Guinea-Bissau: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Guinea-Bissau is a small country on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, between Senegal and Guinea. Its capital is Bissau, a port on the estuary of the Geba River. The country is low and green, with mangrove swamps, rice fields and the Bijagós Archipelago, a group of dozens of islands rich in wildlife. Cashew nuts grown on its farms are its most important export.

On My Earth Toy you can see the Pidjiguiti Memorial in Bissau, a giant black clenched fist known as the Hand of Timba. It honours the dock workers who were killed during a strike at the port in 1959, an event that became a symbol of the struggle for independence.

Geography and nature

Most of Guinea-Bissau is flat and close to sea level; its highest point is only about 277 metres high. Rivers wind through mangrove forests to the coast, and tides flood far inland. Offshore, the Bijagós Archipelago is a UNESCO biosphere reserve where sea turtles nest on sandy beaches and huge flocks of migratory birds stop to feed. On some islands, hippos even swim in salty sea water, something very unusual for hippos.

People, languages and culture

Portuguese is the official language, but the language most people use every day is Kriol, a creole based on Portuguese mixed with African languages. The country has many ethnic groups, including the Balanta, Fula, Mandinka, Papel and Manjaco. Islam, Christianity and traditional beliefs are all practised. On the Bijagós Islands, local communities keep old customs and sacred places, and the Carnival in Bissau is famous for its masks and costumes.

History in a nutshell

For centuries the area belonged to the Mali Empire and later to the Kingdom of Kaabu. Portuguese traders set up posts on the coast in the 16th century, and by the 19th century the region had become the colony of Portuguese Guinea. A war for independence was led by the PAIGC party and its founder Amílcar Cabral. Independence was declared in 1973 and recognised by Portugal in 1974. Since then the country has faced periods of political instability.