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W a kobo abe, wa kobo politik can be literally translated as "you're bad-mouthing; you're talking politics." Beyond its literality, this Fang expression is often used in Equatorial Guinea as a form of biting criticism of the country's political situation. Six years ago, this expression inspired the idea to write this essay, but, due to its challenging nature, the project was constantly put off. This study has pushed me, a historian, beyond my comfort zone; this is not the typical history paper. Although it begins looking at the history of Equatorial Guinea, relying on the objective analysis of sources, it becomes increasingly subjective as it moves further into the present. Dealing with a dictatorial regime, one is forced to rely on the subjective - subtle signs that one picks up through daily interaction - to interpret society's actions and ideas.1 Furthermore, coming to grips with present Equatorial Guinea requires me to put to the test the common assumption that history can help us to better understand the present.
The international and multidisciplinary conference on Equatorial Guinea held at Hofstra University (April 2-4, 2009) 2 was indeed an extraordinary occasion which, for the first time, put Equatorial Guinea at the center stage of academic attention. There could have been no better stimulus to find the motivation and encouragement to write this article at last. If extra motivation were needed, I also found it from the fact that August 2009 marked the passing of thirty years since the takeover of power in Equatorial Guinea by Obiang Nguema. Three consecutive decades in power is also something extraordinary: a phenomenon that requires explanation. In a continent ridden by continuous political instability and the often violent overthrow of governments, Equatorial Guinea appears as if it were an island of political peace and stability. The fact that the country rarely attracts international media and academic attention is one reflection of this apparent tranquility. Since 1979, when a military coup led by Obiang Nguema put an end to the brutal dictatorship of his uncle, Macias Nguema, the media and especially scholars have paid little notice to this country. However, although journalists suddenly turned their attention to cover an obscure plot to oust Obiang Nguema in 2004, this unprecedented interest was mostly motivated...