Misplaced Pages

#737262

81-552: Names and Surnames/Last Names Surnames/Last Names: The Balantas mainly get their last names from the name that is given to a clan, like "Na Sanyang",meaning, "house of Sanyang" which points to a clan. Normally,in a Balanta society, houses are built based on clans. Names : Normally, the Balantas name a child depending on the circumstances, situations and conditions they are. For instance, a child could be named as "Yabna", which means "rest", "Alámy" which means "King", and so on. Also,

162-648: A jihad against non-Muslim states in the region, particularly Kaabu. Some non-Muslim Fula, pushed out of the Futa Djallon by the Torodbe, settled in Kaabu and often herded the cattle of the ruling Nyancho aristocracy. Over the course of the conflict with the Imamate, however, these immigrants were seen as a potential 'fifth column', and were oppressed and extorted, creating civil conflict in the empire. The decline of

243-512: A Kushitic group to western Africa about 2,000 years ago. The Balanta follow a matrilineal system, other sources state patrilineal , though it is believe they follow a bilineal system (double descent) just like their Serer neighbours in the Senegambia region . They are farmers and fishermen, and also engage in small-scale trade and craft-making. Names and Surnames/Last Names Surnames/Last Names: The Balantas mainly get their last names from

324-482: A National Assembly. Whilst previous elections held by the Portuguese authorities saw suffrage limited to a few thousand people meeting tax and literacy requirements, these were arguably the first elections held in the territory under universal suffrage . Voters were presented with a list of PAIGC candidates, and had the choice to vote for or against. Around 78,000 people took part in the election, with 97% voting for

405-533: A cash crop. Their specialty is the culture of cashew which they derive from the apple wine cashew called Cadjou. The export to India of cashew nuts also provides an important economic force in the Balanta villages. Raising cattle is also a traditional activity predominant as the sacrifice of the cattle is import in all stages of life (initiation, marriage, death, etc.) The back of Guinea-Bissau's 50-peso note (No. 1) shows two farmers wielding an agricultural tool that

486-465: A child to express sarcasms as means of responses to their rivals. For instance,"Nsimban", which means, "I have heard them","Boulonyi" to mean "I am hated." These are few of the traditional names that a child could be named in a Balanta society. All important decisions amongst the Balanta are taken by a Council of Elders. To become a member of the Council of Elders, the person has to be initiated during

567-707: A dissident within the party and associated with Aristides Gomes), and Baciro Dja also contested the leadership election, but attracted comparatively little support. After Kabi dismissed the directors of customs, taxes and the treasury on 25 July 2008 without notifying the party, the PAIGC decided to withdraw from the three-party stability pact that was signed in March 2007. Vieira then dismissed Kabi and appointed Carlos Correia as prime minister on 5 August. Parliamentary elections were subsequently held in November 2008, with

648-522: A general rebellion, and the kingdom split apart. These decentralized societies were ultimately unable to resist Mande expansion. According to Senegambian oral histories, the Mandinka arrived in the region around the year 1230CE. One of the generals of Sundiata Keita , Tiramakhan Traore , conquered the area, founding many new towns and making Kaabu one of Mali's western tinkuru , or provinces. He, or perhaps his sons by his Bainuk wife, defeated Kikikor,

729-555: A large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge like a lute or guitar. The sound of a Kora resembles that of a harp, yet with its gourd resonator it has been classified by ethnomusicologists such as Roderick Knight as a harp-lute. The Kora was traditionally used by the griots as a tool for preserving history, ancient tradition, to memorize the genealogies of patron families and sing their praises, to act as conflict intermediaries between families, and to entertain. Its origins can be traced to

810-482: A new campaign against the guerrillas with the arrival of the new governor of the colony, António de Spínola . Spínola began a massive construction campaign, building schools , hospitals , new housing and improving telecommunications and the road system, in an attempt to gain public favour in Guinea. PAIGC was the first African party to establish a comprehensive cooperative program with Sweden . However, in 1970,

