Useful Notes / São Tomé and Príncipe

An island country in Central Africa, São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (Portuguese: República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe), are two islands in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of Gabon with tiny islets around them, São Tomé being the larger southwestern island with the capital and largest city of the same name, and Príncipe being the smaller northeastern island. The country is the second-smallest and least populated country in Africa after Seychelles, and the smallest and least populated Portuguese-speaking country in the world.

Uninhabited until they were discovered by the Portuguese in the 15th century, the islands were colonized by the Portuguese, and quickly turned into a slave depot, with the volcanic soil of the islands being suitable for sugar production. Large numbers of Africans were enslaved from the mainland and brought there, and the islands became Africa's foremost exporter of sugar in the mid-16th century. However, sugar cultivation in the islands soon declined from competition in the Caribbean, and by the mid-17th century, the territory turned into a transit point for ships engaged in the Atlantic slave trade between the West and continental Africa. While Portugal officially abolished slavery in 1876, the practice of forced paid labour continued under the roças system, and in the early 19th century, cocoa and coffee were introduced, becoming the country's cash crop. São Tomé became the world's largest producer of cocoa in 1908, and while Ghana and the Ivory Coast have overtaken it in the present, it still remains the country's most important crop.

São Tomé and Príncipe eventually achieved independence from Portugal on the 12th of July, 1975, and later became one of the first African countries to undergo democratic reform and changes to the constitution in 1990 - in particular, the legalization of opposition political parties – which led to elections in 1991 that were free, nonviolent and transparent.

São Tomé and Principe was where Albert Einstein made scientific experiments in 1919, involving a sun eclipse, that were able to prove his Theory of Relativity.

Relevant works:

• Beti-Pahuin Mythology

---

The São Toméan flag

This flag consists of a red triangle situated at the hoist, with three horizontal green, yellow and green bands charged with two five-pointed black stars at the center. The red evokes the struggle for independence as well as equality, the green alludes to the plentiful vegetation of the country, the yellow stands for the tropical sun and cocoa, a key agricultural crop for the nation, and the two stars on the yellow band represent the two islands that make up the country.

---

The São Toméan national anthem

Independência total,

Glorioso canto do povo,

Independência total,

Hino sagrado de combate.

Dinamismo

Na luta nacional,

Juramento eterno

No país soberano de São Tomé e Príncipe.

Guerrilheiro da guerra sem armas na mão,

Chama viva na alma do povo,

Congregando os filhos das ilhas

Em redor da Pátria Imortal.

Independência total, total e completa,

Construindo, no progresso e na paz,

A nação mais ditosa da Terra,

Com os braços heroicos do povo.

Independência total,

Glorioso canto do povo,

Independência total,

Hino sagrado de combate.

Dinamismo

Na luta nacional,

Juramento eterno

No país soberano de São Tomé e Príncipe.

Trabalhando, lutando, presente em vencendo,

Caminhamos a passos gigantes

Na cruzada dos povos africanos,

Hasteando a bandeira nacional.

Voz do povo, presente, presente em conjunto,

Vibra rijo no coro da esperança

Ser herói no hora do perigo,

Ser herói no ressurgir do País.

Independência total,

Glorioso canto do povo,

Independência total,

Hino sagrado de combate.

Dinamismo

Na luta nacional,

Juramento eterno

No país soberano de São Tomé e Príncipe.

—

Total independence,

Glorious song of the people,

Total independence,

Sacred hymn of combat.

Dynamism

In the national struggle,

Eternal oath

To the sovereign country of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Warriors in the war without weapons,

Live flame in the soul of the people,

Congregating the sons of the islands

Around the Immortal Fatherland.

Total independence, total and complete,

Building, in progress and peace,

The happiest nation on earth,

With the heroic arms of the people.

Total independence,

Glorious song of the people,

Total independence,

Sacred hymn of combat.

Dynamism

In the national struggle,

Eternal oath

To the sovereign country of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Working, struggling, struggling and conquering,

We go ahead with giant steps

In the crusade of the African peoples,

Raising the national flag.

Voice of the people, present, present and united,

Strong beat in the heart of hope

To be a hero in the hour of peril,

A hero of the Nation's resurgence.

Total independence,

Glorious song of the people,

Total independence,

Sacred hymn of combat.

Dynamism

In the national struggle,

Eternal oath

To the sovereign country of São Tomé and Príncipe.

---

Government

• Unitary semi-presidential republic
  • President: Carlos Vila Nova
  • Prime Minister: Patrice Trovoada

---

Miscellaneous

• Capital and largest city: São Tomé
• Population: 211,028
• Area: 1,001 km² (386 sq mi) (171st)
• Currency: São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (Db) (STN)
• ISO-3166-1 Code: ST
• Country calling code: 239
• Highest point: Pico de São Tomé (2024 m/6,640 ft) (125th)
• Lowest point: Gulf of Guinea (6,363 m/2,087 ft) (-)