The of Spanish in Guinea

Guinea is the only country in Africa where Spanish is an official language. Its linguistic history is as rich as its culture and biodiversity. Spanish arrived in Guinea with theers in the 18th century and has remained an official language ever since, experiencing a process of criollization and coexistence with indigenous languages.

Colonization and Language

The history of Spanish in Guinea is closely linked to Spanish colonization. After the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1900, Spain obtained total control of the region, initiating a process of Hispanization of the local population.

Post-independence

After its independence in 1968, Guinea decided to maintain Spanish as an official language because of its relevance in education, administration and as a bridge to the Spanish-speaking world.