891-516: A party congress in September 1999 for "treasonable offences, support and incitement to warfare, and practices incompatible with the statutes of the party". Francisco Benante , the leader of reformists within the party and the only civilian in the transitional military junta, was elected as the President of PAIGC at the end of the congress on 9 September 1999. Benante's candidacy was supported by

SECTION 10

#1732782405738

972-574: A powerful pre-Mandinka indigenous sorceress. Thus the Nyancho claimed legitimacy through conquest, traditional Mandinka patrilineal inheritance, and local matrilineal traditions. The principal tax, collected in cloth or pagnes , was known as the kabunko . Slaves worked large-scale cotton plantations to produce this form of currency. The nyancho warrior aristocracy used increasing tax revenue to fund more wars, thereby capturing more slaves, who produced more cloth, which financed still more wars. Kaabu

1053-467: Is a man in the costume worn by young Balanta men during the “Fanado” or male circumcision ceremony. Part of the costume is a tortoise shell that is hollowed out and worn on the back. The first day of the Fanado ceremony is a general festival for the entire village during which people eat, drink and dance. The initiates are presented to the village by their maternal uncles and greeted by the village. After

1134-505: Is called a kebinde in the Balanta language (also called an arade in Guinean Creole). These tools are used by the Balanta, Jola and Papel peoples to prepare the soil for planting crops – usually rice. Use of the kebinde is an art that has been perfected over many years by the Balanta people who deservedly hold a reputation as expert farmers. Along with intricate irrigation systems that mix salt and fresh water, they manage to maintain

1215-462: Is part of the broader region of Oio —is their homeland. The Balanta say that they migrated there "in times long past" from somewhere in the east." According to their oral tradition, the Balanta people originated in Sudan . Linguist Fernando Rogado Quintino found some language similarities between the Balanta and Sudanese peoples, which hinted at a Sudanese origin. Dr. Franz Stuhlmann also theorized that

1296-664: Is similar to the Jola akonting . The Balanta also play the balafon, which is composed of 24 layers instead of 12 or 14 found in the Mandingue community. In People Like Me 2002: Face to Face! , the Sunugal Ballet presented the Balanta wedding dance from the village of Mini-Ndame. In this village, when the prince comes of age to marry, the kingdom has a big party, to which every family brings their daughters. The young women compete with their beauty and their virtuosic dancing for

1377-461: The PAIGC in the nationalist struggle for liberation during the 1960s and 1970s. Many Balanta resented their exclusion from the government; their prominence in the military spurred a series of Balanta-led coup attempts in the 1980s. The Balanta practice indigenous, spiritual customs and rites ( Traditional African religion ). In the Balanta society, God is believed to be far away, and communication with

1458-571: The People's Republic of China , with all three countries helping train guerrilla troops. SFR Yugoslavia sent a small cache of weapons to PAIGC in 1966. The first party congress took place at liberated Cassaca in February 1964, in which both the political and military arms of the PAIGC were assessed and reorganized, with a regular army ( Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People , FARP) to supplement

1539-711: The Senegambia region centered within modern northeastern Guinea-Bissau , large parts of today's Gambia , and extending into Koussanar , Koumpentoum , and the Casamance in Senegal. It rose to prominence as an imperial military province of the Mali Empire . After the decline of the Mali Empire, Kaabu became independent. Kansala, the imperial capital, was captured by Fula forces from the Futa Jallon during

1620-671: The Tricontinental Conference 1966 in Havana and made a great impression on Fidel Castro . As a result of this, Cuba agreed to supply artillery experts, doctors and technicians to assist in the independence struggle. The head of the Cuban Military Mission was Víctor Dreke . In the context of the ongoing Cold War , PAIGC guerrillas also received Kalashnikovs from the USSR and recoilless rifles from

1701-557: The 19th century Fula jihads . However, Kaabu's successor states across Senegambia continued to thrive even after the fall of Kansala; this lasted until total incorporation of the remaining kingdoms into the British , Portuguese and French spheres of influence during the Scramble for Africa . Scholars and oral historians have proposed various etymologies for the name Kaabu . These include it being derived from Kaba or Kangaba, Mali ,

