La Guinea Española: Religion as a Gendered Tool of Spanish Colonialism in Equatorial Guinea

Published by the Spanish religious order of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from their seminary in Banapá, the authentic objectives of La Guinea Española were less transparent than a simple inculcation of Catholic values among the purportedly beloved indigenous population. Spanish colonizers later embraced Fernando Po's potential as an exportation site for cocoa, coffee, and timber, establishing plantations that relied on immigrant labor from other African countries, particularly Nigeria and Liberia. According to Ugarte, while the magazine's goals certainly did not encapsulate the desire to provide agency to its colonial subjects, La Guinea Española: perhaps the most important factor in the creation of what is known now as a written Equatorial Guinean culture. [. . .] While the overall nature and tone of La Guinea Española aimed to promote a positive vision of Spanish colonial presence, the magazine published a variety of content, including "local news, lists of passengers to and from Spain, service openings and many articles on ethnology, social and natural sciences" (GonzálezEchegaray X).