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 * Las tradiciones y festivals importantes.**

One day celebrated in Guinea Ecuatorial is their Independence Day. Their Independence Day is celebrated on October 12. Guinea Ecuatorial gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. Macias Nguema was elected as Guinea Ecuatorial first president but then declared himself leader for life. He was then forced out of leadership by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo after reaking havok on Guinea Ecuatorial. The citizens then elected Teodoro as president and he continues to rule Guinea Ecuatorial today.

One festival in Guinea Ecuatorial is the balele dance. The balele dance is usually done around the Christms season and other holidays. The dance is usually accompanied by drums, wooden xylophones, bow harps, zithers, and the sanza (a small thumb piano fashioned from bamboo). There is often a band of three or four musicians.

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[|Guinea Ecuatorial National Anthem]