Guinea-Bissau / Guiné-Bissau...Former Portuguese Colony

Is located in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west.
It covers nearly 37,000 square kilometres (14,000 sq mi) with an estimated population of 1,600,000. Formerly the Portuguese colony of Portuguese Guinea, upon independence, the name of its capital, Bissau, was added to the country's name to prevent confusion with the Republic of Guinea. The country's per-capita gross domestic product is one of the lowest in the world.

History

Guinea-Bissau was once part of the kingdom of Gabu, part of the Mali Empire; parts of this kingdom persisted until the eighteenth century, while others were part of the Portuguese Empire. Portuguese Guinea was known also, from its main economic activity, as the Slave Coast.

Early reports of Europeans reaching this area include those of the Venetian Alvise Cadamosto's voyage of 1455, the 1479-1480 voyage by Flemish-French trader Eustache de la Fosse, and Diogo Cão who in the 1480s reached the Congo River and the lands of Bakongo, setting up thus the foundations of modern Angola, some 1200 km down the African coast from Guinea-Bissau.

Although the rivers and coast of this area were among the first places colonized by the Portuguese, since the 16th century, the interior was not explored until the nineteenth century. The local African rulers in Guinea, some of whom prospered greatly from the slave trade, had no interest in allowing the Europeans any further inland than the fortified coastal settlements where the trading took place. African communities that fought back against slave traders had even greater incentives to distrust European adventurers and would-be settlers. The Portuguese presence in Guinea was therefore largely limited to the port of Bissau and Cacheu, although isolated European farmer-settlers established farms along Bissau's inland rivers.

For a brief period in the 1790s the British attempted to establish a rival foothold on an offshore island, at Bolama. But by the 19th century the Portuguese were sufficiently secure in Bissau to regard the neighbouring coastline as their own special territory, also up north in part of present South Senegal.

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 then Portuguese Guinea. Unlike guerrilla movements in other Portuguese colonies, the PAIGC rapidly extended its military control over large portions of the territory, aided by the jungle-like terrain, its easily reached borderlines with neighbouring allies and large quantities of arms from Cuba, China, the Soviet Union, and left-leaning African countries.

Cuba also agreed to supply artillery experts, doctors and technicians. 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 many parts of Guinea. Independence was unilaterally declared on September 24, 1973. Recognition became universal following the April 25, 1974 socialist-inspired military coup in Portugal which overthrew Lisbon's Estado Novo regime.

Independence

Luís Cabral was appointed the first President of Guinea-Bissau. Following independence local black soldiers that fought along with the Portuguese Army against the PAIGC guerrillas were slaughtered by the thousands. Some managed to escape and settled in Portugal or other African nations, one of the massacres occurred in the town of Bissorã. In 1980 the PAIGC admitted in its newspaper "Nó Pintcha" (dated November 29, 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. Elections were held again in 2000 and Kumba Ialá was elected president.

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 mutiny of military factions in October 2004 resulted in the death of the head of the armed forces, and caused widespread unrest.

Geography

At 36125 square kilometres (13,948 sq mi), Guinea-Bissau is larger in size than Taiwan, Belgium, or the U.S. state of Maryland. This small, tropical country lies at a low altitude; its highest point is 300 metres (984 ft). The interior is savanna, and the coastline is plain with swamps of Guinean mangroves. Its monsoon-like rainy season alternates with periods of hot, dry harmattan winds blowing from the Sahara. The Bijagos Archipelago extends out to sea.

Other Infos

Oficial Name:
Republica da Guiné-Bissau

Independence:
Declared September 24, 1973
- Recognised September 10, 1974

Area:
36.125km2

Inhabitants:
1.560.000

Languages:
Badyara [pbp] 4,220 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Northeast corner. Alternate names: Badian, Badjara, Badyaranke, Pajade, Pajadinca, Pajadinka, Gola, Bigola. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda
More information.