SECTION 20

#1732782405738

1782-542: The 19th century, they spread throughout the area that is now Guinea-Bissau and southern Senegal in order to resist the expansion of the Kaabu kingdom. Today, the Balanta are found in the modern-day countries of Senegal , Cape Verde and Gambia but mostly reside in the southern and central regions of Guinea-Bissau . "The Balanta claim that the region between the Rios Mansôa and Geba —an area they call Nhacra , which

1863-572: The African people sold into slavery during the 17th and 18th centuries. According to Mandinka tradition, Kaabu remained unconquered for eight hundred and seven years. There were 47 Mansas in successions. The power of Kaabu began to wane during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In 1776, militant Islamic Torodbe clerics established a theocratic state in the Futa Djallon . With some support from Soninke and Mandinka chiefs, they launched

1944-459: The Almighty is established through their spiritual practices and traditions. Although Catholicism has been partially accepted, Islam is strong and practiced along with their unique spirit worship. Djon Cago is a deity in Balanta spirituality. Adherers to Balanta spirituality aims to reach the deities through necromancy and sacrifice. The Balanta play a gourd lute instrument called a kusunde. On

2025-680: The Balanta descended from a Bantu people who inhabited the Nile and separated during the Pleistocene period . Despite this early research, a Sudanese origin of the Balanta was still heavily criticized in some academic circles. It wasn't until recently that genetic testing and haplogroup assigning revealed that the Sudan origin theory had merit. A collection of blood samples from Balanta people in Guinea-Bissau were studied. Unexpectedly, some of

2106-481: The Balanta people and was often seen wearing a red hat as a sign that he had completed the Fanado initiation. •Hawthorne, Walter. Planting Rice and Harvesting Slaves: Transformations along the Guinea-Bissau Coast,1400-1900 . Heinemann, 2003. ISBN   978-0325070490 Kaabu Kaabu (1537–1867), also written Gabu , Ngabou , and N'Gabu , was a federation of Mandinka kingdoms in

2187-436: The Balantas could name a child to express sarcasms as means of responses to their rivals. For instance,"Nsimban", which means, "I have heard them","Boulonyi" to mean "I am hated." These are few of the traditional names that a child could be named in a Balanta society. Archaeologists believe that the people who became the Balanta migrated to present-day Guinea-Bissau in small groups between the 10th and 14th centuries CE. During

2268-569: The British and French colonialist at the turn of 20th Century. To date, the influence of the Korings and Nyanchos are embedded within the sociocultural fabrics of post-independence Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Bissau. Scholars disagree on whether Kaabu was a kingdom, an empire, a federation, or some mix of these. Although there was an emperor, known as the mansaba , power was decentralized and people generally were more responsive to local leaders than

2349-540: The CONCP. Armed struggle against the Portuguese began in March 1962 with an abortive attack by PAIGC guerrillas on Praia . Guerrilla warfare was largely concentrated to the mainland Guinea, however, as logistical reasons prevented an armed struggle on the Cape Verde islands. On the Cape Verde islands PAIGC worked in a clandestine manner. After being nearly crippled militarily, Amílcar Cabral ordered that sabotage be

2430-628: The Cape Verdean Cabral in November 1980. The Cape Verdean branch of PAIGC was subsequently converted into a separate party, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV). Under Vieira, the party continued to govern the country in the 1980s and 1990s. One-party elections were held in 1984 and 1989 , and Vieira was re-elected as PAIGC Secretary-General at the party's fourth congress in November 1986. Following

2511-643: The FAP began to use similar weapons to those the US was using in the Vietnam War : napalm and defoliants , the former to destroy guerrillas when they could find them, the latter to decrease the number of ambushes that occurred when they could not. Spínola's tenure as governor marked a turning point in the war: Portugal began to win battles, and in the Operation Green Sea , a Portuguese raid on Conakry , in

