Figure 1.--The long-term presence of colonial troops led to the birth of several mulatto children, both from consensual relationships and rape. Even in the case of longer-term relationships, soldiers generally did not recognize their children, but some provided a little financial help. This photo was taken in the village of Catió, near the town of Tombali, about 1968. It shows three children, clearly with different fathers. The two youngest are the children of a Portuguese man. Despite the poverty of village life, unlike their mates, these children are wearing clothes, suggesting at lkeast some support from their father. The Portuguee of all te European colonizers seem somwhat the least concerned with race. .

What became Portuguese Guinea was the region that was part of the Kaabu Empire, a Mandinka kingdom, and a former province of the Mali Empire. Portuguese interest in the areas was due gold and the slave trade. Portugal seized control of the area (1792). It was north of French dominated Guinea and south of British Gambia. The area was incorporated into Portuguese Guinea (1870). Portugal used the same policies in Guinea as in their other larger colonies in southern Africa (Angola and Mozambique). Portugal at first exercised control over only a narrow coastal area even though they claimed the interior as well. As the Scramble for Africa developed in earnest, Portuguese military forces campaigned against the local African principalities. Portugal was not a wealthy country and thus not a military power (19th century). This endangered its colonial empire. Portugal's precarious financial position and military weakness threatened its ability to retain its colonies. António José Enes, Minister of Marine and Colonies, decided on tax reforms and granted commercial concessions in Guinea, mainly to foreign companies, in an effort to increasing exports (1891). 【Clarence-Smith, pp. 82–85.】 The idea was to obtain the funds needed for a gradual expansion of control that would provide tax revenue from trade and the native people. 【Bowman, pp. 98–99.】 There was a modest increase in revenue, but this did not even cover the cost of the Portuguese military presence. Portugal persisted, however, both as a matter of national prestige, but hoping for possible future benefits. And income from Guinea did increase, primarily from rising peanut prices and a new Hut tax. 【Pélissier, pp. 140–41.】 João Teixeira Pinto used the revenue along with Askari (native) troops to impose Portuguese rule and crush resistance by destroying villages and seizing cattle. The cost of military operations even using Askari troops brought the colony back to budget deficits. The military campaigns were finally completed during World War I. Portugal gained full control of the mainland after brutal pacification campaigns (1912–15). Only sporadic fighting continued during the early-20th century. The off-shore Bijagós Islands were a rare area that was not pacified until 1936. World War I increased prices for commodities which again benefited the colony, but the post-War slump and Depression meant that the colony was of little economic value to Portugal, but it did supply a substantial quantity of vegetable (peanut) oil. The colony is best described as a 'neglected backwater'. Portugal did little to fight the upsurge in sleeping sickness (1940s-50s). But Portugal was able to rule Guinea with only limited local opposition until after World War II and the emergence of nationalist movements in its colonies. Portugal did little to develop its colonies, except resources which could be exploited and the related necessary infrastructure. Portugal made very limited efforts to establish institutions such as schools in Guinea Bissau, even after World War II when other European colonial powers were making belated efforts to improve colonial governance. This was not entirely racist colonial policy. Education in Portugal itself was woefully behind European standards. It is not clear if Portugal would have spent substantial funds if the colony was profitable. The fact that it was not profitable ensured that there would not be major funding for development programs. Portugal passed a constitutional amendment making Guinea-Bissau an overseas province (1952).

Sources

Bowman, Joye L. "Legitimate Commerce and peanut production in Portuguese Guinea", The Journal of African History Vol. 28, No. 1 (1987), pp. 87-106

Clarence-Smith, W.G. The Third Portuguese Empire (1975).

Pélissier, René. História da Guiné (1989).

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Created: 1:23 AM 8/11/2025
Last updated: 1:23 AM 8/11/2025