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Republic of
2014
Guinea-Bissau
commercial center.
The Portuguese did not begin to conquer inland territory
until the 20th century. Initially helped by Muslim groups with
whom they traded, the Portuguese subdued animist groups
and by 1936 had gained control of the entire area. In 1952,
Portuguese Guinea became a province of Portugal. In 1955, a
former colonial administrator, Amilcar Cabral, joined with
other leaders to form the African Party for the Independence
of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). It then led most ethnic
groups in a guerrilla war against the Portuguese, beginning in
1961. By 1972, the PAIGC controlled most of the country
(including the Cape Verde islands) and held national
elections. It declared Guinea-Bissau's independence in
September 1973. Portugal officially granted independence in
1974 when socialist António de Spínola took power in
Portugal.
Guinea-Bissau's first president, Luís Cabral, was
overthrown in 1980, and the union between Cape Verde and
Guinea-Bissau dissolved. After the coup, João Bernardo
Vieira assumed control of the PAIGC and led Guinea-Bissau
as a one-party state until 1994. In 1990, a committee was
formed to recommend changes in the constitution and
electoral process so a multiparty system could be established
gradually.
The nation's first free elections were held in 1994, but
opposition parties, though active as early as 1991, were not
well organized. As a result, the PAIGC retained its
dominance. Vieira faced a closer race for president but won
the election. In June 1998, General Ansumane Mane staged a
coup against Vieira, which quickly escalated into civil war
between forces loyal to Vieira and rebel army troops. The
BACKGROUND
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 13,948
Area (sq. km.): 36,125
Guinea-Bissau is a small West African country roughly the
size of the U.S. state of Maryland and a little more than half
the size of Panama. This area includes the Bijagos
Archipelago and other offshore islands. The Bijagos and
coastal regions feature canopied gallery forests and mangrove
swamps. A low-lying coastal plain rises to savanna in the
north. Three major rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The
climate is tropical and temperatures average near 80°F
(27°C). The rainy season (May–October) is hot and humid.
Rainfall amounts differ dramatically; the south receives twice
as much as the north. The dry season (October–May) can be
hot and dusty, but December and January are relatively cool
and pleasant.
History
In the 15th century, the area now known as Guinea-Bissau
was part of a vast empire centered in Mali. The Portuguese
began exploring the region in the 15th century, first
establishing themselves on the islands of Cape Verde, situated
350 miles (560 kilometers) northwest of Guinea-Bissau. They
claimed the area around current Guinea-Bissau as Portuguese
Guinea. The Portuguese established trading posts and in the
1600s began exporting slaves from the territory. As the slave
trade diminished in the 1800s, Bissau became an important
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capital's 300,000 residents fled heavy fighting, which soon
spread and involved troops from Senegal. Months of war
destroyed most of the country's public infrastructure. A peace
agreement was signed in November 1998. Accordingly,
Senegalese troops withdrew, peacekeeping forces began to
arrive, and an interim prime minister was installed in January
1999. Vieira remained president and elections were
scheduled.
When Vieira's presidential guard refused to disarm, Mane's
forces resumed the war and the capital was again subjected to
heavy fighting and civilian panic. Within a month, nearly all
of Guinea-Bissau's troops and citizens supported the rebels.
The presidential guard surrendered in May 1999, and Vieira
was eventually allowed to leave the country to accept asylum
in Portugal. Mane refused to take power and insisted that it
remain with civilian authorities. Parliament chose Malam
Bacai Sanhá to serve as interim president, and peacekeeping
forces withdrew in June 1999.
A multiparty presidential election was held in November
1999, followed by a runoff in January 2000. Voter turnout
was extremely high, a sign that Guinea-Bissauans were
looking for relief from a year of war. They elected Kumba
Yallah president with 72 percent of the vote. He promised to
stamp out corruption but soon arrested some of his critics.
General Mane tried to overthrow Yallah in November 2000
but was killed when the coup attempt failed.
In November 2002, President Yallah dissolved the
National People's Assembly, dismissed the prime minister,
and installed a caretaker administration. International
observers declared the moves unconstitutional, and opposition
politicians called for his resignation. The military deposed
Yallah in a bloodless coup in September 2003 and installed an
interim civilian government to prepare the country for new
elections.
In 2005, former president Vieira returned from exile to run
for the presidency as an independent candidate. Vieira placed
second in the election's preliminary round to Sanhá of the
PAIGC. Because no candidate won a majority of votes, a
runoff between the two leading candidates was held. Vieira
won 52 percent of the ballot in the July 2005 runoff to defeat
Sanhá. The PAIGC accused Vieira of fraud but later accepted
the result.
