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375: Decolonization and Francisco Macias Nguema

The boys drink and review Jailbreak’s Hey Porter, then discuss the life and career of a famous decolonizer, Francisco Macias Nguema.

Equatorial Guinea was colonized by the Spanish. Nguema started his career as a mid-level civil servant with the Spanish government. He was corrupt from the beginning, but maintained a good relationship with the Spanish.

When the tides turned and anti-colonialist sentiment grew, he saw his opportunity and ran for president. The Spanish supported him because they thought he was on their side.

He started off with a very aggressive campaign to rid the country of anything from the Spaniards.

He renamed cities and streets, and he attacked anything that was deemed a consequence of the colonists. That included education, medicine, bread — even wearing glasses.

It was a disaster. Nguema went from bad to worse and became one of the chief bastards in African history.

Modern “decolonizers” should pay heed.

2 Comments

  1. pentamom pentamom

    The country in South America is Guyana (pronounced guy-ahna), not Guinea.

    The three Guinea countries are in Africa: Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea.

    Papua New Guinea is an independent country that shares an island (which is itself called New Guinea) with part of Indonesia.

  2. we needed you at trivia! 🙂

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