República da Guiné-Bissau Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Flag Emblem
Motto: "Unidade, Luta, Progresso"  (Portuguese) "Unity, Struggle, Progress"
Anthem: Esta é a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada  (Portuguese)
Capital (and largest city)		Bissau1 11°52′N, 15°36′W
Official languages		Portuguese
Recognised regional languages		Crioulo
Demonym		Guinean
Government		Republic
-	President	João Bernardo Vieira
-	Prime Minister	Martinho Ndafa Kabi
Independence		from Portugal
-	Declared	September 24, 1973
-	Recognised	September 10, 1974
Area
-	Total	36,544 km² (136th) 13,948 sq mi
-	Water (%)	22. The Flag of Guinea-Bissau was adopted in 1973 when independence from Portugal was proclaimed The national emblem of Guinea-Bissau was adopted shortly after Independence from Portugal in 1973. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's " Esta é a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada " (" This Is Our Beloved Country " is the National anthem of Guinea-Bissau. The population of Guinea-Bissau is ethnically diverse with distinct languages customs and social structures Bissau is the Capital city of Guinea-Bissau. It is an Autonomous city whose borders are conterminous with the Bissau Region. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. A regional language is a Language spoken in an area of a Nation state, whether it be a small area a federal State or Province, or Bissau-Guinean Creole or (native name kriol or kiriol varying with dialects crioulo da Guiné in Portuguese) is a language spoken by 60% A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its Latest election See also Guinea-Bissau presidential election 2005 List of Heads of State of Guinea-Bissau (Dates in italics indicate João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira (born 27 April 1939) has been President of Guinea-Bissau since 1 October 2005. List of Heads of Government of Guinea-Bissau See also Guinea-Bissau List of heads of state of Guinea-Bissau Martinho Ndafa Kabi (born September 17 1957) was the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 13 April 2007 to 5 Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" 4
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	1,586,000 (148th)
-	2002 census	1,345,479
-	Density	44/km² (154th) 114/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$1. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 167 billion (165th)
-	Per capita	$736 (177th)
Gini (1993)		47 (high)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion most prominently used as a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 374 (low) (175th)
Currency		West African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone		GMT (UTC+0)
Internet TLD		.gw
Calling code		+245

The Republic of Guinea-Bissau (pronounced /ˈgɪni bɨˈsaʊ/; Portuguese: República da Guiné-Bissau, IPA: [ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɐ giˈnɛ biˈsau]), is a country in western Africa, and one of the smallest nations in continental Africa. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The West African CFA franc ( French: franc CFA or simply franc, ISO 4217 code XOF) is the currency of eight independent states spanning ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT) is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west. Senegal (le Sénégal officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa. Guinea, officially Republic of Guinea (pronounced /ˈgɪni/ République de Guinée is a country in West Africa, formerly known as French Guinea Formerly the Portuguese colony of Portuguese Guinea, upon independence, the name of its capital, Bissau, was added to the country's name in order to prevent confusion between itself and the Republic of Guinea. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. Portuguese Guinea was the name for what is today Guinea-Bissau from 1446 to September 10, 1974. Bissau is the Capital city of Guinea-Bissau. It is an Autonomous city whose borders are conterminous with the Bissau Region. Guinea, officially Republic of Guinea (pronounced /ˈgɪni/ République de Guinée is a country in West Africa, formerly known as French Guinea

History

Main article: History of Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau was once part of the kingdom of Gabu (Kaabu), part of the Mali Empire; parts of the kingdom persisted until the eighteenth century. The history of Guinea-Bissau was dominated by Portugal from the 1450s to the 1970s; since independence the country has been primarily controlled For the empire see Kaabu. Gabú is the largest town in eastern Guinea-Bissau and capital of the Gabú Region. The Kingdom of Kaabu (ver Gabu, Ngabou or N’Gabu') (1537-1867 was a Mandinka Kingdom of Senegambia (centered on modern northeastern The Mali Empire or Manding Empire or Manden Kurufa was a Medieval West African civilization of the Mandinka from c The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system Although the rivers and coast of this area were among the first places colonized by the Portuguese, who began slave trade in the 17th century, the interior was not explored until the nineteenth century. The history of slavery uncovers many different forms of human exploitation across many cultures throughout history As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar

An armed rebellion beginning in 1956 by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) under the leadership of Amílcar Cabral gradually consolidated its hold on the country. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde ( Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde) or PAIGC is a Political party Amílcar Lopes Cabral ( September 12, 1924 – January 20, 1973) was an African agronomic engineer, writer Marxist Unlike guerilla movements in other Portuguese colonies, the PAIGC rapidly extended its military control over large portions of the country, aided by the jungle-like terrain and large quantities of arms from Cuba, China, the Soviet Union, and other African countries. The Portuguese Empire was the earliest and longest lived of the modern European colonial empires spanning almost six centuries from the capture of Ceuta The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Cuba also agreed to supply artillery experts, doctors and technicians. ^[1] The PAIGC even managed to acquire a significant anti-aircraft capability in order to defend itself against aerial attack. By 1973, the PAIGC was in control of most of the country. Independence was unilaterally declared on September 24, 1973, and was recognized by a 93-7 UN General Assembly vote in November 1973. Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. [1] Recognition became universal following the 1974 socialist-inspired military coup in Portugal. The Carnation Revolution (Revolução dos Cravos was an almost bloodless military-led pro-democratic Coup d'état, started on April 25, 1974, in Lisbon Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula.

Bissau

Following independence local soldiers that fought along with the Portuguese army were slaughtered by the thousands. Bissau is the Capital city of Guinea-Bissau. It is an Autonomous city whose borders are conterminous with the Bissau Region. A small number escaped to Portugal or to other African nations. The most famous massacre occurred in Bissorã. Bissorã is a town located in the Oio Region of Guinea-Bissau. In 1980 PAIGC admitted in its newspaper "Nó Pintcha" (dated 29/11/1980) that many were executed and buried in unmarked collective graves in the woods of Cumerá, Portogole and Mansabá.

The country was controlled by a revolutionary council until 1984. The first multi-party elections were held in 1994, but an army uprising in 1998 led to the president's ousting and the Guinea-Bissau Civil War. The Guinea-Bissau Civil War was triggered by an attempted Coup d'état against the government of President João Bernardo Vieira led by Brigadier-General Elections were held in 2000 and Kumba Ialá was elected president. Kumba Ialá (also spelled Yala) (born 15 March 1953) is a Guinea-Bissau Politician and former

In September 2003, a coup took place in which the military arrested Ialá on the charge of being "unable to solve the problems. " After being delayed several times, legislative elections were held in March 2004 . A legislative election was held in Guinea-Bissau on March 28 2004. A mutiny of military factions in October 2004 resulted in the death of the head of the armed forces, and caused widespread unrest. Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the Military; or the Crew of any ship even A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking

In June 2005, presidential elections were held for the first time since the coup that deposed Ialá. Ialá returned as the candidate for the PRS, claiming to be the legitimate president of the country, but the election was won by former president João Bernardo Vieira, deposed in the 1998 coup. João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira (born 27 April 1939) has been President of Guinea-Bissau since 1 October 2005. Vieira was a candidate for one of the factions of the PAIGC. Vieira beat Malam Bacai Sanhá in a runoff-election, but Sanhá refused initially to concede, claiming that the elections have been fraudulent in two constituencies, including the capital, Bissau. Malam Bacai Sanhá (born 5 May 1947) is a Guinea-Bissau Politician and former acting President. Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an Election. A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures goals or loyalty

Despite reports that there had been an influx of arms in the weeks leading up to the election and reports of some "disturbances during campaigning" - including attacks on the presidential palace and the Interior Ministry by as-yet-unidentified gunmen - European monitors labelled the election as "calm and organized". Election monitoring is the observation of an Election by one or more independent parties typically from another country or a Non-governmental organization (NGO ^[2]

Politics

Main article: Politics of Guinea-Bissau

Ministery of Justice, Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is a republic. Politics of Guinea-Bissau takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic Republic in transition whereby the President In the past, the government has been highly centralized and multiparty governance has been in effect since mid-1991. The president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government. At the legislative level, there is a unicameral "Assembleia Nacional Popular" (National People's Assembly) made up of 100 members. They are popularly elected from multi-member constituencies to serve a four-year term. At the judicial level, there is a "Supremo Tribunal da Justiça" (Supreme Court) which consists of nine justices appointed by the president. They serve at the pleasure of the president.

João Bernardo Vieira

João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira became President of Guinea-Bissau in 2005. João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira (born 27 April 1939) has been President of Guinea-Bissau since 1 October 2005. João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira (born 27 April 1939) has been President of Guinea-Bissau since 1 October 2005. Vieira returned to power in 2005 after winning the presidential election only six years after being ousted from office during a civil war. Previously, he held power for 19 years after taking power in 1980 in a bloodless coup. In that action, he toppled the government of Luís Cabral.

