A country of west-central Africa including islands in the Gulf of Guinea. Originally inhabited by Pygmy and Bantu peoples, it was settled by the Portuguese after 1472. Portugal ceded the largest island (Bioko) to Spain in 1778, and the mainland territory (Río Muni) came under Spanish rule in 1885. This colony, known as Spanish Guinea, gained independence in 1968. Malabo is the capital and the largest city.