Equatorial Guinea

Known as Spanish Guinea when it was a colony, Equatorial Guinea consists of three small islands and two larger islands alongside a small area of mainland West Africa. Two main cultural heritages exist within Equatorial Guinea: the Fang ethnic group residing on the mainland and the Bubi on the island of Bioko. The population is at least nominally 87% Roman Catholic, though syncretism is largely evident in the country. Protestant Christians and independent Christian organizations constitute another 6% of the populace, and adherents to Islam and the Baha'i Faith constitute an additional 1%. The Muslim community of Equatorial Guinea was growing rapidly at the beginning of the 21st century, largely due to growing numbers of immigrants from West Africa and the Middle East. Much of the remaining population practices traditional African religious traditions, including ancestor worship and animist beliefs. Sorcerers are held in high esteem in Equatorial Guinea and are recognized as leaders of local religious communities.

Tribal wars that ravaged the area in the 12th and 13th centuries led to the domination of the Fang on the coastal mainland until they were pushed farther inland by the British, French, and Dutch slave traders. Bioko served as an important center for the slave trade and would be acquired by Spain in the 1700s from Portugal. Though ostensibly a Spanish colony, Equatorial Guinea was ruled by a British administration until 1858 when Spain's control of the islands began, followed by the country's governance of the mainland in 1926. Following the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, the Spanish spent a great deal more energy developing the area of Equatorial Guinea. The country declared independence in 1968, and violence, economic devastation, and brutal dictatorship soon followed. During this time, the Catholic Church, already established in the country, became a vigorous voice of dissent for the beleaguered populace. This pursuit is more dangerous and important since the two dictators who have ruled Equatorial Guinea since its independence—Francisco Macias Nguema, until he was overthrown in 1979 by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who was in power at the time of this entry's writing—have been recognized as two of the worst civil rights abusers in Africa.

This historical association between the Catholic Church and the country's government has led to an unstable relationship between the two at the beginning of the 21st century. The church's role as a proponent of civil rights is recognized by the government, and it has responded by emphatically calling on religious leaders to stay out of politics. Still, the government has had to bow to popular sentiment and now recognizes Catholic holidays, and in a 1992 presidential decree, preferential treatment was granted to both the Roman Catholic Church and the Reformed Church of Equatorial Guinea. Even non-Catholic Equatoguineans are [Page 354]expected to attend Catholic services, and Catholicism is encouraged for those seeking advancement in government positions. Catholic religious education is also a part of the public school curriculum.

At the beginning of the 21st century, a great wealth of oil was discovered in Equatorial Guinea, which led to its being considered one of the fastest growing world economies in 2004. Unfortunately, 70% of the population lives below the poverty line, and the existing government has used the newfound wealth to further entrench itself. The country is now one of the largest African oil suppliers south of the Sahara desert but is a classic case of the “resource curse,” where very few enjoy the benefits while the majority suffers.

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