Bainouk-Gunyuño [bab] 8,170 (2002). South of the Casamance River. Alternate names: Banyum, Banyun, Bagnoun, Banhum, Bainuk, Banyuk, Banyung, Elomay, Elunay. Dialects: A distinct language from Bainouk-Gunyamoolo of Senegal and Gambia. Related to Kobiana and Kasanga of Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. More closely related to the Tenda languages of eastern Senegal than to Diola and Balanta. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Banyun
More information.

Balanta-Kentohe [ble] 367,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Population total all countries: 393,000. North central and central coast. Also spoken in Gambia. Alternate names: Balanta, Balant, Balante, Balanda, Ballante, Belante, Bulanda, Brassa, Alante, Frase. Dialects: Fora, Kantohe (Kentohe, Queuthoe), Naga, Mane. Naga, Mane, and Kantohe may be separate languages. A separate language from Balanta-Ganja in Senegal. Not intelligible with Mansoanka. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Balant-Ganja
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Bassari [bsc] 475 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Northeastern. Alternate names: Onian, Onëyan, Ayan, Biyan, Wo, Basari. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda
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Bayot [bda] 2,025 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Northwestern, along the border with Senegal. Alternate names: Bayote, Baiot, Bayotte. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Bayot
More information.

Biafada [bif] 41,420 (2002). Central south, north of the Nalu. Alternate names: Beafada, Biafar, Bidyola, Bedfola, Dfola, Fada. Dialects: Lexical similarity 52% with Badyara. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Tenda
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Bidyogo [bjg] 27,575 (2002). Roxa and Bijago islands. Anhaki is on Canhabaque (Roxa) Island, Kagbaaga on Bubaque Island, Kamona on Caravela and Caraxe islands, Kajoko on Orango and Uno islands. Alternate names: Bijago, Bijogo, Bijougot, Budjago, Bugago, Bijuga. Dialects: Anhaqui (Anhaki), Kagbaaga, Kamona, Kajoko (Orango). Some intelligibility problems are reported between dialects. Only Kamona is said to be unintelligible to others. There are important grammatical differences between Kagbaaga and Anhaki, Kagbaaga and Kajoko. No information about dialects on Galinhas and Formosa islands. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Bijago
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Crioulo, Upper Guinea [pov] 189,850 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Population total all countries: 392,350. Also Bijagos Islands. Also spoken in Gambia, Senegal, USA. Alternate names: Kiryol, Portuguese Creole, Kriulo, Guinea-Bissau Creole. Dialects: Bissau-Bolama Creole, Bafatá Creole, Cacheu-Ziguinchor Creole. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
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Ejamat [eja] 22,000 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Population total all countries: 24,025. Northwest corner, San Domingo District. Also spoken in Senegal. Alternate names: Ediamat, Fulup, Feloup, Felup, Felupe, Floup, Flup. Dialects: Lexical similarity 63% between Her-Ejamat and Jola-Fonyi or Jola-Kasa; 50% with Gusilay or Elun. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Jola Central, Her-Ejamat
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Jola-Fonyi [dyo] 5,996 in Guinea-Bissau (2000 WCD). Alternate names: Kujamataak, Kújoolaak Kati Fooñi, Jola-Fogny, Diola-Fogny, Jola. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Jola Central, Jola-Fonyi
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Kasanga [ccj] 650 (2002). A remnant is living near Felupe, northwest, in a sparsely populated border area. None in Senegal. Alternate names: Cassanga, Kassanga, I-Hadja, Haal. Dialects: Close to Banyun. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Nun
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Kobiana [kcj] 650 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Ethnic population: 650. Near Banyun. Also spoken in Senegal. Alternate names: Cobiana, Uboi, Buy. Dialects: Close to Bainouk and Kasanga. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Eastern Senegal-Guinea, Nun
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Mandinka [mnk] 154,200 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). North central, central, and northeastern. Alternate names: Mandinga, Mandingue, Mandingo, Mandinque, Manding. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-West
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Mandjak [mfv] 170,230 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Population total all countries: 285,150. West and northwest of Bissau. Also spoken in France, Gambia, Senegal. Alternate names: Mandjaque, Manjaca, Manjaco, Manjiak, Mandyak, Manjaku, Manjack, Ndyak, Mendyako, Kanyop. Dialects: Bok (Babok, Sarar, Teixeira Pinto, Tsaam), Likes-Utsia (Baraa, Kalkus), Cur (Churo), Lund, Yu (Pecixe, Siis, Pulhilh). Some dialects listed may be separate languages. Close to Mankanya and Papel. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Manjaku-Papel
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Mankanya [knf] 40,855 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Population total all countries: 68,955. Northwest of Bissau. Also spoken in Gambia, Senegal. Alternate names: Mankanha, Mancanha, Mancagne, Mancang, Bola. Dialects: Burama (Bulama, Buram, Brame), Shadal (Sadar). Related to Mandjak. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Manjaku-Papel
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Mansoanka [msw] 14,300 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Population total all countries: 15,300. North central. Also spoken in Gambia. Alternate names: Mansoanca, Maswanka, Sua, Kunant, Kunante. Dialects: Not inherently intelligible with Balanta or Mandinka, although called 'Mandinkanized Balanta'. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Southern, Sua
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Nalu [naj] 8,150 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Southwest near the coast. Alternate names: Nalou. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Mbulungish-Nalu
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Papel [pbo] 125,550 (2002). Bissau Island. Alternate names: Pepel, Papei, Moium, Oium. Dialects: Close to Mankanya and Mandyak. 3 dialects. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Manjaku-Papel
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Portuguese [por] Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
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Pulaar [fuc] 245,130 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). North central and northeastern Guinea-Bissau. Alternate names: Fulfulde-Pulaar, Pulaar Fulfulde, Peul, Peulh. Dialects: Fulacunda (Fulakunda, Fulkunda, Fula Preto, Fula Forro). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fulani-Wolof, Fula, Western
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Soninke [snk] 6,470 in Guinea-Bissau (2002). Alternate names: Sarakole, Marka. Dialects: Azer (Adjer, Aser, Ajer, Masiin, Taghdansh). Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Northwestern, Soninke-Bobo, Soninke-Boso, Soninke

