Why is Spanish the official language of Equatorial Guinea?

Spanish has been one of the official languages of Equatorial Guinea since 1844. The version of Spanish spoken in the African country is considered European Spanish. It is spoken by 67.6% of the Equatorial Guinean population. It is spoken in administration and educational settings.

How many languages are spoken in Equatorial Guinea?

Equatorial Guinea is a former colony of Spain and the only country in Africa where Spanish is the official language. The country is home to about 1.3 million people. There are three official languages in the country: Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

What language is most spoken in Equatorial Guinea?

Spanish
PortugueseFrench
Equatorial Guinea/Official languages

What do they call their Spanish language in Equatorial Guinea?

Español ecuatoguineano
Equatoguinean Spanish (Spanish: Español ecuatoguineano) is the variety of Spanish spoken in Equatorial Guinea.

What country in Africa speaks English?

Sierra Leone and Liberia are the only countries in Africa where English is spoken as the primary language. English is the primary language of Nigeria and Ghana, but the language is spoken as a lingua franca in both states.

Is there a country in Africa that speaks Spanish?

5 Things To Know About Equatorial Guinea, Africa’s Only Spanish-Speaking Country. Though Latin America’s African roots are not exactly a secret, it’s not as commonly known that Africa is home to a country that counts Spanish as one of its official languages.

What country in Europe speaks Spanish?

Spain
Spain is where the Spanish language originated, so naturally it’s the hub of Spanish speakers in Europe. But with 46 million Spanish speakers, Spain has fallen behind the United States, becoming the country with the third largest Spanish speaking population.

What kind of food do they eat in Equatorial Guinea?

Fish and chicken are common dishes. As seen in the dishes here, chilies and other spices are popular. Key ingredients in Equatoguinean cuisine come from local plants and animals, including plantains, sweet potato, breadfruit, cassava, yam, cocoyam (known locally as malanga), groundnuts, and snails.

Do any African countries speak Spanish?

The only sovereign state in the African continent where Spanish is recognized as an official language is Equatorial Guinea. In the city of Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, everyone speaks Spanish as their native language. Overall, 67% of the country’s population can speak the language.

Is the Spanish language official in Equatorial Guinea?

Formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea, its post-independence name evokes its location near both the Equator and the Gulf of Guinea. Equatorial Guinea is the only sovereign African state in which Spanish is an official language.

Which is the language of State in Guinea?

French is the language of state and of official institutions. It is used as a second language by 15% to 25% of the population and a negligible amount of the population as a first language. At the end of the Ahmed Sékou Touré regime, French was the only language used in business and schools.

How did the country of Equatorial Guinea get its name?

Editorial credit: alarico / Shutterstock.com. Equatorial Guinea is a country in Central Africa. The country acquired its name because of its close proximity to the equator and the Gulf of Guinea. Equatorial Guinea is a former colony of Spain and the only country in Africa where Spanish is the official language.

Who are the indigenous people of Equatorial Guinea?

When the Portuguese colonized Equatorial Guinea, they are known to have introduced the Annobon people who are Angola natives via São Tomé island. All these ethnic groups spoke their own native languages before their first European contact during the Portuguese rule and even when they were being ruled by the Spanish.