The Colonization and Independence of Spanish Guinea (Essay Example)

During the 19th century, there were many countries in Africa and Asia that were colonized by European powers. Europe wanted to colonize Africa in order to utilize and export the resources found there. One of these colonized counties was Spanish Guinea which was controlled by the European power, Spain. Therefore, Spain had to go to great lengths to gain and maintain colonization over Guinea and even ended up granting the region the right of self-government. However, even after much work, Spain had to give it up and grant the country full independence and government over itself. Spanish Guinea, now called Equatorial Guinea after being freed, is located on the Southern Atlantic Ocean coast, just above the Equator in Africa. It is an ideal place for people who want to have an easy way to travel between the Old and New worlds. This is also the reason Spain colonized this region. Nevertheless, even after claiming its independence, Equatorial Guinea still holds some of Spain’s influence in its culture.

In 1778, Spain took control of Guinea, but before that, it was under Portugal’s control. Portugal had control of this area in Africa from sometime between 1472 and 1475 until Spain took over. The Queen of Portugal ceded the region to the Spanish in order for Spain to recognize Portugal’s claims in Brazil. They settled this minor conflict by coming to an agreement resulting in the Treaty of El Pardo. In the treaty of El Pardo, Spain and Portugal end their conflict in the Rio de Plata region by trading pieces of land between each other. Due to the formation and signing of this treaty, Spain acquired the Islands of Annobon and Bioko as well as the Guinea coast. Portugal received most of modern-day Brazil which are located in South America. This agreement helped settle and end the Spanish-Portuguese War that lasted from 1776 to 1777.  Despite this, however, the island was operated by the English from 1827 until 1858. In order to conquer the land, Spain dispatched 260 liberated Cubans to the island of Bioko and forced them to once again join another group of political prisoners. Spain once again controlled Equatorial Guinea with its official rule beginning in 1926. The reason Spain wanted to colonize Equatorial Guinea was due to the fact that they wanted the fertile lands and an area to establish slave trades that would make it easy to trade between Africa and Latin America. The primary reason for taking control of this region was to create slave trading networks in West Africa.

Spanish Guinea was the last colony to become independent from Spain in 1968. In the 1950s, a movement for the colony’s freedom had already begun. This movement led to Spain granting the Guinea self-government. Because of pressure from nationalists and the United Nations, Spain conceded the independence of Spanish Guinea allowing it to become Equatorial Guinea in 1968.  Though the region was now independent, democratic rule was not introduced. Equatorial Guinea’s first president, Macias Nguema, had banished all political opposition and governed the country in an autocratic and cruel manner. During his time reigning, he executed many of his political opponents and caused around one-third of Equatorial Guinea’s population to flee away from his reign of terror. Fortunately, in 1979, he was overthrown by his nephew Teodoro Obiang Nguema. By the time Macias’ reign had ended, around two-thirds of the population of Equatorial Guinea had fled the region or had been slaughtered by his police and army. Teodoro helped lead the country into a sort of democracy by modifying the county’s harsh laws, promoting limited freedom of speech, and introducing elections. Though the elections were rigged diminishing the hope that the country would turn to democracy. However, the discovery of oil on the country's coastline has revived hope in the country's democracy. Though the country has become a sort of republic, it continuously struggles to rebuild and form some sort of political and economic stability.

Though the country claimed its independence from Spain in 1968, it is highly influenced by much of the Spanish culture as well as the cultures of other nations it was colonized by. For example, the official languages of Equatorial Guinea are Spanish and French. Even so, only a small percentage of the population speaks one of these languages. Most of the people speak tribal languages such as Fang, Bube, and Igbo. However, Spanish culture and language are shown in industrial development as well as in the formal education system. Furthermore, most of the Bioko residents live in Malabo which is the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Malabo is better maintained and exhibits more Spanish influences in architecture and other areas compared to the other large cities. Many of the buildings throughout the country are in Spanish colonial style, though they aren’t held to any high-level standards. Additionally, Equatorial Guinea has been influenced by Spanish culture as shown through its legal system. The legal system is evidence of Spain’s impact on the country because the structure is a blend of tribal systems and Spanish law. One final major influence from Spain in Equatorial Guinea is the way citizens are named after birth. Infants are commonly given both a Spanish first name and an African first and last name. These are just a few of the many different ways the Spanish have influenced the culture of the people of Equatorial Guinea.

To conclude, the Spanish took control of Equatorial Guinea in 1778 after signing a treaty with Portugal because they wanted the region for slave trade networks. Equatorial Guinea was only one of the many regions in Africa and Asia that was colonized during the 19th century. It was first colonized by Portugal, then by Spain, then administered by England, and was once again taken over by Spain. Equatorial Guinea was finally independent of Spain in 1968, after much protest and a period of self-government. Though Guinea is now free and governing itself, the country still shows signs of Spanish influence throughout its culture and architecture.