The Island of Fernando Po
The island of Fernando Po became inhabited by people from the Bubi ethnic group around 1000 BCE, and they spoke a Bantu Language. They lived there undisturbed until 1472, when Portuguese explorer Fernão do Pó discovered the island. Portugal grew sugarcane and other cash crops on the island to sell to mainland Europe. In the 1600's, both Portugal and the Dutch traded slaves from mainland Africa, using trading bases on the island as collection and distribution centers for slaves. While the slave trade strengthened, the Bubi people began moving further and further inland order to stay a safe distance away from Europeans and not get captured. In 1778, Portugal ceded Fernando Po to Spain, and Spain combined the island and the Guinea coast to form the country of Equatorial Guinea, which is still intact today.
From 1827 to 1843 the British leased bases at ports along the coast of Fernando Po, liberating thousands of slaves. However, the British lease was revoked in 1855, and Spain took over completely. They did little to support the indigenous people of the island. Little was heard of the island until the early 1920's, when an altercation with Liberia brought it to international importance.