Guinea-Bissau Economy, People, Culture and Flag

PEOPLE OF GUINEA-BISSAU

The languages spoken in the region of Guinea-Bissau are Portuguese, Creole, French and other minor ones, which includes vernacular like Balanta-Kentohe, Pulaar, Mandjak, Mandinka, Pepel, Biafada, Mancanha, Bidyogo, Ejamat, Mansoanka, Mansoanka, Bainoukgunyuno, Nalu, Soninke, Badjara, Bayote, Kobiana, Cassanga and Basary. Majority of the population belong to the indigenous religion and the rest belong to the Muslims and Christians. Women of this place work along with the men thereby helping them hand in hand. Men usually work for the government sector, or local factories, thereby working as laborers, sailors, and dockworkers. Women usually handle the home front along with the trade of the region. It is the young ones who look after the fields and the livestock of the region.

The surviving ethnic groups in Guinea-Bissau are:

•  Balanta

•  Fula

•  Manjaca

•  Mandinga

•  Papel

ARTS, CULTURE AND MUSIC OF GUINEA-BISSAU

Art: Visit the Museum of African Artefacts where one gets to see innumerable displays of customary sculptures, pottery, weaving and basket ware.

Culture: The architectural planning within the province is based on modernist and trendy style. The colonial architecture represents the true spirits of the West African culture. Get to see rectangular shaped houses topped with zinc roofs and layered with concrete floors. The thatched circular huts made of dry mud can be sighted in the local villages. The people believe in participating in any kind of ceremonial function where they sacrifice domestic animals and consume palm wine or rum in large measures.

Music: The music genre of Guinea-Bissau owes to the polyrhythmic gumbe melody that was principally exported to the province. The chief musical instrument of the area is calabash that is accompanied with intricate dance music rhythms.

Gumbe is referred to any kind of music that is played within the country, but particularly concentrates on the folk music ethnicity.

Tina and tinga are the folk music played during funerals, or other relevant rituals. The other relevant music prevalent in the Bijagos islands is Balanta brosca, kussundé, Mandinga djambadon and the kundere musical tunes.

Several bands came into existence specifically the bands of Africa Livre, Chifre Preto and Kapa Negra that had a turbulent connection with the so-called dictatorial government of the province.

The fado song gained much popularity in the regions like Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde but had no effect on the area of Guinea-Bissau where Gumbe has already made its place. Some of the famous bands that originated here were Cambança, Super Mama Djombo, Cobiana Djazz, M'Ba Bolama and many others.

FLAG OF GUINEA-BISSAU

The Guinea-Bissau flag was officially accepted in the month of September 24, 1973. The flag is designed with Pan-African colors banded in gold, green, and red. The Black Star of Africa is even placed within the red band. The design is highly subjective and influenced from the Ghana flag design. The color red denotes the blood shed by martyrs who lost their lives struggling for the country against Portugal. The color yellow describes the country's mineral wealth along with the bright sunrays. The color green signifies the feeling of hope and greenery. And finally the black star speaks about the unity and integrity within Africa.

ECONOMY OF GUINEA-BISSAU

The conflict within the armed forces severely affected the country's infrastructure and the economy experienced a major downfall in the past years. Today, Guinea-Bissau stands as a least developed nation that mainly earns its revenue income from the sectors of agriculture and fishing. The country has seen a rise in the demand of the Cashew production within the region whereby the country ranks in the sixth position as far as manufacturing is concerned. Fish, seafood, peanuts, palm kernels, and timber witnesses, major exposure in the international market that is supplied from this region that form the major exports of the region. The government has applied License fees for fishing from which it earns small share of returns. Rice is the staple crop of the region. Government has its plans in near future to develop the mineral resources within the country especially of petroleum and phosphate. Presently, Guinea-Bissau gains a few share of its debt relief from the World Bank and African Development Bank.

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