Bata, Equatorial Guinea

History

After the anti-Spanish riots of 1969, the European population declined in Bata, and severe economic stagnation affected Bata in the 1970s and early 1980s. An oil boom of the country boosted the development of the city in the late 1980s and 1990s.

On 7 March 2021, the city was struck by a series of explosions which resulted in the death of at least 105 people and the wounding of more than 615 others. The majority of the buildings in the city were damaged by the explosions.

Climate

Bata, like most of Equatorial Guinea, has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am). It is much less gloomy than Malabo, and has its dry season in the opposite months to insular Equatorial Guinea but in the same months as neighbouring Gabon due to the Benguela Current. There is also a minor depression in rainfall between December and February when the Intertropical Convergence Zone is at its most southerly, and unlike the true dry season in July and August, this is accompanied by increased sunshine. The rainiest months are April, May, October and November, when monthly totals of 300 mm are typical, although October averages as much as 457 mm. |Jan record high C = 33.5 |Feb record high C = 35.6 |Mar record high C = 34.1 |Apr record high C = 34.1 |May record high C = 33.2 |Jun record high C = 32.8 |Jul record high C = 31.8 |Aug record high C = 31.5 |Sep record high C = 32.5 |Oct record high C = 32.0 |Nov record high C = 32.4 |Dec record high C = 33.0 |year record high C = 35.6 |Jan record low C = 15.3 |Feb record low C = 13.7 |Mar record low C = 14.5 |Apr record low C = 12.5 |May record low C = 12.5 |Jun record low C = 15.5 |Jul record low C = 12.5 |Aug record low C = 14.2 |Sep record low C = 15.6 |Oct record low C = 15.5 |Nov record low C = 14.5 |Dec record low C = 14.5 |year record low C = 12.5 | access-date = 25 January 2016}}

Economy

Bata has one of the deepest seaports in the region. Despite this, Bata has no natural harbor and a jetty was built to facilitate offshore handling of ships' cargoes. The principal exports are timber and coffee. The port was expanded in part by Chinese cooperation loans, and its capacity is 6.5 million tonnes and 300,000 TEUs annually.BRI and International Cooperation in Industrial Capacity: Industrial Layout Study, Xu Shaoshi Routledge, 14 June 2020

Education

The Colegio Nacional Enrique Nvó Okenve has campuses here and in Malabo.

The Colegio Español, a Spanish international school, is the city's sole international school.

Places of worship

Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Christian churches and temples (Catholic: Roman Catholic Diocese of Bata, Protestant, Evangelical Christian: Assemblies of God).

Transport

Bata Airport is located north of Bata.

Notable people

• Regina Mañe Ela (1954–2015), politician and opposition campaigner
• José Machín, Equatorial Guinean professional footballer
• Alfredo Okenve Ndoho, human rights activist
• Jesús Owono, footballer
• Sheila Ebana, the mother of Lamine Yamal, the Spanish national football team's youngest player, was born in Bata.

References

References

1. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab".
2. Britannica, [https://www.britannica.com/place/Bata Bata], britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019
3. (8 March 2020). "Death toll from devastating Equatorial Guinea blasts jumps to 98".
4. (2021-03-10). "Bata blast: Satellite images show Equatorial Guinea destruction". BBC News.
5. (March 8, 2021). "Bata explosion: Equatorial Guinea death toll rises to 98". [[BBC News]].
6. [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9100738/Bata#908108.hook Encyclopædia Britannica], Retrieved on June 18, 2008
7. [https://web.archive.org/web/20081219191217/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDACJ154.pdf "TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROJECT FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA"], Design and Implementation Plan, Contract No. DFD-I-00-05-0020 TO #2, (September 2006 through August 2008).
8. "BOE-A-2013-6970 Orden ECD/1185/2013, de 10 de junio, por la que se autoriza la apertura y funcionamiento del centro privado de educación primaria y secundaria "Colegio Español" de Bata en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial.".
9. J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 989
10. {{GSA player. pepin/76293
11. "Acción Sport". Jesús Lázaro Ngua.
12. (2023-09-10). "The story of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, destined to be Barcelona's next superstar".