Capital city:
Bissau

Meaning country name:
From the Susu (Sousou) language meaning 'Women'. The first Europeans to arrive in the area would have heard Susu, the main language spoken by the inhabitants of coastal Guinea. The English form comes via Portuguese Guiné from a (presumed) indigenous African name. Or possibly from the Berber "Akal n-Iguinawen" meaning "land of the blacks". Then Portuguese put Bissau

Description Flag:
The flag of Guinea-Bissau was adopted in 1973 when independence from Portugal was proclaimed. The flag features the traditional Pan-African colors of gold, green, red, and also the Black Star of Africa. The flag's design is heavily influenced by the flag of Ghana. The colors have the same meanings: specifically, the red is for the blood of martyrs, green for forests, and gold for mineral wealth.

Coat of arms:
The national emblem of Guinea-Bissau was adopted shortly after independence from Portugal in 1973. Featured prominently is a black star, that is part of traditional Pan-African symbolism, and is often referred to as the Black star of Africa. A seashell at the bottom unites two symmetrical olive branches. The sea shell is symbolism for the location of the country on the coast of Africa. The red banner contains the national motto of the nation: that translates to English as "Unity, Struggle, Progress".

Motto:
"Unity, Struggle, Progress"

National Anthem: Esta é a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada

Sol, suor e o verde e mar,
Séculos de dor e esperança:
Esta é a terra dos nossos avós!
Fruto das nossas mãos,
Da flor do nosso sangue:
Esta é a nossa pátria amada.
CHORUS:
Viva a pátria gloriosa!
Floriu nos céus a bandeira da luta.
Avante, contra o jugo estrangeiro!
Nós vamos construir
Na pátria immortal
A paz e o progresso!
Nós vamos construir
Na pátria imortal
A paz e o progresso! paz e o progresso!
Ramos do mesmo tronco,
Olhos na mesma luz:
Esta é a força da nossa união!
Cantem o mar e a terra
A madrugada e o sol
Que a nossa luta fecundou.
CHORUS

English translation
Sun, sweat, verdure and sea,
Centuries of pain and hope;
This is the land of our ancestors.
Fruit of our hands,
Of the flower of our blood:
This is our beloved country.
CHORUS:
Long live our glorious country!
The banner of our struggle
Has fluttered in the skies.
Forward, against the foreign yoke!
We are going to build
Peace and progress
In our immortal country!
Peace and progress
In our immortal country!
Branches of the same trunk,
Eyes in the same light;
This is the force of our unity!
The sea and the land,
The dawn and the sun are singing
That our struggle has borne fruit!
CHORUS