In March 2009, Vieira was assassinated by soldiers who
blamed him for a bomb attack that killed the head of the
armed forces, General Tagme Na Waie, hours earlier.
Presidential elections were held in June and July 2009, and
the PAIGC candidate, Sanhá, emerged the winner. Political
unrest continued into 2010 when government soldiers took
control of the official residence of Prime Minister Gomes and
detained him and the chief of the armed forces for several
hours.
President Sanhá died in France in early 2012. Although a
first round of presidential elections was held in March, a
military coup in April detained the interim leadership,
prompting sanctions on Guinea-Bissau from several
international bodies. In May, the military returned power to a
new interim government. Elections were to be held in 2013
but were postponed until 2014 because of a lack of funds.
Peacekeeping troops from other African countries are to
maintain order.
THE PEOPLE
Population
Population: 1,660,870
Population Growth Rate: 1.95%
Urban Population: 44%
Guinea-Bissau has been described as a melting pot of West
African ethnic groups, home to at least 13 major groups with
distinct languages, customs, religious beliefs, and forms of
social organization. Most of Guinea-Bissau's population is of
African descent (99 percent) and includes the Balanta (30
percent), Fula (20 percent), Manjaca (14 percent), Mandinga
(13 percent), and Papel (7 percent). The remaining 1 percent
is made up of Europeans and people of mixed race.
Guinea-Bissau is also home to some Cape Verdeans,
Senegalese, and Mauritanians. Bissau, the capital and largest
city, is the most ethnically diverse; Bafatá and Gabú also have
diverse populations. However, most small villages are
ethnically homogenous. More than 40 percent of the
population is younger than age 15. Language
Although Portuguese is Guinea-Bissau's official language, it
is rarely spoken by the average person. Government meetings,
radio and television broadcasts, and certain other activities are
conducted in Portuguese, but the language of daily interaction
for most people is Kriolu or their own ethnic group's
language. Kriolu is a mixture of Portuguese and several local
indigenous tongues. Most urban residents speak Kriolu, but
rural people may never learn it if they have no urban contacts.
Still, its use is spreading to rural areas, especially among men.
Children learn to understand Portuguese because it is the
language of school instruction. However, they usually fail to
read, write, or effectively speak Portuguese because it is not
well taught as a subject. Better-educated urban youth are
beginning to speak a form of Kriolu that is moving closer to
standard Portuguese. At the same time, some scholars are
trying to introduce a standardized written form of Kriolu to
schools, but Guinea-Bissauans consider Kriolu more of an
oral language and have not embraced these efforts. Because
of contact with neighboring French-speaking countries, a few
people speak French.
Religion
Fifty percent of Guinea-Bissauans are Muslim, 10 percent are
Christian, and the remainder follow traditional animistic
beliefs. Religious preference is tied to ethnic grouping. The
Fula, Mandinga, and Beafada, among others, are Muslims.
The Balanta, Manjaco, Papel, Mancanha, Bijago, and others
are animists.
Many animists believe in a creator-god that can be
contacted only through other gods or supernatural beings
(known as iran). The iran reside in shrines usually built near
large trees. Persons considered “spiritual advisors” or
intermediaries perform ceremonies to the iran and services
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for people (casting spells, telling fortunes, and treating
illness). Animists who convert to Christianity and Islam often
mix their old and new beliefs rather than entirely abandon
their animist traditions. For example, they may continue to
seek advice from spiritualists and to use amulets and charms.
Muslims believe in the Qur'an (Koran) as the word of
Allah (God) revealed to the prophet Muhammad. They show
devotion through the Five Pillars of Islam: professing the
name of Allah as the only God and Muhammad as his last and
greatest messenger; praying five times daily; fasting during
the holy month of Ramadan; giving alms (called zakat) to the
poor; and making a pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), Saudi
Arabia.
ask Kuma di kurpu? (How is your body?) or make other
polite inquiries about the person's family and work. Greetings
can last a long time, especially in rural areas, and cover a
wide range of subjects.
People shake hands when they greet. Some may hold on to
the hand for a while after the initial handshake. One offers a
closed hand if dirty so the wrist may be shaken. In urban
areas, the Portuguese tradition of greeting by kissing alternate
cheeks (first right, then left) is common. Except at large
gatherings, it is polite to greet each individual in a group
rather than the group as a whole. The same applies when a
person leaves.