Regions and sectors

Main articles: Regions of Guinea-Bissau and Sectors of Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is divided into 8 regions (regiões) and one autonomous sector (sector autónomo). |||} Guinea-Bissau is divided into 8 regions (singular região plural regiões and 1 autonomous sector ( sector autónomo) |||}The regions of Guinea-Bissau are subdivided into 37 Sectors. |||} Guinea-Bissau is divided into 8 regions (singular região plural regiões and 1 autonomous sector ( sector autónomo) An autonomous area is an area of a Country that has a degree of Autonomy, or freedom from an external authority |||}The regions of Guinea-Bissau are subdivided into 37 Sectors. These in turn are subdivided into thirty-seven sectors. |||}The regions of Guinea-Bissau are subdivided into 37 Sectors. The regions are:

Bafata Biombo Bissau* Bolama Cacheu Gabu Oio Quinara Tombali * autonomous sector

Geography

Typical scenery in Guinea-Bissau

Satellite image of Guinea-Bissau, generated from raster graphics data supplied by The Map Library

Main article: Geography of Guinea-Bissau

At 13,945 sq mi. (36,120 km²), Guinea-Bissau is nearly identical in size to Taiwan, and somewhat larger than the US state of Maryland. The article is about the geographic sense of the term For other uses including Regions and Regional, see Region (disambiguation. Bafatá is a region in north-central Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Bafatá. Biombo is a region in western Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Quinhámel. Bissau is a region in central Guinea-Bissau. The city of Bissau serves as both the regional and national capital Bolama is a region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Bolama. Subdivisions Bolama is divided into 3 sectors Bolama Cacheu is a region in western Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Cacheu. Gabú region is the eastern-most region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Gabú. Oio is a region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Farim. Other major cities and towns include Nhacra, Mansoa, Bissora and Cumeré Quinara is a region in central Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Buba. Tombali is a region in southern Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Catió. In Computer graphics, a raster graphics image or bitmap, is a Data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of Pixels The Map Library should not be confused with the Map Library of The British Museum. This article describes the geography of Guinea-Bissau. Climate The climate in Guinea-Bissau is tropical The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. This small, tropical country lies at a low altitude; its highest point is 984 feet (300 m). A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International The interior is savanna, and the coastline is swampy plain. A savanna or savannah is a Tropical or Subtropical Grassland or Woodland Ecosystem. Its monsoon-like rainy season alternates with periods of hot, dry harmattan winds blowing from the Sahara. A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African Trade wind. It blows south from Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the The Sahara (الصحراء الكبرى aṣ-ṣaḥrā´ al-kubra, "The Great Desert" is the world's largest hot Desert and the world's second largest The Bijagos Archipelago extends out to sea. The Bissagos Islands or Bijagós Archipelago are a group of some eighteen major islands and dozens more smaller ones in the Atlantic Ocean.

Major cities

Climate

Guinea-Bissau is warm all year around and there is little temperature fluctuation averaging 26. Bissau is the Capital city of Guinea-Bissau. It is an Autonomous city whose borders are conterminous with the Bissau Region. Bissau is a region in central Guinea-Bissau. The city of Bissau serves as both the regional and national capital Bafatá is a town in central Guinea-Bissau, known as the birthplace of Amílcar Cabral. Bafatá is a region in north-central Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Bafatá. For the empire see Kaabu. Gabú is the largest town in eastern Guinea-Bissau and capital of the Gabú Region. Gabú region is the eastern-most region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Gabú. Bissorã is a town located in the Oio Region of Guinea-Bissau. Oio is a region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Farim. Other major cities and towns include Nhacra, Mansoa, Bissora and Cumeré Bolama is the closest of the Bijagós Islands to the mainland of Guinea-Bissau, and is also the name of the island's main town the capital of the Bolama Bolama is a region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Bolama. Subdivisions Bolama is divided into 3 sectors Bolama Cacheu is a town in north western Guinea-Bissau, lying on the Cacheu River. Cacheu is a region in western Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Cacheu. Bubaque is one of the Bijagós Islands in Guinea-Bissau, and is also the name of its main town Bolama is a region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Bolama. Subdivisions Bolama is divided into 3 sectors Bolama Catió is a city in Guinea-Bissau. It is the capital of Tombali Region. Tombali is a region in southern Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Catió. Mansôa is a town located in the Oio Region of Guinea-Bissau. Oio is a region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Farim. Other major cities and towns include Nhacra, Mansoa, Bissora and Cumeré Buba is the largest city in southern Guinea-Bissau, lying on the Rio Grande de Buba, near the Contanhez National Park. Quinara is a region in central Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Buba. Quebo is a town located in the Tombali Region of Guinea-Bissau. Quinara is a region in central Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Buba. Canchungo is a town located in the western Cacheu Region of Guinea-Bissau formely known as Vila Teixeira Pinto after Major Teixeira Pinto the colonial officer Cacheu is a region in western Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Cacheu. Farim is a town of northern Guinea-Bissau. It sits on the north bank of the Farim/Cacheu River, about 135 miles up the river from Cacheu. Oio is a region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Farim. Other major cities and towns include Nhacra, Mansoa, Bissora and Cumeré Quinhámel is a city in Guinea-Bissau. It is the capital of Biombo Region. Biombo is a region in western Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Quinhámel. Fulacunda is a town located in the Quinara Region of Guinea-Bissau. Quinara is a region in central Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Buba. 3 degrees Celsius. The average rainfall for Bissau is 2024 mm although this is almost entirely accounted for during the rainy season which falls between June and September/October. During the months of December, January, February, March and April, the country experiences drought. A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply

