Corisco

Coordinates: 0°54′54″N 9°19′12″E / 0.91500°N 9.32000°E / 0.91500; 9.32000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Corisco
UTC+1
)

Corisco, Mandj, or Mandyi,

above sea level. The most important settlement on the island is Gobe
.

History

During the Iron Age (50 BC - 1400 AD) and before the arrival of the Portuguese, the island was densely settled. The most important evidence of human occupation comes from the area of Nandá, near the eastern coast, where dozens of prehistoric burials have been excavated.[2] These burials belong to two different periods: Early Iron Age (50 BC - 450 AD) and Middle Iron Age (1000-1150 AD). During the first period, the islanders deposited bundles of human bones and iron implements (axes, bracelets, spears, spoons, iron currency) in shallow pits dug in the sand. During the second period, tombs have been documented where the corpses (not preserved) lay surrounded by pots, probably containing food and alcoholic beverages. The deceased were interred with their adornments (collars, bracelets and anklets) and a few personal possessions (knives and adzes).

When Portuguese sailors arrived in the Mino Estuary in 1471, they noted that the islands in the area were mainly unpopulated. They named Corisco after 'lightning', due to the gales they experienced around the island.[3] After more than three centuries of abandonment, when it was sporadically visited by European sailors, Corisco was settled by the Benga people.[3] They arrived during the second half of the 18th century attracted by the prospects of trade with the Europeans. The island was later acquired by Spain in 1843, as a result of an arrangement made by Juan José Lerena y Barry with Benga king Bonkoro I. Bonkoro I died in 1846 and was succeeded by his son Bonkoro II, but due to rivalries on the island, Bonkoro II moved to São Tomé, and Munga I ruled in Corisco 1848 to 1858, his son Munga II taking over, and meeting the explorer Manuel Iradier in the 1870s.

In general, the

Elobey, Annobon, and Corisco, and postage stamps
were issued under that name. It became an integral part of Equatorial Guinea upon independence.

Corisco and the surrounding waters of

Ali-Ben Bongo Ondimba visited the islands and re-stated Gabon's claim to them.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Isla de Corsico | Marine World Database". 2015-05-11. Archived from the original on 2015-05-11. Retrieved 2022-08-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. . Retrieved November 15, 2022 – via digital.csic.es.
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ "Gabon-Equatorial Guinea: UN mediates dispute over Corisco Bay islands", IRIN, January 23, 2004.

Further reading

External links

Media related to Corisco at Wikimedia Commons