Internet Page: www.guine-bissau.com

G.B. in diferent languages

eng | arg | ast | ces | cos | cym | dan | est | fin | glg | ina | ita | jav | lld | nor | roh | rup | slk | sme | srd | swe: Guinea-Bissau
afr | fry | nld: Guinee-Bissau
bre | eus | vor: Ginea-Bissau
deu | ltz | nds: Guinea-Bissau / Guinea-Biſſau
cat | fao: Guinea Bissau
dsb | hsb: Guineja-Bissau
ind | msa: Guinea-Bissau / ڬينيا بيساو
kaa | uzb: Gvineya-Bisau / Гвинея-Бисау
kin | run: Gine-Bisso
pol | szl: Gwinea-Bissau
aze: Qvineya-Bisau / Гвинеја-Бисау
bam: Lagine-Bisaw
bos: Gvineja Bisao / Гвинеја Бисао
cor: Gyni-Bissaw
crh: Gvineya-Bissau / Гвинея-Биссау
epo: Gvineo-Bisaŭo; Gvineo Bisaŭa
fra: Guinée-Bissau
frp: Guinê-Bissaou
fur: Vuinee-Bissau
gla: Gini-Bissau
gle: Guine Bhissau / Guine Ḃissau
glv: Yn Ghuinea-Bissau
hat: Gine-Bisao
hrv: Gvineja Bisau
hun: Bissau-Guinea
ibo: Gini-Bisau
isl: Gínea-Bissá
jnf: Dginnée-Bissau
kmr: Gwînê ya Bîsaûyê / Гwине йа Бисауйе / گوینێیا بیسائوویێ; Gvînê ya Bîsaûyê / Гвине йа Бисауйе / گڤینێیا بیسائوویێ
kur: Gîneya Bîsaû / گینەیا بیسائوو
lat: Guinea Bissavia; Guinea Bissaviensis; Guinea Bissagensis
lav: Gvineja-Bisava
lin: Gine-Bisau
lit: Bisau Gvinėja
mlg: Ginea-Bisao
mlt: Ginea-Bissaw
mol: Guineea-Bissau / Гуйнея-Биссау
nrm: Petite-Gùinaée
oci: Guinèa Bissau
por: Guiné-Bissau
que: Ghiniya-Bissau
rmy: Guineya-Bissau / गुइनेया-बिस्साउ
ron: Guineea-Bissau
sag: Ginë-Bisao
scn: Guinìa-Bissau
slo: Gvinea-Biso / Гвинеа-Бисо
slv: Gvineja-Bissau
smg: Bisau Gvinėjė
smo: Kini-Pisau
spa: Guinea-Bissáu
sqi: Guineja Bisau
swa: Guinea Bisau
tet: Giné-Bisau
tuk: Gwineýa-Bisau / Гвинея-Бисау
tur: Gine-Bissau
vie: Ghi-nê Bít-xao
vol: Bisava-Gineyän
wln: Guinêye-Bissaw
wol: Ginne Bisaawóo
zza: Gineya Bissaoy
abq | alt | che | chm | kbd | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Гвинея-Бисау (Gvineja-Bisau)