Economy

Main article: Economy of Guinea-Bissau

The village of Bula

Guinea-Bissau gained its independence from Portugal in 1974 after a protracted liberation war that brought tremendous damages to the country’s economic infrastructure. Guinea-Bissau is among the world's least developed nations and one of the 10 poorest countries in the world and depends mainly on agriculture and fishing The civil war that took place in 1998 and 1999 and a military coup in September 2003 again disrupted economic activity, leaving a substantial part of the economic and social infrastructure in ruins and intensifying the already widespread poverty. Following the parliamentary elections in March 2004 and presidential elections in July 2005, the country is trying to recover from the long period of instability despite a still-fragile political situation.

Guinea-Bissau is one of the world's poorest countries, with more than two-thirds of its population living below the poverty line. The economy depends mainly on agriculture; fishing and cashew nuts are its major exports. A long period of political instability has resulted in depressed economic activity, deteriorating social conditions, and increased macroeconomic imbalances. The key challenges for the country in the period ahead will be to restore fiscal discipline, rebuild public administration, improve the climate for private investment, and promote economic diversification.

In April 2007, UN Office on Drugs and Crime head, Antonio Maria Costa, said he feared Guinea-Bissau could become a "narco-state" following several large cocaine seizures in the country. Antonio Maria Costa is an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, appointed in May 2002 to the positions of Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs ^[3] Sadly, this seems to be occurring as Columbian cartels have used Guinea-Bissau as a transshipment point to Europe in pursuit of the European market for cocaine. ^[4]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Guinea-Bissau

The population of Guinea-Bissau is ethnically diverse and has many distinct languages, customs, and social structures. The population of Guinea-Bissau is ethnically diverse with distinct languages customs and social structures Guinea-Bissauans can be divided into the following three ethnic groups: Fula and the Mandinka-speaking people, who comprise the largest portion of the population and are concentrated in the north and northeast; the Balanta and Papel people, who live in the southern coastal regions; and the Manjaco and Mancanha, who occupy the central and northern coastal areas. The Fula or Fulbe or Fulani (the latter being an Anglicisation of the word in their language Fulɓe) are an ethnic group of The Mandinka language, sometimes referred to as Mandingo is a Mandé language spoken by millions of Mandinka people in Mali, Senegal, The Most of the remainder are mestiços of mixed Portuguese and African descent, including a Cape Verdean minority. Mestizo is a Spanish term that was coined during the Spanish Empire to refer to people of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry in Latin The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west The Republic of Cape Verde ( Portuguese: Cabo Verde, 'kabu 'veɾdɨ is a Republic located on an Archipelago in the Macaronesia Portuguese natives comprise a very small percentage of Guinea-Bissauans. This deficit was directly caused by the exodus of Portuguese settlers that took place after Guinea-Bissau gained independence. The country has also a tiny Chinese population, including those of mixed Portuguese and Chinese ancestry from Macau, a former Asian Portuguese colony. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Macau topics. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Only 14% of the population speaks the official language Portuguese. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. 44% speak Kriol, a Portuguese-based creole language, and the remainder speaks native African languages. Bissau-Guinean Creole or (native name kriol or kiriol varying with dialects crioulo da Guiné in Portuguese) is a language spoken by 60% This article is about Portuguese-based Creole languages See Creole peoples for the Portuguese Creole ethnicity Most Portuguese and Mestiços speak one of the African languages and Kriol as second languages. French is also learned in schools, as the country is surrounded by French-speaking countries and a full member of the Francophonie. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people La Francophonie is an international organisation of French-speaking countries and governments and in French, the community of French-speaking peoples Most people are farmers with traditional religious beliefs (animism); 45% are Muslim, principally the Fula and Mandinka peoples; and fewer than 8% are Christian, mostly Roman Catholics. Animism (from Latin anima ( Soul, Life) commonly refers to a religious belief that Souls or Spirits exist in Animals A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings

Culture

See also: List of writers from Guinea-Bissau, Music of Guinea-Bissau

The music of Guinea-Bissau is usually associated with the polyrhythmic gumbe genre, the country's primary musical export. This is a list of prominent and notable writers from Africa, including Poets Novelists Children's writers Essayists and Scholars listed The Music of Guinea-Bissau is usually associated with the Polyrhythmic Gumbe genre, the country's primary musical export Gumbe (also gumbay) can also refer to a drum used in the music of Jamaica, Sierra Leone and French Guiana. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other However, civil unrest other factors have combined over the years to keep gumbe, and other genres, out of mainstream audiences, even in generally syncretist African countries.

The calabash is the primary musical instrument of Guinea-Bissau, and is used in extremely swift and rhythmically complex dance music. The calabash or African bottle gourd (not to be confused with the Calabaza) is a Vine grown for its fruit which can either be harvested young and used A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. This article is about music for dancing in general You may also be looking for Electronic dance music. Lyrics are almost always in Guinea-Bissau Creole, a Portuguese-based creole language, and are often humorous and topical, revolving around current events and controversies, especially AIDS. Bissau-Guinean Creole or (native name kriol or kiriol varying with dialects crioulo da Guiné in Portuguese) is a language spoken by 60% Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable Language that originates seemingly as a nativized Pidgin.

The word gumbe is sometimes used generically, to refer to any music of the country, although it most specifically refers to a unique style that fuses about ten of the country's folk music traditions. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Tina and tinga are other popular genres, while extent folk traditions include ceremonial music used in funerals, initiations and other rituals, as well as Balanta brosca and kussundé, Mandinga djambadon and the kundere sound of the Bijagos islands. The Music of Guinea-Bissau is usually associated with the Polyrhythmic Gumbe genre, the country's primary musical export A funeral is a Ceremony marking a person's Death. Funerary customs comprise the complex of Beliefs and practices used by a Culture to remember Initiation is a Rite of passage Ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society The Mandinka (also known as Mandingo) are one of the largest Ethnic groups in West Africa with a population estimated at eleven million.

Matriarchy

Caravela beach

In the Bolama archipelago, a matriarchal or matrilineal social system has survived to the present day^[5], although it is currently being eroded by globalization and Christian missionary influence. Bolama is a region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Bolama. Subdivisions Bolama is divided into 3 sectors Bolama Matriarchy is a term which is applied to gynocentric form of Society, in which the leading role is by the Female and especially by the Mothers Matrilineality is a system in which lineage is traced through the mother and maternal ancestors Globalization (or globalisation) in its literal sense is the process of transformation of local or regional phenomena into global ones See also Evangelism, Christianization A Christian mission has been widely defined since the Lausanne Congress of 1974 as that which

In this system, women choose husbands who are compelled to marry them, and religious affairs are controlled by a female priesthood.

See also

• Communications in Guinea-Bissau
• Foreign relations of Guinea-Bissau
• List of Guinea-Bissau-related topics
• Military of Guinea-Bissau
• Transport in Guinea-Bissau
• Scouting in Guinea-Bissau

References

This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a U. The World Factbook ( ISSN; also known as the CIA World Factbook) is an annual publication of the Central Intelligence Agency of the S. government publication, is in the public domain. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone

Sources

• Richard Andrew Lobban, Jr. and Peter Karibe Mendy, Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, third edition (Scarecrow Press, 1997) ISBN 0-8108-3226-7 (includes extensive bibliography)

External links

• Official government website
• AllAfrica news headline links
• BBC News Country Profile
• CIA World Factbook
• Africa South of the Sahara - Stanford University
• The Index on Africa
• Map of Guinea-Bissau
• United States consular information sheet/travel advisory for Guinea-Bissau
• Drugbarons turn Bissau into Africa's first narco-state
• Guinea-Bissau travel guide from Wikitravel