Good friends may call each other primo or prima (cousin)
or irmon/irma (brother/sister); strangers often are addressed
as amigo or amiga (friend). To address an older person, most
Guinea-Bissauans use the term tio (uncle) or tia (aunt).
Otherwise, people address each other by first name or
nickname. Titles are reserved for formal occasions.
General Attitudes
The people of Guinea-Bissau respect those who are
peace-loving and nonaggressive. They generally try to avoid
confrontation and therefore also refrain from making direct or
assertive statements. Although some minor tensions exist
between various ethnic groups, most groups are united
because of their struggle for independence against the
Portuguese. This feeling of unity has helped Guinea-Bissau
avoid major internal conflict; even the 1998 to 1999 civil war
was a political and not an ethnic conflict.
Generally friendly and hospitable, Guinea-Bissauans
believe in mutual cooperation. Although the country is
extremely poor, there are relatively few beggars or homeless
people. People love to socialize with friends; a desire for
privacy may be considered antisocial.
Most people believe that nature is controlled by gods and
spirits and that people have relatively little power over nature.
They tend to feel their individual conditions cannot or will not
change. A common phrase is Jitu ka ten (There's nothing one
can do). Such acceptance of life's difficulties reflects people's
patience, perseverance, and even resignation. However, it also
hinders progress. A more recent slogan has been used to
combat this attitude: Jitu ten ku ten (There has to be a way).
Gestures
One beckons by waving all four fingers with the palm facing
down. Some rural Guinea-Bissauans may point directions
with their tongues. Pointing at people with a finger is
considered rude. Personal space is relatively small; people
stand close together when conversing, and touching is an
important part of communication. Friends of the same sex
often walk hand in hand, but this does not suggest anything
beyond friendship. It is impolite to stretch in public. To
indicate “no,” a person may wag an upright index finger from
side to side or make two short clicking sounds in the mouth.
To signify “yes,” the person makes one clicking sound or
lightly clucks the tongue.
Children are taught to show respect by not looking elders
or superiors in the eye. Even Muslim elders often look
sideways when conversing. Women are supposed to avoid
eye contact with men unless they are romantically involved.
Visiting
Because visiting is considered a generous and thoughtful act,
visitors are treated with great hospitality. Hosts nearly always
offer guests water or something else to drink. If visitors arrive
while the hosts are eating, tradition dictates that they must be
invited to share the meal. It is rude to refuse this offer, even if
a person is not hungry. Guests should at least take one bite
before saying N justa, a Kriolu phrase meaning, “I've had
enough.”
It is not necessary to make appointments before visiting,
although they are sometimes made in urban areas. Time is
very flexible. Invited guests may arrive up to two hours late
for a scheduled event without offending the hosts. Guests
show appreciation to hosts with gifts of tobacco, kola nuts,
bread, sugar, fruit, or cana (cane alcohol). It is inappropriate
to criticize or joke about another person's ethnicity. Foreign
guests should not inquire about the hosts' poverty, poor
health, marital status, or educational background, as this
would embarrass the hosts.
Personal Appearance
Western-style clothing is typical attire for work and daily
activities because it is inexpensive and readily available,
shipped secondhand from Europe and North America. Adults
value cleanliness and modesty. Locally made traditional
clothing is more expensive and is reserved for special
occasions. Some rural people still wear traditional clothing on
a daily basis; styles vary by ethnic group and region. Many
women wear long, colorful wraparound skirts with
loose-fitting tops. Women enjoy intricately braided hairstyles,
often done by weaving synthetic hair into their real hair.
Schoolchildren wear short white robes over their clothing.
CUSTOMS AND COURTESIES
Greetings
Greetings are an important way to show respect for others. It
is rude to start speaking without first greeting a person. A
typical Kriolu greeting begins with Kuma? (How are you?);
the response is N sta bon (I am fine). Later, one also might
Eating
Most families eat three meals a day if they can afford it.
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During the rainy season (also called the “hungry season”),
many eat only one or two meals. An urban breakfast might be
eaten between 7 and 9 a.m., lunch between noon and 3 p.m.
(including time for rest or a nap), and dinner between 8 and
10 p.m. Rural meal times vary by ethnic group, season, and
personal habits. Breakfast is usually leftovers from the
previous day, lunch is the main meal, and dinner is a lighter
version of lunch. The main dish typically is served in large
bowls placed on mats on the floor or ground. An older person
usually divides the food into portions. Individuals eat only
from the portion that is directly in front of them. It is impolite
to move the bowl while others are eating. In many parts of the
country, family members eat separately according to sex and
age. Most Guinea-Bissauans eat only with the right hand; the
left is used for personal hygiene. Spoons are more common in
urban areas than in villages. The average person rarely eats at
a restaurant.
groom to provide expensive gifts or to farm family land for
many years. The groom must also furnish a communal feast at
the wedding. Many men put off getting married because they
have to save money for the event.
