What Are People From Malabo Called?

The name Malabo honors King Malabo Lopelo Melaka, the last independent monarch of the indigenous Bubi people. Adopted in 1973 during a post-independence 'Africanization' campaign, it replaced the Spanish colonial name Santa Isabel. King Malabo is remembered for his resistance against foreign encroachment on Bioko Island during the 19th century.

The city's history is layered with colonial transitions. It was originally founded by the British in 1827 as Port Clarence, serving as a strategic base for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron to intercept slave ships and settle 'Recaptives.' In 1843, the island was ceded to Spain, who renamed the capital Santa Isabel after Queen Isabella II. Under Spanish rule, the city became a hub for a booming cacao plantation economy, which relied on labor brought from the African mainland (the Fang people), creating the complex ethnic tapestry seen today.

Equatorial Guinea gained independence on October 12, 1968. Despite the country's massive oil reserves discovered in the 1990s, the capital has navigated decades of political challenges under one of the world's longest-standing regimes. Malabo remains unique as one of the few African capitals located on an island separated from its national mainland. It retains a distinct Hispanic-African identity, with Spanish serving as the official language alongside indigenous Bubi and Fang cultures.