são tome and principe is an island nation off the coast of africa. modern slavery unfortunately began on these islands, as portuguese merchants in the 1400s brought thousands of african mainlanders to these once uninhabited islands. the result was a successful sugar colony and later equally profitable coffee and cocoa plantations. the island received independence in the 1970s and since the late 1980s have had a stable and real democracy, with only one failed coup attempt.
by Ben E. Hama February 04, 2007
2 different countries are named congo.
1) the democratic republic of congo-kishaska is the former zaire. it was once a very poorly run belgian colony. for years, it was a dictatorship under joseph motubo. in the 1990s, the nation was in a constant state of civil war. it is currently under the authority of a transitional gov't.
2) the republic of congo, a country in just as bad of a state as the above. a former french colony, it saw multiple coups until a communist government came to power in the late 1960s. civil war occured in the 1990s, and the country is currently a faux democracy. it is known for its vast jungles with their gorillas.
1) the democratic republic of congo-kishaska is the former zaire. it was once a very poorly run belgian colony. for years, it was a dictatorship under joseph motubo. in the 1990s, the nation was in a constant state of civil war. it is currently under the authority of a transitional gov't.
2) the republic of congo, a country in just as bad of a state as the above. a former french colony, it saw multiple coups until a communist government came to power in the late 1960s. civil war occured in the 1990s, and the country is currently a faux democracy. it is known for its vast jungles with their gorillas.
there are two nations called the congo. interesting enough, the former zaire is officially called congo-kishaska, but it is usually refered to as just 'congo', while the republic of congo is usually refered to as 'congo-braza'
by Ben E. Hama January 31, 2007
a little strip of land along a river of the same name. completely surrounded by the nation of senegal. nation that saw coup after coup unitl democracy finally began to work in the a few years ago. if you look at a map, gambia looks kind of like a penis.
in order to write his famous book 'roots', alex haley observed what tribal life was like in the gambia.
by Ben E. Hama January 31, 2007
tunisia is a nation that actually has a pretty grand history, as a powerful outpost during the reigns of the greek, roman, and ottoman empires. the french eventually took over, the place is most famous for the wwii battles fought here. currently, its a single party state that actually has some wealth in the coastal cities, espcially due to oil. in the interior, the famous nomadic berbers still live.
by Ben E. Hama February 04, 2007
little tiny carribean country that used to be under british rule. currently, it consists of a pair of islands that seem to exist soley for american, canadian, and european toruist dollars.
by Ben E. Hama January 31, 2007
samoa is a pacific island nation. formerly a british and then german colony, new zealand took control after WWI. the samoans, traditionally a reseliant people, despised new zealand control, and in the style of gandhi, used non-violence to eventually win independence. to americans, samoa is known for producing a number of football offensive and defensive lineman.
by Ben E. Hama February 02, 2007
tiny country that is basically just an independent city surrounded by italy. its people are ethnic italians, but when italy was unified in the 1870s, san marino refused to join. it's actually been an independent nation since 301 AD. nowadays, they are famous for producing special coins and postage stamps marketed directly at tourists.
by Ben E. Hama February 02, 2007