Polygamy is common. Islamic law allows a man to have as
many as four wives. Animists are not restricted in the number
of wives they may have, but some urban people have begun to
oppose the practice of taking more than one wife.
Life Cycle
For animists, Muslims, and Christians alike, ceremonial feasts
are held to mark important life transitions, such as the
celebration of the birth of a child, rites marking the transition
from childhood to adulthood, and funerals. Traditional music
often plays a prominent role in these events. Certain animist
rites of passage, such as circumcising young men after their
elders teach them about becoming men, are performed in
secret ceremonies. Muslims generally observe Islamic
customs when a person dies. These include performing a
burial within 24 hours of the person's death.
LIFESTYLE
Diet
Guinea-Bissauans often say that if they haven't eaten rice at a
meal, they haven't eaten at all. In rural areas, a main meal
consists of rice or millet and some type of sauce (peanut,
palm oil, sorrel and okra, or tomato) served with fish or meat,
if available. Some groups only kill cattle for ceremonial
feasts, although they do drink cows' milk. While fish is
plentiful in coastal areas, people who live farther inland do
not often eat it. Bay leaves, lemons, tomatoes, salt, and oil are
common sauce ingredients. A popular dish is chicken cafriela
(cooked in lemon, onions, and butter). Tropical fruits
(mangoes, papaya, and bananas), vegetables (manioc, corn,
squash, and sweet potatoes), and peanuts are eaten in season.
Devout Muslims abstain from consuming alcohol and pork.
Family
The value placed on the extended family has a great impact
on Guinea-Bissau's society and individuals. Conformity and
contribution to the family are considered more important than
individual interests. In return for conformity, individuals
enjoy a sense of belonging and security. Most
Guinea-Bissauans desire large families. Women are
responsible for housework and child care, while men are
expected to provide an income or food and clothing. Mothers
carry young babies on their backs as they work. Older
siblings often care for younger children.
Housing
The majority of Guinea-Bissauans (about 70 percent) live in
rural areas. Most people belong to farming or fishing families
in small villages. Three generations usually share a
household. Their basic living conditions do not include
electricity, running water, or other modern conveniences. A
typical home is made of mud bricks that have been dried in
the sun. Roofs are thatched. Urban families enjoy somewhat
higher living standards. However, electricity blackouts are
common in cities. Overall, about 40 percent of all
Guinea-Bissauans do not have access to safe water, and 65
percent lack access to proper sanitation facilities.
Recreation
Soccer is Guinea-Bissau's most popular sport. People take
advantage of a short workday during the rainy season to
attend local soccer matches. They also enjoying listening to
radio broadcasts of soccer matches and other sporting events.
Some urban residents enjoy basketball and tennis, while
traditional wrestling (luta livre) is popular in rural areas. Most
towns have a television and VCR set up in a theater format
that people pay to watch. However, the most common leisure
activity is sitting outside under a shady tree (in the day) or on
a veranda (at night), chatting with friends and neighbors.
Guinea-Bissauans tell stories, sing songs, and gossip. In rural
areas, people talk while sitting around the cooking fire.
Dating and Marriage
Dating habits vary widely. Muslims are generally stricter
about moral behavior and interaction between boys and girls,
but young women often marry in their teens. Arranged
marriages are common in rural areas. Urban and animist
social norms are less rigid, and urban youth often socialize
and choose their spouses.
The birth of a child usually marks a couple as “married.”
The government does not recognize such unions, but fees and
documentation requirements for a licensed marriage demand
more money and time than the average person has, and so
many couples live together without officially marrying. Even
more costly, a prospective bride's family often requires the
The Arts
A popular musical rhythm in Guinea-Bissau is gumbe.
Women dance to the music, while men keep the beat by
hitting a water drum, which is a gourd that floats in water.
Gumbe musicians have historically played an important role
in challenging government authority. The kora (a stringed
lute) is played solo or in arrangements of jazz or flamenco.
The bala xylophone dates back hundreds of years to the Mali
Empire. Cigarette paper is placed under the bala slats to
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produce a buzzing sound. Modern pop music is based on a
style of Portuguese folk singing known as fado.
