Forro love poem

Forro love poem (Sãotomense, Fôlô, São Tomense, Santomé, Dialeto, Santomense, Lungwa santome), in one of the two creoles languages of the republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, two islands on the west of Gabon.

This is exactly the creole of Sao Tomé, the other creole spoken in Principe is the moncó (principense). This portuguese-based creole, counts 90% words of portuguese origin, the others come from the kwas and bantu languages spoken on the continent.

Despite this portuguese origin, grammar and deformation of words, do not allow intercomprehension between saotomense and portuguese.

The word Forro (sons of the earth), means also the Saotomens people, the speakers of this language. They are a mixed population, of Portuguese settlers and displaced Africans on the island.

São Tomé (St Thomas), is the biggest island of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.

This island which is in the gulf of Guinea, has been discovered in the 15th century by the Portuguese, the St Thomas's Day. Just after, Portuguese will colonize Sao Tome taking with them, slaves to cultivate sugar cane.

The island is located just north of the equator.. If the important oil reserves located around the island, are not yet exploited, Sao Tome is known for a long time for the cultivation of cocoa beans.