People & Culture of Príncipe Island

The ethnic, social, and linguistic landscape of Príncipe Island (RAP) and São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) reflects centuries of colonial history, migration, and cultural mixing, as well as contemporary socioeconomic challenges. Understanding this complex heritage enriches visitor appreciation of island culture and informs respectful, responsible travel behavior.

Ethnic & Social Composition

Príncipe's population, like STP generally, results from mixing between Portuguese colonizers and people from the Gulf of Guinea coast, Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique. The society is inherently plural and mixed-race (mestiço), with identity shaped by historical plantation labor systems and ongoing demographic evolution.

Historic Ethnic Groups

The majority of STP's population descends from groups that migrated since 1485, many forcibly as enslaved people. Seven principal groups are identified:

Mestiços (mixed-blood) — Descendants of Portuguese settlers and enslaved Africans brought from Benin, Gabon, and Congo during early settlement. Also known as filhos da terra ("children of the land"), representing the earliest mixed-race population.

Angolares — Descendants of Angolan slaves believed to have survived a 1540 shipwreck, currently living primarily from fishing. This group maintains distinct cultural practices and coastal settlements.

Forros — Descendants of freed slaves following abolition. The largest ethnic group, the Forros form a significant portion of the population and exert considerable cultural influence.

Serviçais — Contract workers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde who lived temporarily on the islands during the plantation era, creating demographic connections with Portuguese colonial territories.

Tongas — Children of serviçais born on the islands, representing the second generation of contract worker families who developed distinct island identity.

Europeans — Primarily Portuguese, though significantly diminished from colonial-era numbers following independence.

Asians — Primarily Chinese, including Macanese (mixed Portuguese-Chinese heritage from Macau), representing recent economic migration.

Príncipe Specificities

Cape Verdean Heritage: Informal estimates suggest approximately 70% of Príncipe's population has partial or total Cape Verdean ancestry—significantly higher than on São Tomé. This reflects recruitment of Cape Verdean contract workers for plantations. However, overemphasizing this ancestry in regional public discourse risks fragmenting the archipelago's collective identity, which is inherently mixed and plural.

Community Variations: In Aeroporto community, 90% have Cape Verdean heritage with the remainder being Forros. Azeitona population is ethnically mixed, predominantly Cape Verdean and Forro from São Tomé. These community-level variations create distinct local identities within the small island.

Family Structure: Average household size on Príncipe is eight people (husband, wife, and children), with extended families generally not cohabiting—smaller than many African societies but larger than typical Western households.

Social Values & Characteristics

Príncipe society addresses significant socioeconomic challenges reflected in behaviors, values, and the cultural philosophy visitors encounter.

Cultural Values

Spontaneity & Integrity: Príncipe inhabitants are characterized by spontaneity—revealed in frankness and honesty in expressions, especially among children. People are inherently upright (íntegro) even in situations of scarcity, creating a safe, welcoming environment for visitors.

"Leve-Leve" Philosophy: The "leve-leve" (gentle-gentle) approach manifests the island's human nature, revealing the value system defined in this territory. This philosophy emphasizes unhurried living, relationship prioritization over schedules, and acceptance of circumstances beyond individual control. For visitors, embracing rather than resisting this pace transforms potential frustration into cultural appreciation.

Socioeconomic Challenges

Poverty & Employment: STP has high poverty rates, with 67% of the population living below the national poverty threshold. Unemployment stands at 13.9% (2020 data). The RAP faces problems including poverty, high cost of living, and poor access to health and education services. These realities explain infrastructure limitations and service constraints visitors encounter.

Mentality & Development: There exists perception that "changing island inhabitants' mentality" is necessary for development. Society has been "accustomed only to asking," where work values and social mobility concepts are weak, and people are frequently resigned to circumstances. This assessment, often voiced by external developers, warrants critical examination—what appears as resignation may reflect rational adaptation to limited opportunities rather than cultural deficiency.

