellectual community that resulted from having access to Christian and European education. Their education helped propel Spanish Guinea as having the highest literacy rate of all African countries in the mid-1900s. The once-thriving community also contributed to the wealth of Spanish Guinea, which was once the third wealthiest African country before its independence from Spain.

Exodus

Due to political dissension surrounding the Equatorial Guinean independence from Spain in 1968, many Emancipados relocated to Europe after being met with anti-European sentiments and counter political pressures from the incoming regime. Subsequently, this led to the slaughter of some within this population.
Many Emancipados relocated to Spain, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Cape Verde. In present day Equatorial Guinea, a few descendants of Emancipados returned to live in Equatorial Guinea.