Independence Day

On July 12, São Tomé and Príncipe commemorates the liberation of the country from Portuguese colonial domination. In many cities, this official holiday is marked with demonstrations of tradition and culture. Musical performances, dancing shows, and theatrical renditions of the periods when the region was a colony might be expected.

The Portuguese were the first to settle on these two islands in the Gulf of Guinea. On December 21st, 1471 (Saint Thomas' Day, hence the name), the first landed on São Tomé and Príncipe, the bigger of the two islands. They discovered that the rich volcanic soil of the islands provided a strong foundation for sugar production. African slaves and Portuguese 'undesirables' worked on the plantations.

The so-called Carnation Revolution in Portugal ended the dictatorial administration and ushered in a new attitude to the country's overseas territories in 1974.

On July 21, 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe declared independence from Portugal, making it Africa's second-smallest republic. The smallest is Seychelles, an island republic on the opposite side of the continent.

Dates: July