Balanta people - Misplaced Pages Continue

2592-450: The Fanado ceremony. In general, egalitarianism prevails amongst the Balanta. Consequently, the Portuguese colonialists found it difficult to govern them. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Portugal mounted pacification campaigns against the resistant Balanta and subjected them to appointed Fulbe chiefs. Because of the Portuguese repression, the Balanta enlisted as soldiers in great numbers and were principal supporters of

2673-406: The Fanado, a Balanta man cannot refuse the family's wishes. The Fanado initiation ceremony takes place once every four years. The Fanado is a two-month process in the “sacred woods” which is the ultimate phase of initiation rites and social hierarchy. Initiation during the Fanado ritual opens the doors of maturity and wisdom in the Balanta community. Depicted on the back of the 50-peso note (No. 1)

2754-734: The Mandinka states of the region formed a federation. The number of provinces grew from three to seven, and these encompassed dozens of royal trading towns. These included among others, Firdu , Pata , Kamako , Jimara , Patim Kibo , Patim Kanjaye , Kantora , Sedhiou , Pakane Mambura , Kiang , Kudura , Nampaio , Koumpentoum , Koussanar , Barra , Niumi , Pacana etc. The kingdoms of Sine and Saloum were established at this time, ruled by Serer kings and Mandinka queens (the Guelowar dynasty), although these became independent by 1600. Kaabu's many wars of expansion produced up to half of

2835-576: The National People's Assembly after being beaten by the PRS and the Resistance of Guinea-Bissau-Bafatá Movement . The 2004 legislative elections saw the PAIGC regain its position as the largest party, winning 45 of 100 seats. In May 2004 it formed a government with party leader, Carlos Gomes Júnior becoming prime minister. In the 2005 presidential election , PAIGC candidate Malam Bacai Sanhá

2916-764: The PAIGC leadership to resort to armed struggle against the Portuguese, and in September 1959 the party established a new headquarters in Conakry in neighbouring Guinea . In 1961, the PAIGC combined with the Mozambican FRELIMO and Angolan MPLA to establish the Conference of Nationalist Organizations of the Portuguese Colonies (CONCP), a common party to coordinate the struggles for independence of Portuguese colonies across Africa. The three groups were often represented at international events by

2997-596: The PAIGC winning two-thirds of the seats. In presidential elections the following year, Sanhá defeated Kumba Ialá in the run-off. After Sanhá's death in January 2012, early presidential elections were held. Carlos Gomes Júnior was nominated as the PAIGC candidate, and advanced to the runoff alongside Iála, but a military coup in April prevented it taking place. General elections were eventually held in 2014, and saw PAIGC candidate José Mário Vaz elected president, whilst

3078-506: The PAIGC would retake the island, as the Portuguese operation to capture it had depleted much of their invasion force, leaving the island vulnerable. However, Como Island ceased to be of strategic importance to Portugal following establishment of new PAIGC positions in the south, especially on the Cantanhez and Quitafine Peninsulas . Large numbers of Portuguese troops on these peninsulas were encircled and besieged by guerrillas. Throughout

3159-644: The PAIGC's main weapon until military strength could be regained. On 23 January 1963 the PAIGC started the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence by attacking a Portuguese garrison in Tite . Frequent attacks in the north also took place. In that same month, attacks on police stations in Fulacunda and Buba were carried out not only by the PAIGC but also by the FLING . In January 1966, Amílcar Cabral attended

3240-399: The Portuguese didn't try to sever the link between the populace and the PAIGC until very late in the war, and as a result, it became very dangerous for Portuguese troops to operate far from their fortresses. By 1967, the PAIGC had carried out 147 attacks on Portuguese barracks and army encampments, and effectively controlled two-thirds of Portuguese Guinea . The following year, Portugal began

