Today I wandered -what else happened on Elmo’s birthday? If you’re not feeling cheery now would be a good time to stop reading.
Turns that Feb. 3rd is the commemoration day for the Batepá massacre. In 1952 Carlos Gorgulho, the Portuguese governor of São Tomé and Príncipe, raised taxes, forbade production of palm wine, and made it easier for semi-enslaved laborers to return home to Africa and Cape Verde with the idea of attracting locals to the production of cocoa instead.
The local forros liked palm wine, disliked taxes, and were legitimately worried that they’ll be the next on the list of people to semi-enslave for cocoa production. The police supported them in this concern by kidnapping people to work on public construction projects.
The forros protested (Feb 3, 1953). The governor blamed communists and called on all White men to take up arms to protect their women. They did. An unknown number of people were murdered. The Portuguese police came in, and found no traces of a communist conspiracy. Gorgulho was recalled to Portugal where he received praise, promotion, and Grand Cross of the Military Order of Avis.
São Tomé and Príncipe became independent in 1975 and commemorate the victims as Martyrs of Liberty.