Health Challenges: The concept of chronic disease is not rooted in the population. Adherence to antihypertensive therapy is very low (25.5%), potentially related to low socioeconomic and educational conditions. Economic difficulties and the fact that populations purchase medication in unit doses make therapeutic adherence difficult—a reality affecting not only residents but also visitors requiring ongoing medication who should bring sufficient supplies.

Social Dynamics: A palpable outsider-insider dynamic exists in STP, with distinctions between long-established residents, recent migrants from other African nations, and expatriate workers. Sustainable tourism aims to contribute to social inclusion and population wellbeing, making visitor choices about where to spend money and how to engage with communities consequential beyond immediate transactions.

Linguistic Landscape

Príncipe's linguistic diversity reflects settlement processes and the weight of labor forces from various African countries, creating multilingual environments visitors navigate.

Official & National Languages

Portuguese (Official Language): Portuguese is the official language and mother tongue for much of the population—the most spoken language on Príncipe and in communities around the airport. Approximately 98.4% of STP's population speaks Portuguese, making it the lingua franca for visitor communication.

Multilingualism: On Príncipe, 97% of interviewed tourism guides speak more than one language, with 84% speaking French—reflecting the island's positioning within Francophone African tourism circuits and educational emphasis on French language instruction.

Portuguese-Based Creoles

Portuguese served as the base for several Portuguese creoles that coexist and sometimes compete in daily use:

Lunguyê (Príncipe Creole): The local dialect used essentially by Príncipe Island population, developed from Portuguese. The Lunguyê was abandoned for some time but has found space in classrooms, with children and young people challenged to teach "the land's language" to parents—a reverse intergenerational transmission unusual in language revitalization. Adult Lunguyê speakers practice Palixá, a proverb game between adults that preserves linguistic and cultural knowledge. Príncipe Creole is spoken by approximately 1% of STP's population—a critically endangered language whose survival depends on current revitalization efforts.

Forro (Lunga Santomé): Forro creole is spoken by 36.2% of the population, making it the language dominated by a large population portion. This São Tomé-origin creole maintains strong presence despite Portuguese dominance.

Cape Verdean Creole: This creole coexists with local languages, spoken by 8.5% of STP's population. A large percentage of Cape Verdean creole speakers are found in populations of communities called former agricultural dependencies—the old plantation worker settlements.

Angolar Creole: The language of the Angolar community situated in southern São Tomé, spoken by 6.6% of the population. This most divergent Portuguese creole maintains distinct features reflecting its isolated historical development.

Foreign Languages

French: Spoken by 6.8% of the population and taught in schools. French is also spoken by the small Gabonese community that settled in the country for economic reasons, creating Francophone networks in commerce and services.

English: Spoken by 4.9% of the population—lower than French but growing due to global English dominance and tourism sector demands.

Brazilian Portuguese Influence: Brazilian Portuguese accent is highly appreciated by STP's population. Soap operas (novelas), music, and Brazilian evangelical churches are among the most consumed cultural products, creating linguistic influence where STP Portuguese increasingly incorporates Brazilian vocabulary, pronunciation, and expressions.

For Visitors

Language Strategy

Portuguese remains the most useful language for independent travelers. French provides backup communication, particularly with tourism professionals. English works at luxury resorts and with younger, educated populations but shouldn't be assumed universal. Learning basic Portuguese greetings and phrases demonstrates respect and facilitates warmer interactions.

Cultural Sensitivity

Understanding the complex ethnic heritage means avoiding oversimplified assumptions about "African culture" or treating the population as homogeneous. Príncipe's plural society reflects specific historical trajectories distinct from mainland African patterns or other island societies.

The "leve-leve" philosophy isn't laziness or inefficiency—it's a coherent worldview prioritizing different values than industrial capitalism. Respecting this pace means adjusting expectations rather than demanding Western-style urgency.

Economic Engagement

Given high poverty rates, visitor spending decisions directly impact livelihoods. Choosing locally-owned guesthouses, eating at community restaurants, hiring local guides, and purchasing artisan products distributes tourism benefits more equitably than spending exclusively at international resort chains (though luxury properties also employ substantial local workforces).