Sao Tomé and Principé are two small islands in the Gulf of Guinea. Two centuries ago, the islands were the world´s biggest cacao producer. When the Portuguese left 1975 many years of oppression were over. Lack of money and technical knowledge led to the collapse of the colonial plantation system. Economy and society fell into agony for some years. Nowadays local entrepreneurs are trying to get back into global markets. But there are also international corporations starting to invest money in tourism and palm oil plantations. Coming years will show, whether the islands will be owned by foreign money or the people of Sao Tomé and Principé. I was on assignment for renown german travel magazine "abenteuer und reisen".