On July 12, 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe declared independence from Portugal. Made up of two islands in the Gulf of Guinea, it is Africa’s second smallest country by both land area and population, smaller than every nation on the continent except Seychelles. The country is predominantly Christian, with the majority practicing Roman Catholicism alongside small Muslim and traditional African belief communities.

The islands are covered in lush rainforests, volcanic peaks, and beaches that are frequently ranked among the most beautiful in the world. In 2025, São Tomé and Príncipe made history as the first country in the world to have its entire territory declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Biosphere reserves are protected areas designated by UNESCO to balance nature conservation with sustainable human development. They act as living laboratories, where local communities and scientists test ways to protect plants and animals while building healthy local communities. Nearly 20 bird species live in São Tomé and nowhere else on Earth, among them the São Tomé ibis, the smallest ibis species alive, and the São Tomé giant sunbird, the largest sunbird species alive.

São Tomé is often called the birthplace of cocoa in Africa. The crop arrived from Brazil in 1822, and by the early 1900s, São Tomé had become the world’s largest cocoa producer, earning the nickname “the Chocolate Islands.” Countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana lead in volume today, but São Tomé has carved out a different lane, growing high quality, specialty, and organic cocoa prized for luxury chocolate. Belgian chocolatier Pierre Marcolini, one of the most respected names in the industry, names São Tomé as a single origin on some of its finest bars, the kind of detail chocolate lovers look for.

Beyond cocoa, the islands have become a destination in their own right. Snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing draw visitors to the surrounding waters, while Pico Cão Grande, a dramatic volcanic spire piercing through the rainforest, pulls trekkers and rock climbers from around the world.

And of course, there’s the food. São Tomé’s national dish, calulu, is a rich, slow-cooked stew made with smoked fish, shrimp, palm oil, and vegetables like okra and eggplant. Sounds familiar? It sits in the same family as Nigeria’s dry okra soup, Ivorian sauce gombo, Togolese fetri detsi, and what Ghanaians call fante-fante. Different names, same African hand at the pot.

Happy Independence Day to every São Toméan in the diaspora and beyond! And to every other African reading this, Dishout has these meals with an identical base to calulu. Get a plate to celebrate.

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