A History of Sweat and Soil: Sao Tome's Colonial Plantations The island nation of São Tomé and Principe, located off the coast of Gabon in the Gulf of Guinea, has a complex history deeply intertwined with its colonial past.
From the 15th century onwards, the Portuguese colonized the islands to exploit their rich natural resources for profitable plantations. São Tomé's economy was built around two main crops: sugar and coffee.
The Portuguese brought African slaves to work in these plantations under harsh conditions and treatment.