1. Ramón Esono Ebalé & Equatorial Guinea

2. Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea

3. A Brief History of Equatorial Guinea 1472: Island of Bioko discovered by Portuguese explorer Fernão do Pó 1474: Islands of Bioko and Annobón colonized by Portugal 1778: Islands and adjacent islets were ceded to Spain, along with commercial rights to the mainland 1900: Mainland portion, Rio Muni, became a Spanish colony 1926-1959: Mainland territories unified as Spanish Guinea 1968: Independence from Spanish rule

4. Languages & Culture The official languages of the country are Spanish, French, and Portuguese Other languages include Fang and Bubi Ethnic groups are Fang, Bubi, Mdowe, Annobon, and Buieba The most practiced religion is Christianity, with the majority being Roman Catholic

5. History of the Government 1968: Francisco Macias Nguema becomes the first elected president of Equatorial Guinea 1972: Macias Nguema created a single-party state and made himself president for life His rule was a reign of terror, during which a third of the population was either killed or fled the country 1979: He was tried and executed after he was deposed by his nephew and current president, Teodoro Obiang

6. Current Government The current president, Teodoro Obiang, has extensive powers While the country is officially a multiparty democracy, elections are considered a sham Equatorial Guinea is considered to be among the top 12 most corrupt states in the world

7. Economy Oil reserves were found in 1996 The country is one of the richest in Africa, but wealth is unevenly distributed among the population President Obiang’s family has gotten richer at the expense of the people

8. Urbanization About 40% of the population lives in urban areas and increasing yearly by 5% To make way for roads and buildings, families have been evicted and left homeless While urban areas have increased, not very many people benefit from them

9. Health & Sanitation The country lacks widespread access to potable tap water The United Nations reports that 20% of children die before reaching the age of five

10. Human Rights Equatorial Guinea is one of the world’s worst violators of human rights, among the "worst of the worst" in annual surveys Human rights abuses by the government continue, even after President Obiang signed an anti-torture decree in 2006

11. Human Trafficking Human trafficking: the sale, transport, and profiting from people forced into service (military, labor, and/or sexual exploitation) Women and children are trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from nearby countries The government is not doing anything to protect victims of human trafficking or to eliminate trafficking

12. Bio: Ramón Esono Ebalé b. 1977 Self-taught artist from Equatorial Guinea Currently lives in exile in Paraguay Graphic novelist and Comic artist

13. Critiquing the Government Much of Esono Ebalé’s work critiques government corruption/ dictatorship, human rights violations, and efforts to oppress freedom of expression in his home country of Equatorial Guinea.

14. Jamón y Queso (Ham and Cheese) http://www.jamonyqueso.info/

15. Art Educator In addition to being an artist, Esono Ebalé is an art educator and currently teaches in Paraguay.

16. La Pesadilla de Obi (Obi’s Nightmare), 2013 [graphic novel ]

17. Bozales (Muzzles), series, 2011

18. Votez…Encore et Encore (Vote…Again and Again), comic, 2005-06

19. Dictadores (Dictators), series (2009)

20. EG Justice: Toward a Just Equatorial Guinea http://www.egjustice.org/