General view of residents gathering in Santo Antonio, in Príncipe Island in São Tomé and Príncipe, on August 1, 2026. (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP via Getty Images)

General view of residents gathering in Praça Marcelo da Vieiga, in Santo Antonio, in Príncipe Island in São Tomé and Príncipe, on August 1, 2026. Marcelo da Veiga (December 30, 1892, Príncipe 1976) was a poet, activist and member of parliament from São Tomé and Príncipe, born on the island of Príncipe. Da Veiga drew inspiration from the works of another São Tomé and Príncipe poet, Caetano Costa Alegre (18641890). He used his poetry as a weapon and indeed wrote war poems. His most significant collection of poems is "O canto do Ossôbó", published posthumously in 1989, which features work spanning six decades. (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP via Getty Images)

General view of Santo Antonio, in Príncipe Island in São Tomé and Príncipe, on August 1, 2026. (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP via Getty Images)

Traditional dancers gather before taking part in the Auto de Floripes (or Festa de São Lourenço) where Moorish and Christian characters will face off in a theatrical performance in Santo Antonio, in Príncipe Island in São Tomé and Príncipe, on  August 1, 2026. The Auto de Floripes brings the entire island together for a vibrant, open-air medieval plays depicting legendary battles between the Twelve Peers of France and the Moors.Brought to the islands by the Portuguese during colonial times the festival originated from European medieval tales centred around Emperor Charlemagne and his knights rescuing the princess Floripes from the Moorish Admiral Balão. Over the centuries, the European legend evolved into a unique tradition deeply rooted in São Toméan and Príncipe identity (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP via Getty Images)

Moorish and Christian characters take part in the Auto de Floripes (or Festa de São Lourenço) as they parade before facing off in a theatrical performance in Santo Antonio, in Príncipe Island in São Tomé and Príncipe, on  August 1, 2026. The Auto de Floripes brings the entire island together for a vibrant, open-air medieval plays depicting legendary battles between the Twelve Peers of France and the Moors.Brought to the islands by the Portuguese during colonial times the festival originated from European medieval tales centred around Emperor Charlemagne and his knights rescuing the princess Floripes from the Moorish Admiral Balão. Over the centuries, the European legend evolved into a unique tradition deeply rooted in São Toméan and Príncipe identity (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP via Getty Images)

Moorish and Christian characters take part in the Auto de Floripes (or Festa de São Lourenço) as they parade before facing off in a theatrical performance in Santo Antonio, in Príncipe Island in São Tomé and Príncipe, on  August 1, 2026. The Auto de Floripes brings the entire island together for a vibrant, open-air medieval plays depicting legendary battles between the Twelve Peers of France and the Moors.Brought to the islands by the Portuguese during colonial times the festival originated from European medieval tales centred around Emperor Charlemagne and his knights rescuing the princess Floripes from the Moorish Admiral Balão. Over the centuries, the European legend evolved into a unique tradition deeply rooted in São Toméan and Príncipe identity (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP via Getty Images)

Moorish and Christian characters take part in the Auto de Floripes (or Festa de São Lourenço) as they face off in a theatrical performance in Santo Antonio, in Príncipe Island in São Tomé and Príncipe, on  August 1, 2026. The Auto de Floripes brings the entire island together for a vibrant, open-air medieval plays depicting legendary battles between the Twelve Peers of France and the Moors.Brought to the islands by the Portuguese during colonial times the festival originated from European medieval tales centred around Emperor Charlemagne and his knights rescuing the princess Floripes from the Moorish Admiral Balão. Over the centuries, the European legend evolved into a unique tradition deeply rooted in São Toméan and Príncipe identity (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP via Getty Images)

Moorish and Christian characters take part in the Auto de Floripes (or Festa de São Lourenço) as they face off in a theatrical performance in Santo Antonio, in Príncipe Island in São Tomé and Príncipe, on  August 1, 2026. The Auto de Floripes brings the entire island together for a vibrant, open-air medieval plays depicting legendary battles between the Twelve Peers of France and the Moors.Brought to the islands by the Portuguese during colonial times the festival originated from European medieval tales centred around Emperor Charlemagne and his knights rescuing the princess Floripes from the Moorish Admiral Balão. Over the centuries, the European legend evolved into a unique tradition deeply rooted in São Toméan and Príncipe identity (Photo by Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO / AFP via Getty Images)