Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau blends Balanta, Fula and Bijagós cultures, with island masks, polyphonic song and craft fishing.

Crafts Music & dance Nature & herbalism Spirituality & rites Language & oral

Knowledge in this place

Bijagós carved masks

Bijagós carved masks

Bijagós carvers shape bull and sea masks worn in initiation dances.

Bombolom slit-drum music

Bombolom slit-drum music

The wooden slit-drum bombolom signals events and drives village dances.

Coastal rice cultivation

Coastal rice cultivation

Balanta farmers grow paddy rice in dyked mangrove fields along the coast.

Nature & herbalism

Bijagós initiation cycle

Bijagós initiation cycle

Bijagós age-grade rites mark the passage of men through generational classes.

Spirituality & rites

Guinea-Bissau Creole

Guinea-Bissau Creole

Kriol, a Portuguese-based creole, serves as the country's common spoken tongue.

Language & oral