3321-521: The capital of the Mali Empire ; from the Mandinka phrase kaa bung folo , meaning 'let's keep fighting'; or from Kambutchi , meaning 'the circumcised people' in the Bainuk language , the name of the pre-existing Bainuk kingdom. The region that would become Kaabu, stretching from the banks of the Gambia river south and east towards the Futa Djallon massif and the coast of present-day Guinea-Bissau ,

Balanta people - Misplaced Pages Continue

3402-526: The child belongs to the category of Nwatch. Around age 18 to 20 the individual enters the Fuur and then enters the Nghaye around age 25. Around age 30, according to the rites of Kgness a man will be authorized to take a woman. After the young Balanta man has become a landowner and taken on family responsibilities, he can then be chosen by his maternal uncle to participate in the Fanado initiation. Once chosen for

3483-475: The climax of the eleven-day Battle of Kansala , Mansaba Janke Waali Sanneh (also called Mansaba Dianke Walli) ordered the city's gunpowder stores to be set afire. The resulting explosion killed the Mandinka defenders and many of the attackers. With Kansala obliterated, Mandinka hegemony in the region came to an end. The remains of the Kaabu Empire were under Fula control until the Portuguese suppression of

3564-561: The distant, almost mythical, mansaba . The component kingdoms of the empire expanded, contracted, merged, split, appeared and disappeared over time. The Mansa of Kaabu was selected from among the leaders of the provinces of Jimara, Sama, and Pachana. In contrast to prevailing patrilineal traditions among the Mande, royal inheritance passed through the mother's line, respecting pre-conquest Bainuk inheritance customs. Three other provinces - Kantora , Tumana and Mana - were direct vassals of

3645-450: The end of the eleven-year war. After achieving independence, the PAIGC was instituted as the sole legal political party of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, with Luís Cabral becoming President of Guinea-Bissau. A second set of one-party elections were held in 1976 and 1977. Although the PAIGC strove for a union between Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, the union finally broke down following a military coup led by João Bernardo Vieira against

3726-569: The guerrilla forces (The People's Guerrillas). The party also founded a Pilot School in Conakry in this period, led by Lilica Boal from 1969 onward, with the goal of educating young fighters and war orphans. Como Island was the site of a major battle between PAIGC and Portuguese forces, in which the PAIGC took control of the island and resisted fierce counterattacks by the Portuguese, including airstrikes by FAP (Portuguese: Força Aérea Portuguesa ; Portuguese Air Force) F-86 Sabres . Following

3807-571: The hand of the prince. The prince then chooses his bride, and a celebration ensues. To prove his courage to his future wife, a Balanta man must steal a cow. The masks that are used in this dance include a large spirit mask laden with cowry shells, an old woman mask, a young girl mask, and a young man mask. As symbols of family and spiritual connection, the masks play an important role when the community comes together to celebrate with music and dance. The Balanta are fishermen, herders, and cultivators. They grow millet, rice, peanuts, cashews, and fruit for

3888-407: The initiate is a mature man, capable of taking care of other people in the tribe. After two months in the “sacred woods,” the initiate (if survived) is ready to return to his family as a new man. Nothing remains of the place where the rite was held, everything is burnt and jealously guarded in secret by those who took part. Mothers learn of the fate of their children only on arrival to the village of

3969-474: The initiates only have contact with their uncles and the “master”. The initiates undergo test of endurance and learn to be men. What is imparted to the initiates during the Fanado not only concerns their entire culture, but also how to behave with others, how to manage the family, and how to live as adults and men therefore wise. The tests and trials are hard to the point where some people face physical suffering, mutilation, and/or do not survive. Once completed,

4050-566: The introduction of multi-party politics in May 1991, the first multi-party elections were held in 1994. The general elections also saw the introduction of the direct election of the president. Vieira beat Kumba Ialá of the Party for Social Renewal (PRS) in the run-off, while the PAIGC won 62 out of 100 seats in the National People's Assembly with 46% of the vote. Vieira was re-elected for another four-year term as President of PAIGC in mid-May 1998 at

