Equatorial Guinea's Oil Boom & Malabo's Transformation
Oil was discovered in 1995 and transformed Equatorial Guinea overnight — Malabo's construction boom, the new capital project, and the collision between sudden wealth and persistent poverty define modern life
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Oil platform port activity
Malabo's port is filled with supply boats serving offshore oil platforms — the rhythm of the oil industry visible in ships, workers and equipment constantly moving through the port
- 2
Ciudad de la Paz New Capital
The government has been building a brand new capital inland since 2011 — Oyala (renamed Ciudad de la Paz) is a surreal planned city in the rainforest, partially completed and largely empty
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Riches and poverty contrast
Equatorial Guinea has the highest GDP per capita in sub-Saharan Africa — yet most citizens remain poor; walking Malabo reveals the deep inequality of an oil state
- 4
Spanish language and culture
The only Spanish-speaking country in Africa retains its Iberian cultural identity — Spanish television, Spanish cooking and Spanish bureaucratic culture in an otherwise francophone region
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Fang and Bubi cultural traditions
The Fang on the mainland and the Bubi on Bioko Island maintain distinct cultural identities despite oil wealth and urbanization - traditional ceremonies, masks and music are still practiced
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Equatorial Guinea food scene
Food in Malabo is uniquely Latin American — Spanish tortilla, seafood paella and bocadillos along with Fang ndolé stew and Bubi fresh seafood from the island's fishing villages