Date: 18/08/2026
All Rights Reserved by the Author
In the Gulf of Guinea, off the western coast of Central Africa, lies the small island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe.
For centuries, its islands have been part of the wider story of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean world. One remarkable chapter is preserved in the roças—large plantation estates created during the Portuguese colonial period.
In 2026, UNESCO inscribed The Roças of São Tomé and Príncipe on the World Heritage List, giving the country its first World Heritage property. The serial site consists of six roças: Monte Café, Água Izé, Diogo Vaz, São João, Sundy and Belo Monte.
The estates were highly organised agricultural complexes combining plantations, industrial facilities, residential areas and social infrastructure. They were primarily associated with coffee and later cocoa production.
But this heritage also carries a difficult history. The plantation system depended on forced migration and forced labour after the abolition of slavery. UNESCO’s recognition therefore preserves not only beautiful architecture and landscapes, but also a history that deserves to be remembered honestly.
Sometimes heritage is beautiful because it celebrates the past.
Sometimes it is important because it helps us understand it.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati, Assam, India
Email: rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com
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