Guinea Bissau
There are three Guineas in Africa, oil rich Equatorial Guinea -
a former Spanish colony, Guinea Conakry - once belonging to France
and Guinea-Bissau - an ex-Portuguese colony and the least developed
of the three namesakes.
The area occupied by this small nation was first explored by Portuguese
mariners as early as the 15th century. It attracted European interest
primarily for the slave trade and its rich timber resources.
Guinea Bissau remained a Portuguese colony and a badly managed one
at that, for close to 400 years. An organized independence movement
arose in the 1960s and waged guerrilla war against the colonizers.
Defeated by late 1973, the Portuguese fled and the nation achieved
formal dependence in 1994. However, stability was not to be gained
and serious political unrest led to a coup in 1980 that brought
current president Joao Bernardo Vieira to power. The president,
who was then and still remains Chief of the Army was an absolute
dictator who eventually mellowed to become a ‘born-again democrat’
when he liberalized the political arena and organized multi-party
elections in 1994. Guinea Bissau entered what was to be a brief
period of peace and prosperity.
Unfortunately, a civil war erupted in 1998 with neighbors Senegal
and ‘big’ Guinea siding with Vieira. Following upon
the breakdown in negotiations, Vieira was deposed by rebel troops
in 1999.
Elections brought about civilian rule in 2000 but then another coup,
this time bloodless, installed a caretaker administration and legislative
elections were held in 2004. Vieira, erstwhile survivor that he
is, won a run off election and was returned to power.
Of late, Guinea Bissau is attracting the worst kind of publicity
a nation could get. It is described as the first and only ‘Cocaine
State’ in Africa. The country has been ‘invaded’
by Columbian drug cartels to serve as a transshipment point from
source South America to Europe’s 20 billion dollar cocaine
market.
“If Guinea Bissau had the money to paint a sign for arriving
visitors (at its crumbling airstrip), it might read: Welcome to
the World’s Newest Narco State.” (Times - July 9, 2007.)
Manecas : An African voice echoing in Europe
Manecas Costa is one of the finest new voices to emerge from Africa.
A singersongwriter and virtuoso guitarist from Guinea Bissau,
his music is rooted in the rich traditions of his native homeland.
But it is also absolutely contemporary, equally at home with acoustic
and electric styles, reflecting the soundscape of Portugal, where
he now lives.
The music of Portugal’s five former African colonies, of which
Guinea Bissau is one, has recently been emerging as a powerful force
on the world music scene, through artists such as Cesaria Evora
from Cape Verde, and Waldemar Bastos from Angola. But so far, the
diverse and powerful musical styles of Guinea Bissau have rarely
been heard outside Africa with almost any recordings available.
Guinea Bissau is a small country, sandwiched between Senegal and
Guinea-Conakry. Yet it has an important history, with many different
ethnicities and religions living in close proximity to each other,
each with its own unique music, as well as a long-established Creole
culture.
One of the main styles of Creole music in Bissau is called gumbe,
a catchy rhythm played on a water drum, with a dance that rivals
salsa for sensuality. The deep expressive tones of the water drum
are the foundation of much of Manecas’ music. Gumbe was actually
first created in Jamaica among slave communities, but was reintroduced
to Africa in 1800 when a group of slaves were “returned”
to the west coast of Africa. Early reports in 19th century local
newspapers advised people to “lock up their daughters”
because gumbe was on its way once again, with the music of Manecas,
these rhythms are set to stir the world.
.Manecas was born in 1967 in Cacheu, a colonial town in the north
of the country, into a family of the Manjak ethnic group, but who
had largely adopted the local Creole language and culture. He began
playing guitar at the age of nine and together with his older brother
Nelson, created the group, “Africa-Livre”. Overnight
the group became well known. When Manecas was just ten years old,
they were invited to perform in the capital as the support to Cuba’s
famous charanga band, Orquesta Aragon. The next year, Africa-Livre
were chosen as the top band in the festival competition “Modern
Music in Bissau”.
He was widely recorded on national radio, and many of his songs
were huge local hits.
In 1987 he was invited to participate in the annual “Decouverte”
festival organised by Radio France International, a major showcase
for new talent from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, marking
his first international exposure. The same year, when he was still
only 20 years old, UNICEF appointed him Goodwill Ambassador, in
recognition of his beautiful melodies and social lyrics.
In the late 80s he traveled widely, performing at festivals in Cape
Verde, Angola, Italy, Portugal, and North Korea. Then in 1990, with
Bissau once again engaged in warfare, he moved to Lisbon. The first
few months were difficult he did not even have a guitar
but gradually he began to be known on the local scene, performing
with such musicians as Paulinho Vieira, former pianist of Cesaria
Evora. He also recorded his first solo album, “Mundo di femia”,
with the support of UNICEF. The success of this album launched him
on a new career as producer and arranger as well as performer and
composer, producing many albums by Lisbon-based African artists.
Portugal is a country that is notoriously isolated in terms of its
music industry, making it a struggle for its musicians especially
those from African communities - to reach wider audiences. Manecas’
second solo album, “Fundo di matu”, was entirely self-produced
in Lisbon’s EMI studios. Though it has not reached a wider
market, two of its most outstanding tracks, “Ermons di terra”
and “Fundo de matu” were selected for inclusion on Stern’s
compilation entitled Palop Africa (Stern’s music, 2001). Since
then he has toured Europe playing many major festivals including
Spain’s La Mar de Musicas in 2002 where he caused a sensation
on stage and received unanimously excellent press.
