Emancipados facts for kids

The Emancipados were a special group of people in Spanish Guinea (which is now Equatorial Guinea) during the early to mid-1900s. This term was used for people of African heritage who became part of the Spanish society there. They mostly lived in towns along the coast and on the islands of Bioko and Annobón.

Who Were the Emancipados?

This group included different kinds of people:

• Some were full-blooded descendants of local African tribes. They had learned Spanish and become Christian, fitting into the Spanish way of life.
• Others were descendants of freed slaves from Cuba. Even though they could have gone back to Cuba, many stayed in Africa and married local people. These former slaves were brought to Africa in the mid-1800s. Some of them had European or Native American family backgrounds.
• There were also children born to African mothers and white Spanish fathers. This became a common social trend in Equatorial Guinea and other parts of West Africa around the mid-1900s.

Their Role in Society

The Emancipados had a mix of cultures and backgrounds. Many were still connected to their native tribes. They also played a big part in the smart and educated community that grew because they had access to Christian and European schooling.

Thanks to their education, Spanish Guinea had the highest number of people who could read and write compared to all other African countries in the mid-1900s. This active community also helped Spanish Guinea become a wealthy country. It was once the third richest African country before it gained independence from Spain.

Why Many Left the Country

In 1968, Equatorial Guinea became independent from Spain. During this time, there was a lot of political disagreement. Many Emancipados faced strong anti-European feelings and pressure from the new government. Because of these dangers, many Emancipados moved away from Equatorial Guinea.

Most of them went to Spain, especially to the Canary Islands. Others moved to São Tomé and Príncipe or Cape Verde. Today, a few descendants of the Emancipados have returned to live in Equatorial Guinea.

See Also

In Spanish: Emancipado (Guinea Española) para niños

• Affranchis
• Saros
• Assimilados
• Bubi
• Edward Thaddeus Barleycorn Barber
• Évolués
• Fernandinos
• Ilustrados
• Ladino people
• Spanish Guinea
• Black Ladino
• Principalía
• Gente de razón