Macías Nguema Part 1: The Dachau of Africa

Real Dictators

NOISER

History, Fiction, Drama

4.8 • 8.2K Ratings

🗓️ 1 November 2023

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is the extraordinary, blood-curdling story of a dictator you may never have heard of. From 1968-1979, the African nation of Equatorial Guinea was helmed by its first, and to date only, freely elected president. Initially, Francisco Macías Nguema was seen by the Spanish colonial authorities as a safe choice. He proved to be anything but. Things went off the rails at an astonishing rate, as Macías rapidly turned the country into what would be called the ‘Dachau of Africa’. His is a tale of sheer opportunism on the way up, and drug-fuelled paranoia on the way down… Narrated by Paul McGann. A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. This is Part 1 of 2. Get every episode of Real Dictators a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's December the 24th, 1969.
0:05.6	It might be Christmas Eve, but we're half a world away from the North Pole.
0:12.3	We're on an island off the west coast of Central Africa.
0:17.4	It's home to Santa Isabel, the capital of Equatorial Guinea.
0:24.6	Tonight the city's football stadium is lit by powerful floodlights,
0:29.2	but the restless crowd packed into the stands is not here to watch a match.
0:34.2	Despite the upbeat pop music emanating from the Tanoi system,
0:38.3	they're not here to party either.
0:41.6	The onlookers have been heard here to witness as macabre spectacle,
0:46.0	as many of them will ever see.
0:50.6	On the dry dusty pitch, 150 men are led out along the whitewash markings of the halfway line.
0:58.3	Their bodies bear the scars and bruises of the beatings they've already endured.
1:04.0	They are political prisoners, accused of opposing the government,
1:08.2	and more importantly, the president, Francisco, Macias and Guema.
1:14.5	They've all been sentenced to death.
1:18.7	Summary executions are not exactly rare in Equatorial Guinea,
1:23.5	but mass killings don't often take place so publicly.
1:27.3	Even rare are, is that the president is here in person,
1:32.4	but an example must be made.
1:35.5	The music stops abruptly.
1:37.9	The prisoners are all in place, dust devils swirling around their feet.
1:43.8	The crowd is restless and easy,
	...

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