History of sao tome and principe, a survey of notable events and people in the history of sao tome and principe, an island country of central africa. sao tome and principe, island country of central africa, located on the equator pdf in the gulf of guinea. today it is the smallest portuguese- speaking country. its official name is the democratic republic of capitolo 25 principe pdf sao tome and principe. the population of sao tome and principe descends primarily from the islands’ colonial portuguese settlers, who first arrived in the late 15th century, and the much larger number of african slaves brought in for sugar production and the slave trade. for about 100 years after the abolition of slavery in 1876, the population was further shaped. located on the equator in the gulf of guinea, sao tome and principe consists of two main islands— são tomé and príncipe— and several rocky islets, including rôlas, south of são tomé island. it was founded by portuguese explorers who arrived on capitolo the feast day of saint thomas, the island’ 25 s namesake. it consists of two main islands— são tomé and príncipe— and several rocky islets, including rôlas, south of são tomé island, and caroço, pedras, and tinhosas, south of príncipe. sao tome and principe is an island nation off the western coast of africa.