[citation needed] In the late eighteenth century, Portuguese colonialists built the Fort of São João, which still survives, and the town, as a slave port, became the second most important in the region after Mozambique Island.

[citation needed] During the war of independence against Portugal, many members of FRELIMO and other nationalist organisations were imprisoned and killed at the fort.

The first president of independent Mozambique stated in 1983 that "every palm tree on the island is fertilised by the bodies of the Mozambicans who were betrayed and killed by PIDE agents".

[2] Ibo forms part of the Quirimbas National Park and is linked by dhows to the mainland at Tandanhangue.

[citation needed] In April 2019, Cyclone Kenneth hit the island and it was reported that 90% of the homes were destroyed.