mon | oss: Гвиней-Бисау (Gvinej-Bisau)
bak: Гвинея-Бисау / Gvineya-Bisau
bel: Гвінея-Бісаў / Hvinieja-Bisaŭ; Гвінэя-Бісаў / Hvineja-Bisaŭ
bul: Гвинея Бисау (Gvineja Bisau)
chv: Гвинейӑ-Бисау (Gvinejă-Bisau)
kaz: Гвинея-Бисау / Gvïneya-Bïsaw / گۆينەيا-بيساۋ
mkd: Гвинеја Бисао (Gvineja Bisao)
srp: Гвинеја Бисао / Gvineja Bisao
tat: Гвинея-Бисау / Gvineä-Bisau
tgk: Гвинея-Бисау / گوینیه بیسو / Gvineja-Bisau
ukr: Ґвінея-Бісау (Gvineja-Bisau)
ara: غينيا بيساو (Ġīniyā Bīsāw); جينيا بيساو (Gīniyā Bīsāw); غينيا ۔ بيساو (Ġīniyā-Bīsāw); جينيا ۔ بيساو (Gīniyā-Bīsāw)
fas: گینۀ بیسائو / Gineye Bisâu
prs: گینی بیساو (Gīnī Bīsāū); گینیا بیساو (Gīniyā Bīsāū)
pus: ګيني بيساو (Gīnī Bīsāū); ګينيا بيساو (Gīniyā Bīsāū); ګينېا بيساو (Gīneā Bīsāū)
uig: گۋىنېيە بىسائۇ / Gwinéye Bisau / Гвинея-Бисау
urd: گنی بساؤ (Ginī Bisāʾu)
div: ގިނީ ބިސާއޮ (Ginī Bisā'o)
heb: גינאה-ביסאו (Gîneʾah-Bîsaʾû); גיניאה-ביסאו (Gînêʾah-Bîsaʾû); גינאה-ביסו (Gîneʾah-Bîsô)
lad: גיניאה-ביסאו / Ginea-Bisau
yid: גװינײע-ביסאַו (Gvineye-Bisau)
amh: ጊኔ ቢሳው (Gine Bisaw); ጊኒ ቢሳው (Gini Bisaw)
ell-dhi: Γουινέα Μπισσάου (Goyinéa Mpissáoy)
ell-kat: Γουϊνέα Μπισάου (Goyïnéa Mpisáoy)
hye: Գվինեա Բիսաու (Gvinea Bisaou)
kat: გვინეა-ბისაუ (Gvinea-Bisau)
hin: गिनी-बिसाउ (Ginī-Bisāu)
ben: গিনি-বিসাউ (Gini-Bisāu); গিনি-বিসাও (Gini-Bisāo)
pan: ਗਿਨੀ-ਬਿੱਸਉ (Ginī-Bissau)
mal: ഗിനി-ബിസോ (Gini-Bisō); ഗ്വിനിയ-ബിസാവു (Gviniya-Bisāvu)
tam: கினி-பிஸ்ஸோ (Kiṉi-Pissō); கினி-பிசாவு (Kiṉi-Pičāvu); கினி-பிஸ்ஸாவ் (Kiṉi-Pissāv)
tel: గినియా-బిస్సావు (Giniyā-Bissāvu)
zho: 幾內亞比索/几内亚比绍 (Jīnèiyà Bìshào)
jpn: ギニア・ビサオ (Ginia Bisao); ギニアビサウ (Ginia Bisau)
kor: 기니 비사우 (Gini Bisau)
mya: ဂီနီဘစ္ဆော (Gini Bʰiʿsʰɔ̀)
tha: กินีบิสเซา (Kinī Bitsaw)
khm: ហ្គីណេប៊ីសៅ (Hkīṇe Bīsau); ហ្គីនៀប៊ីសូ (Hkīnie Bīsū)

Taken on: March 6, 2010

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