Facts and Figures
Location: On Atlantic coast of W. Africa, Senegal on North, Guinea
on East and South
Area: 36,120 sq.km
Geography: Swampy coastal plains, low savannahs in East
Population: 1,445,000
Distribution: 34% urban
Ethnic Groups: Balanta, Fula, Manjara, Mandinga, Papel
Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Religions: Indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
Capital City: Bissau, Pop. 367,000
Government Type: Republic
Head of State: President Joao Bernardo Vieira, since 2005
Head of Government: Aristides Gomes, since 2005
Currency: CFA Franc 512.27 = $1 US
Gross Domestic Product: $1.2 bln
Per Capita GDP: $800
Economy: Agriculture, Fish, Timber, Bauxite, Oil, Phosphates
Electricity Production: 60 mln kwh
Literacy: 43%
Life Expectancy: 45 male, 49 female
AIDS Rate: 3.8 %
Ports: Bissau
Airports: 3
Vehicles: 6,000 units
Telephones: 10,600 lines
Radios: 43 per 1000 people
TV sets: N.A.
Daily Newspaper Circulation: 4.8 per 1000
Internet: 26,000 users
Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication
and may not necessarily be the most accurate.
‘Speak
up’- Guide book in four languages launched
By Kirubel Tadesse
‘Speak up’, a basic language guide book in Oromiffa,
Harari, Somali, and Afar languages compiled by Alishu Mume Ibrahim
was launched by Ambassador Mohamoud Dirir, Minister of Culture and
Tourism at the Imperial Hotel on August 16, 2007.
In a speech he made at the ceremony, Alishu said that proper documentation
and dissemination of languages will prevent the dominance of one
language over another and thereby serve as a tool to prevent languages
from disappearing. He hopes that the book will be useful for foreigners
and Ethiopians who do not speak these four languages. Alishu further
explained that the book can also be used as a base for cooperation
and research among the neighboring regions who speak these languages;
Somali, Afar, Oromiya, Harari and Dire dawa.
The ‘Speak up’ guide book consists of 16 plus sections
including greetings, directions, numbers, food, names, time…etc
in all four languages with their literal meaning in English.
Ambassador Mohamoud Dirir on his part said that the fact that Alishu
Mume only claims the compiler’s title shows how humble he
is. He also added that the book will facilitate the socio-economic
relations and enhance the cultural interaction between people living
in the eastern parts of Ethiopia, who usually speak more than one
language.
Assistant Professor Ahmed Zekaria, advisor to the guide book, noted
that except for the Harari language which is Semitic, Afar, Oromiffa
and Somali languages are all Cushitic.
He explained that the extinction of languages is one of the problems
that faces more than 65 Ethiopian languages. The compilation of
such books is necessary to keep our languages alive, he remarked.
The Assistant Professor also advised that continuous updates and
corrections need to be done in further editions of the book.
Tewodros’s
peculiar art
By Tedla Desta
Invited guests did not hesitate to purchase the paintings displayed
at Makush Art Gallery recently by the young and upcoming artist
Tewodros Mahteme-Selassie. Tewodros, 25, has been painting ever
since he was a child and is now a full time studio artist.
14 of his favorite pieces were displayed at the Makush Art Gallery.
“I started out by making shapes with mud and went on to use
different materials found around me,” he said. The artist
had also used bronze and copper on wood to give his paintings a
three dimensional feel. He says he likes this media and will probably
use it again.
It took him about two years to produce the paintings on display,
which are each of a special content, distinctive shape and structure.
Tewodros further explains that most of the symbols encrypted in
his paintings are inspired by Ethiopian churches.
The young artist claims that he has great love for art and only
paints when he feels like it, not because he has to earn a living.
Artist
portrays long national trek
By Kirubel Tadesse
An art exhibition, “The long journey of nations and nationalities
of Ethiopia” by Kidist Berhane, is on display at the National
Museum. The exhibition was opened in the presence of State Minister
of Culture and Tourism Mahmuda Gaze, government officials, ambassadors
and invited guests on August 12, 2007.
More than 40 paintings were on display, including one themed ‘Ethiopian
Millennium,’ which was presented as a gift to the National
Museum. Others went on sale for prices between 3,000 to 14,000 birr.
Most of the works are oil paintings done by knife chalk.
Kidist Berhane is just 23 - a fact that visitors who signed her
comment book found interesting. In reply to such comments she said,
“My life is totally devoted to my art work.”
Evangadi, Inter woven, Dance, Dream, Unity, Turn and ‘Gulite’
are the titles of some of her pictures which attracted many visitors
of the art Exhibition. Explaining ‘Gulit’, she remarked
on the cultural and social pressures women face. “I don’t
believe in equality of opposites; men and women are different -
they can not be equal. In some aspects women exceed men, which should
be pointed out,” she stressed.
She thanked the National Museum, New Millennium Institute, EDM and
her family members for their support towards realizing her first
major exhibition. The exhibition closes on August 20th.
Maheder: Some secrets haunt you forever
By Kirubel Tadesse
· Director: Nebiyou Amdeselasie
· Producer: Wasihun Belihu
· Type: Suspense
· Duration: 100 minutes
Ethiopia’s history of violent intolerance in the 1970s is
the theme of ‘Maheder’ (The Diary). The film takes a
special twist that offers a new perspective when a young painter
finds out that his parents were murdered and starts looking for
the killer; an obsession that ruins his social life. His passionate
relationship with a victim of the 70s era like himself keeps audiences
entertained as they wonder how things will turn out. The possibility
of simply living his own life does not seem to satisfy the young
painter who tries to find out his true identity by searching for
his parents’ killer. His efforts lead him into a roller coaster
ride of love as he pushes away his girlfriend. The rest is for you
to find out. In this film, many new faces appear along with experienced
actors. New and young talents seem to be coming up in the movie
industry.
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