4131-404: The junta, and he received 174 votes against 133 votes for the only opposing candidate. General elections were held in November 1999, with a presidential runoff on 16 January 2000. The elections saw the PAIGC lose power for the first time as PAIGC candidate Malam Bacai Sanhá lost to PRS leader Ialá in the presidential elections, whilst the PAIGC were reduced to being the third-largest party in

SECTION 50

#1732782405738

4212-529: The king of the Bainuks and captured Mampatim. His son or grandson Sama Coli became the first mansa of Kaabu. The savannah areas were mostly conquered and ruled by Mandinka vassals to the Mali Empire. Meanwhile the swampy areas near the coast were still dominated by the natives. As in many places that saw Mandinka migrations, much of the native population was dominated or assimilated, with slaves either eventually being integrated into Mandinka society or sold via

4293-458: The kingdom around the turn of the 20th century. Some of Kaabu's constituent kingdoms, however, continued to thrive. Among these were Nyambai, Kantora , Berekolong, Kiang , Faraba, and Berefet, mainly in Gambia and parts of southern Senegal. Other Nyancho-controlled areas were Sayjo ( Sedhiou ), Kampentum ( Koumpentoum ), Kossamar ( Koussanar ) and others in today's Senegal , until the arrival of

4374-459: The kusunde instrument, the short string is at the bottom rather than at the top, the top string was of middle length and the middle string is the longest although it was capoed by the middle length string and its open sounding length is therefore the same as that string. The tones produced by the instrument are in all: top string open F#, top string stopped G#, middle string open C#, middle string stopped D#, bottom drone string A#/B. The Balanta kusunde

4455-630: The largest party in the National People's Assembly . The PAIGC also governed Cape Verde , from its independence in 1975 to 1980. After the 1980 coup d'état in Guinea-Bissau, the Cape Verdean branch of the PAIGC was converted into a separate party, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde . The party was established in Bissau on 19 September 1956 as the African Party of Independence ( Partido Africano da Independência ), and

4536-399: The lists. On 20 January 1973 Amílcar Cabral, was assassinated by naval commander Inocêncio Kani as part of a plan within the PAIGC to overthrow the leadership. However, despite Cabral's death, the plot failed to topple the leadership, and 94 people were subsequently found guilty of involvement, complicity or suspected complicity. Kani and at least ten others were executed in March. Later in

4617-527: The loss of Como Island, the Portuguese army , navy and the air force (FAP) began the Operation Trident , a combined arms operation to retake the island . The PAIGC fought fiercely, and the Portuguese took heavy casualties and gained ground slowly. Finally, after 71 days of fighting and 851 FAP combat sorties, the island was taken back by the Portuguese. However, less than two months later,

4698-421: The name that is given to a clan, Like "Na Sanyang", meaning, "house of Sanyang" which points to a clan. Normally,in a Balanta society, houses are built based on clans. Names: Normally, the Balantas name a child depending on the circumstances, situations and conditions they are. For instance, a child could be named as "Yabna", which means "rest", "Alámy" which means "King", and so on. Also, the Balantas could name

4779-451: The neighbouring Republic of Guinea , 400 amphibious troops attacked the city and freed 26 Portuguese prisoners of war kept there by the PAIGC. The USSR and Cuba began to send more weapons to Portuguese Guinea via Nigeria , notably several Ilyushin Il-14 aircraft to use as bombers. Between August and November 1972 the party held elections to regional councils, whose members then elected

4860-479: The new mansaba was crowned. After the middle of the 14th century, Mali saw a steep decline due to raids by the Mossi to their south, the growth of the new Songhai Empire in the north, and succession disputes. Even its historically secure possessions in what is now Senegal, the Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau were cut off by the expanding power of Koli Tenguella in the early 16th century. As Mali's authority collapsed,

4941-480: The nutrients in the soil and achieve excellent yields. After the harvest, the Balanta people have a celebration called the Kussundé, where non-initiated men compete in dances. The Balanta have initiation rites at various states of the individual's life. Each phase of life, from childhood to adulthood, is regulated by an initiation that marks the entrance into a new social category. From early childhood up to age 15,