Cellular Phone Subscriptions (per 100 people): 56
Paved Roads: 28%
Holidays
Guinea-Bissau's official holidays include New Year's Day,
National Hero's Day (20 Jan.), Women's Day (8 Mar.), Easter
(Friday–Sunday), International Worker's Day (1 May),
Martyrs of Colonialism Day (3 Aug.), Independence Day (24
Sept.), Improvement of the State and Distribution of Equality
and Opportunity for Guineans of all Origins Day (14 Nov.),
and Christmas. Carnaval is usually held in February (before
Ash Wednesday). Traditional dancing, parades, and
papier-mâché masks are combined in several days of frenzied
activity. Muslim holidays are determined according to the
lunar calendar. These include the feast to end the Islamic
month of Ramadan (a month in which Muslims fast from
sunrise to sundown) and Tabaski (Islam's Feast of the
Sacrifice). In rural areas of Guinea-Bissau, various ethnic
groups maintain their own calendars and holidays.
Unpaved roads make travel difficult during the rainy season.
Rivers must be crossed by ferry. Only Bissau has buses and
taxis. Many men in smaller cities ride bicycles to work.
Between towns, people ride crowded kandongas (pickup
trucks with seats and a roof for baggage). Otherwise, people
walk. Guinea-Bissauans rely on radio broadcasts for news and
information; families can transmit personal messages and
announcements over the radio. Televisions are rare outside of
Bissau. There is one national newspaper. Mail service does
not extend beyond the Bissau post office. Rural people use a
network of kandonga drivers, friends, and relatives to send
messages.
Education
Adult Literacy: 54.2%
Mean Years of Schooling: 2.3
Guinea-Bissau lacks schools, teachers, materials, and money.
Low attendance and high drop out rates are due in part to the
use of Portuguese. Because children do not learn Portuguese
at home, they are essentially taught in a foreign language.
Written Kriolu materials are scarce and often not used. The
national goal is to provide four years of compulsory
education. Guinea-Bissau has secondary schools, but students
must move to Bissau to complete their last two years. This is
nearly impossible for many. The country has one school for
teacher training. Teachers work long hours, are poorly paid,
and often must strike to get their wages.
SOCIETY
Government
Head of State: Pres. Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo (acting)
Head of Government: PM Rui Duarte Barros (acting)
Capital: Bissau
Under Guinea-Bissau's constitution, the president is head of
state and is elected by popular vote to a five-year term. The
prime minister is head of government and is appointed by the
president on recommendation of the National People's
Assembly's governing party. The National People's Assembly
has one hundred members, who are elected to four-year
terms. All citizens are eligible to vote at age 18.
Repeated military coups have occurred in Guinea-Bissau,
most recently in April 2012. The military returned control of
the country to a civilian interim government in late May
2012. Manual Serifo Nhamadjo and Rui Duarte Barros are
acting president and prime minister, respectively.
Health
Medical facilities are inadequate or absent in many areas. Life
expectancy is low and the infant mortality rate is very high.
Major causes of death include malaria, gastrointestinal
infections, and AIDS. Bilharzia and tuberculosis are
widespread. Malnutrition is a serious problem in many parts
of the country.
AT A GLANCE
Economy
GDP (PPP) in billions: $1.9
GDP (PPP) per capita: $1,100
Contact Information
Permanent Mission of Guinea-Bissau to the United Nations,
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400F, New York, NY 10017;
phone (917) 770-5598.
Guinea-Bissau is one of the world's poorest countries. About
85 percent of the labor force is engaged in agriculture. Most
people do not earn a wage, being subsistence farmers, or their
wages do not meet basic needs. Income is not distributed
equally. Guinea-Bissau imports much of its food, fuel, and
manufactured goods. It exports cashews, fish, peanuts, and
palm products. Corruption, debt, low motivation, and other
factors hinder efforts to implement land reform, tighten
business regulations, promote self-sufficiency, and attract
international investment. Guinea-Bissau uses West Africa's
regional currency, the CFA franc (XOF).
Transportation and Communications
Internet Users (per 100 people): 3
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Country and Development Data
Capital
Population
Area (sq. mi.)
Area (sq. km.)
Human Development Index
Gender Inequality Index
GDP (PPP) per capita
Adult Literacy
Infant Mortality
Life Expectancy
Currency
CultureGrams
Bissau
1,660,870 (rank=151)
13,948 (rank=136)
36,125
176 of 187 countries
NA
$1,100
68% (male); 41% (female)
92.66 per 1,000 births
47 (male); 50 (female)
CFA franc
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