Emancipado () was a term used for an

African African or Africans may refer to: * Anything from or pertaining to the continent of Africa: ** People who are native to Africa, descendants of natives of Africa, or individuals who trace their ancestry to indigenous inhabitants of Africa *** Ethn ...

-descended social-political demographic within the population of

Spanish Guinea Spanish Guinea (Spanish: ''Guinea Española'') was a set of insular and continental territories controlled by Spain from 1778 in the Gulf of Guinea and on the Bight of Bonny, in Central Africa. It gained independence in 1968 as Equatorial G ...

(modern day

Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea ( es, Guinea Ecuatorial; french: Guinée équatoriale; pt, Guiné Equatorial), officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea ( es, link=no, República de Guinea Ecuatorial, french: link=no, République de Guinée équatoria ...

) that existed in the early to mid 1900s. This segment of the native population had become assimilated into the former White society of

which primarily existed along the coastline communities of the continental part of the country, as well as on the islands of

Bioko Bioko (; historically Fernando Po; bvb, Ëtulá Ëria) is an island off the west coast of Africa and the northernmost part of Equatorial Guinea. Its population was 335,048 at the 2015 census and it covers an area of . The island is located of ...

and

Annobón Annobón ( es, Provincia de Annobón; pt, Ano-Bom), and formerly as ''Anno Bom'' and ''Annabona'', is a province (smallest province in both area and population) of Equatorial Guinea consisting of the island of Annobón, formerly also Pigalu a ...

Population specifics

This population included: * Full-blooded descendants of local/regional native tribes that had assimilated to the Whites after receiving a Christian Spanish education. * Descendants of freed Cuban slaves who, despite being free to return to

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

, remained in the country, marrying into the local population. These former slaves were brought to Africa by the ''Royal Orders of September 13, 1845'' (by way of voluntary arrangement) and a June 20, 1861 deportation from Cuba, due to the lack of volunteers. Many were of

European European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...

and/or

Amerindian The Indigenous peoples of the Americas are the inhabitants of the Americas before the arrival of the European settlers in the 15th century, and the ethnic groups who now identify themselves with those peoples. Many Indigenous peoples of the Am ...

ancestry. *

Mulattoes (, ) is a racial classification to refer to people of mixed African and European ancestry. Its use is considered outdated and offensive in several languages, including English and Dutch, whereas in languages such as Spanish and Portuguese is ...

born to Equatorial Guinean mothers and white Spanish fathers, some unacknowledged by their fathers.''Espacio, Tiempo y Forma'', Serie V, Hª Contemporánea, t. 11, 1998, págs. 113-138,
Penología e indigenismo en la antigua Guinea española
'', Pedro María Belmonte Medina Offspring resulting from unions of consent between

women and European men had become a social trend around the mid 1900s in

, as well as other parts of

West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurit ...

Society

''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

as having the highest literacy rate of all African countries in the mid-1900s. The once-thriving community also contributed to the wealth of

, which was once the third wealthiest African country before its independence from

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

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

(the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe (; pt, São Tomé e Príncipe (); English: " Saint Thomas and Prince"), officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe ( pt, República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe), is a Portuguese-speaking i ...

, and

Cape Verde , national_anthem = () , official_languages = Portuguese , national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole , capital = Praia , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , demonym ...

. In present day Equatorial Guinea, a few descendants of Emancipados returned to live in

References

Former peoples of the African diaspora History of Equatorial Guinea Spanish Africa {{EquatorialGuinea-stub Black_elite

Population specifics

Society

Exodus

See also

References