SECTION 60

#1732782405738

5022-556: The party turned to armed conflict in the 1960s and was one of the belligerents in the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence . Towards the end of the war, the party established a socialist one-party state , which remained intact until multi-party democracy was introduced in the early 1990s. Although the party won the first multi-party elections in 1994, it was removed from power in the 1999–2000 elections . However, it returned to office after winning parliamentary elections in 2004 and presidential elections in 2005, since which it has remained

5103-457: The party's sixth congress, with 438 votes in favor, eight opposed, and four abstaining; the post of Secretary-General was abolished at this congress. An outbreak of civil war in June 1998 eventually led to the ousting of Vieira in May 1999. A few days later, former Prime Minister Manuel Saturnino da Costa was named acting President of the PAIGC on 12 May 1999. Vieira was expelled from PAIGC at

5184-423: The presentation and greeting, the initiates are brought in the middle of a tropical forest to a place completely secret called the “sacred woods.” In the “sacred woods” the initiates are circumcised by the “master”, a sort of magical figure-pedagogical. After the first few days of circumcision, the initiates must build a kind of hut that will serve as their home-base for the next two months. During these two months,

5265-528: The samples carried the haplogroups M1 and U6 , which are haplogroups that are normally observed in North Africa, East Africa and the Middle East. They also found that Balanta haplotype GB44 only matched Sudanese sequences and haplotype GB59 only matched with Moroccan sequences. Scientists currently believe that these findings support a Sudanese origin for the Balanta people through the migration of

5346-516: The sister agreed to the sacrifice, the genie complied, and hence, the birth of the legendary Kora. Aside from oral testimony, historians propose that the Kora appeared with the apogee of war chiefs from Kaabu, allowing the tradition to spread throughout the Mande area until it was made popular by Koryang Moussa Diabate in the 19th century. Kaabu was explicitly a non-Islamic state. The most important shrine

5427-507: The slave trade, a pillar of the economy for centuries, also pushed Mandinka elites to squeeze the peasants for taxes to replace their lost trade revenues. Therefore the war against the nyancho elites of Kaabu had ethnic, religious, and class components. Up until the 1860s Kaabu had successfully repulsed on numerous occasions various Fula armies at the fort of Berekolong. In 1865, however, the Kaabu capital at Kansala came under siege from an army led by Alfa Molo Balde  [ fr ] . At

5508-653: The three core areas. The ruling class was composed of warrior-elites made rich by slaves captured in war. These ruling nobles were from two distinctive sets of clans Koring and Nyancho (or Nyantio). The Korings were from the Sanyang and Sonko clans, whilst the Nyanchos were Manneh and Sanneh. The Korings ruled the non-royal provinces, while only those descended from Nyancho bloodlines on both sides could be elected mansa . They claimed patrilineal descent from Tiramakhan Traore, founder of Kaabu, and matrilineal descent from

5589-432: The three parties sought to form a new government. This led to a successful no-confidence vote against Aristides Gomes and his resignation late in the month; on 9 April Martinho Ndafa Kabi , the choice of the three parties, was appointed prime minister by Vieira, and on 17 April a new government was named, composed of ministers from the three parties. PAIGC withdrew its backing for Kabi on 29 February 2008, stating that this

5670-443: The time of the Mali empire and linked with Jali Mady Fouling Diabate, son of Bamba Diabate. According to the griots, Mady visited a local lake in which he was informed that a genie who granted wishes had resided. Upon meeting him, Mady requested that the genie make him a brand new instrument that no griot had ever owned. The genie accepted, but only under the condition that Mady release his sister into his custody. After being informed,

5751-407: The trans-Sahara trade routes to Arab buyers. Although the rulers of Kaabu were Mandinka, many of their subjects were from ethnic groups who had resided in the region before the Mandinka invasion. Mandinka became a lingua franca used for trade. Mansa Sala Sane founded the city of Kansala to replace the old capital of Mampatim. It was more centrally located, and the location of the sacred wood where

