Malabo Lopelo Melaka
Encyclopedia
Malabo Löpèlo Mëlaka or King Malabo I (1837–1937), born on the island of Fernando Po (today Bioko
, Equatorial Guinea
), was the son of former Bubi king Moka and served as king between 1904 until his death in 1937, during the Bahítáari Dynasty. One of his three sons, Francisco Malabo Beosá
(1896–2001) was a successor to the royal throne as well as the final heir to the Bubi Kingdom.
Prior to his reign, King Malabo I served as the secretary to Sas-Ebuera from 1899 until 1904. When King Esáasi Eweera (also known as King Sás-Ebuera) was arrested by Spanish authorities and detained in 1903 for one year. King Malabo I, along with his brother, Lopelo Malabo Bioko, lost faith that an anti-colonial front against the reigning Spanish authority would come into fruition.
Despite not having full political influence, King Malabo I symbolically served as the King of Bioko Island during his reign. His administration conducted bureaucratic gestures such as thanking Francisco Alimama Kashu
, a native of Hyderabad, India, for his collaborating with local farms in improving farming techniques by giving him a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) plot of land in the village of Moka. Alimama Kashu eventually settled in Moka and married into the Malabo family.
During his reign the government of Spanish Guinea
received complete cooperation of the Bubi people, often using violent colonial methods to gain favorable results.
The last anti-colonial uprising took place in 1910 at San Carlos, after the assassination of a European by the name of Leon Rabadan and two Indian
policemen. The confrontation resulted in the death of fifteen thousand ethnic Bubi. Immediately after the insurrection, the colonial forces pressured the Kin Malabo to convince Bubi clan leaders to cease further retaliation. The colonial leaders only addressed the most resistant of the local leaders, such as Chief Riokalo.
With the death of King Malabo I in 1937, who died in prison while serving a life sentence for killing Spanish colonial authorities on April 19 of the same year, the political influence of the Bubi administration as well as the traditional role of the tribal king dissipated. The Bahítáari Dynasty ended with the death of King Malabo I's son, Francisco, in 2001.
At the end of the 1970s and under the toponymic Africanization
policy of the new Equatorial Guinea
n government, the capital city of Bioko Island, formerly known as the British Port Clarence and the Spanish Santa Isabel, was renamed in honor of King Malabo I. In the early 1980s the Rey Malabo National Institute, formerly called Cardinal Cisneros, followed suit renaming their organization in honor of the king. Furthermore, many streets in several countries around the world have also been named in honor of King Malabo I.
Bioko
Bioko is an island 32 km off the west coast of Africa, specifically Cameroon, in the Gulf of Guinea. It is the northernmost part of Equatorial Guinea with a population of 124,000 and an area of . It is volcanic with its highest peak the Pico Basile at .-Geography:Bioko has a total area of...
, Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
), was the son of former Bubi king Moka and served as king between 1904 until his death in 1937, during the Bahítáari Dynasty. One of his three sons, Francisco Malabo Beosá
Francisco Malabo Beosá
Francisco Malabo Beosá or King Malabo II , born on the island of Fernando Po in Spanish Guinea , was the son of former Bubi king Malabo Lopelo Melaka and the last legitimate successor of the Bubi Kingdom.King Malabo II was considered the spiritual father of the Bubi people, leading circle of...
(1896–2001) was a successor to the royal throne as well as the final heir to the Bubi Kingdom.
Prior to his reign, King Malabo I served as the secretary to Sas-Ebuera from 1899 until 1904. When King Esáasi Eweera (also known as King Sás-Ebuera) was arrested by Spanish authorities and detained in 1903 for one year. King Malabo I, along with his brother, Lopelo Malabo Bioko, lost faith that an anti-colonial front against the reigning Spanish authority would come into fruition.
Despite not having full political influence, King Malabo I symbolically served as the King of Bioko Island during his reign. His administration conducted bureaucratic gestures such as thanking Francisco Alimama Kashu
Francisco Alimama Kashu
Francisco Alimama Kashu, born in Hyderabad, India, was an East Indian farmer who arrived in Moka during the early 20th century accompanying his uncle who traded with the local natives. Shortly after they arrived his uncle died suddenly of an illness leaving Alimama alone facing Spanish authorities...
, a native of Hyderabad, India, for his collaborating with local farms in improving farming techniques by giving him a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) plot of land in the village of Moka. Alimama Kashu eventually settled in Moka and married into the Malabo family.
During his reign the government of Spanish Guinea
Spanish Guinea
Spanish Guinea was an African colony of Spain that became the independent nation of Equatorial Guinea.-History:The Portuguese explorer, Fernão do Pó, seeking a route to India, is credited with having discovered the island of Bioko in 1472. He called it Formosa , but it quickly took on the name of...
received complete cooperation of the Bubi people, often using violent colonial methods to gain favorable results.
The last anti-colonial uprising took place in 1910 at San Carlos, after the assassination of a European by the name of Leon Rabadan and two Indian
Indian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...
policemen. The confrontation resulted in the death of fifteen thousand ethnic Bubi. Immediately after the insurrection, the colonial forces pressured the Kin Malabo to convince Bubi clan leaders to cease further retaliation. The colonial leaders only addressed the most resistant of the local leaders, such as Chief Riokalo.
With the death of King Malabo I in 1937, who died in prison while serving a life sentence for killing Spanish colonial authorities on April 19 of the same year, the political influence of the Bubi administration as well as the traditional role of the tribal king dissipated. The Bahítáari Dynasty ended with the death of King Malabo I's son, Francisco, in 2001.
At the end of the 1970s and under the toponymic Africanization
Africanization
Africanization or Africanisation has been applied in various contexts, notably in naming and in the composition of staff.-Africanization of names:...
policy of the new Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
n government, the capital city of Bioko Island, formerly known as the British Port Clarence and the Spanish Santa Isabel, was renamed in honor of King Malabo I. In the early 1980s the Rey Malabo National Institute, formerly called Cardinal Cisneros, followed suit renaming their organization in honor of the king. Furthermore, many streets in several countries around the world have also been named in honor of King Malabo I.