Sampaka

Before the oil fever Sampaka used to be the most important cacao plantation of Equatorial Guinea. It was founded by spanish settlers in 1923 and since, it has been the pride of Bioko Island. In the late 20th century Equatorial Guinea gained independency from Spain. Other countries like Brazil began their own cacao production at a much faster rate. The price of raw materials and commodities fell to unknown levels, never to get back to the good old days. In 1999 Sampaka workers kept collecting and roasting cacao the same way their grand parents did. They lived and worked at the plantation, that still belonged to a spanish company. Shot in 1999.