5832-476: The war, the Portuguese handled themselves poorly. It took them a long time to finally take the PAIGC seriously, diverting aircraft and troops based in Guinea to the conflicts in Mozambique and Angola, and by the time that the Portuguese government began to realise that the PAIGC was a significant threat to their continued rule over Guinea, it was too late. Very little was done to curtail the guerrilla operations;

5913-498: The year independence was unilaterally declared on 24 September 1973 and was recognized by a 93–7 UN General Assembly vote in November, unprecedented as it denounced the Portuguese colonial rule as aggression and occupation. The UN recognition was prior to Portuguese recognition. The conflict had seen 1,875 Portuguese soldiers (out of 35,000 stationed in Portuguese Guinea) and some 6,000 (out of 10,000) PAIGC troops killed by

5994-403: The “new” men. The most valiant initiates that do survive emerge from the “sacred woods” to songs of their bravery by family and friends. The initiate then wears a bright red hat to show that he has become Lante Ndang (brave and wise), and the following day he will be allowed to serve on the council of elders who manages village life. The ex-president of Guinea-Bissau Kumba Yalla is a member of

6075-450: Was a multicultural state hosting several languages, namely: Balanta , Jola-Fonyi , Mandinka , Mandjak , Mankanya , Noon (Serer-Noon), Pulaar , Serer , Sarakhule , and Wolof . Mandinka, however, was the language of the ruling class and of trade. Mandinka oral tradition holds that Kaabu was the actual birthplace of the Mande musical instrument, known as the Kora . A kora is built from

6156-419: Was appointed secretary-general. The Pidjiguiti massacre in 1959 saw Portuguese soldiers open fire on protesting dockworkers, killing 50. The massacre caused a large segment of the population to swing towards the PAIGC's push for independence, although the Portuguese authorities still considered the movement to be irrelevant, and took no serious action in trying to suppress it. However, the massacre convinced

6237-533: Was based on the Movement for the National Independence of Portuguese Guinea ( Movimento para Independência Nacional da Guiné Portuguesa ) founded in 1954 by Henri Labéry and Amílcar Cabral . The party had six founding members; Cabral, his brother Luís , Aristides Pereira , Fernando Fortes, Júlio Almeida and Elisée Turpin. Rafael Paula Barbosa became its first president, whilst Amílcar Cabral

6318-512: Was defeated in the second round by Vieira, who had returned from exile and ran as an independent. A few weeks after taking office, Vieira dismissed Carlos Gomes Júnior as prime minister and appointed Aristides Gomes , who had formerly been a high-ranking member of PAIGC but had left the party to support Vieira. In March 2007, the PAIGC formed a three-party alliance with the PRS and the United Social Democratic Party as

6399-451: Was done "to avoid acts of indiscipline threatening cohesion and unity in the party". The PAIGC's seventh Ordinary Congress was held in Gabú in June 2008. Malam Bacai Sanhá, the party's presidential candidate in 2000 and 2005, challenged Gomes for the party leadership, but Gomes was re-elected for a five-year term as President of PAIGC by a vote of 578–355. Kabi, Cipriano Cassama (considered

6480-486: Was that of the snake Tamba Dibi, set in a sacred forest of tabo trees whose fruit could supposedly protect warriors from harm. PAIGC The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde ( Portuguese : Partido Africano para a Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde , PAIGC ) is a political party in Guinea-Bissau . Originally formed to peacefully campaign for independence from Portugal ,

6561-574: Was thinly inhabited. Nevertheless, a Bainuk kingdom did exist, founded in the 7th century CE, that ruled from the Gambia to the Cacheu river . The earliest dynasty was called the Jenung, but almost nothing is known of this period. There were Mande traders and immigrants in the area, but they were politically and demographically dominated by their local hosts. Bainuk legends describe a cruel king named Gana Sira Bana or Masopti Biaye, whose tyranny caused

#737262