Description
In the Land of the Bubis
Book Summary
A unique testimony on the Spanish colonization of Africa, narrated by a young man who experienced it firsthand. Through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy, the reader discovers the Spanish Guinea of the late 19th century, its landscapes, its people, and the complex encounter between two worlds. A work that combines adventure, historical chronicle, and anthropological reflection, offering a sincere and unfiltered look at a little-known era and territory in Spanish history.
What is it about?
In 1890, José Más, a twelve-year-old boy, sets out on a journey from Cádiz to Spanish Guinea aboard the steamer Ciudad Condal. The voyage, which includes stops in the Canary Islands, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, is the prelude to a seven-year stay on the island of Fernando Poo (present-day Bioko). There, the young man faces a hostile environment, marked by tropical diseases and homesickness, but also discovers the cultural richness of the Bubis, the indigenous ethnic group. The book alternates between the account of the sea voyage and daily life in the colony, showing the tensions between the Spanish settlers, uprooted and isolated, and a Bubi population whose customs oscillate between docility and traditions that strike the newcomers as shocking. More than a simple travel diary, the work offers a vivid and detailed chronicle of a little-publicized chapter of Spanish colonial history, told by an exceptional witness who hides neither the lights nor the shadows of that reality.
Main themes
- Spanish colonization in Africa: life in Spanish Guinea during the 19th century.
- Initiatory journey: the transformation from boy to adult in an unknown and hostile environment.
- Cultural encounter: the relationships between Spanish settlers and the Bubi ethnic group, with their conflicts and contradictions.
- Nostalgia and uprooting: the experience of living far from home and the struggle against tropical diseases.
- Historical chronicle: a first-hand testimony about a poorly documented period and territory.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in travel literature with a strong historical and anthropological component. Also for those seeking authentic testimonies on the Spanish presence in Africa, as well as fans of exploration chronicles and coming-of-age narratives set in colonial contexts.
What this book contributes
- A direct and personal view of the Spanish colonization of Equatorial Guinea, from the perspective of an adolescent.
- An ethnographic portrait of the Bubi culture, their customs, and their relationship with the settlers.
- A travel narrative that combines adventure with historical and social reflection.
- A valuable historical document that rescues an almost forgotten memory from Spanish history.
- An enjoyable and immersive read, ideal for those who enjoy tales of exploration and discovery.
Technical specifications
- Author: José Más Lagrera
- Publisher: Ediciones del Viento, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Modern and contemporary fiction, Travel literature
- Collection: Viento Simún
- Binding: Paperback
- Date of publication: March 2010
- Number of pages: 240
- Weight: 455 g
Editorial review
This is a work of great testimonial value that succeeds in transporting the reader to a geographical and historical setting rarely visited by Spanish literature. The protagonist's naive yet perceptive gaze provides a freshness that avoids an academic tone, without sacrificing depth. It is a highly recommended read both for those approaching Spanish colonial history for the first time and for fans of travelogues with a human and cultural background.