Info For Y'all Bijago People: Guinea Bissau (African) Matriarchal Tribe That Manifests 1 Of The Virtually Master Copy Cultures Of W Africa

On the isle of Orango Grande, inwards the Bijagos Archipelago, off the coast of Republic of Guinea Bissau, at that topographic point is a matriarchal guild where women possess all the power, where they organise themselves into associations which deal the economy, social welfare in addition to the law.
                               Bijago matriarch in addition to her family
 It is they who impose sanctions, direct, suggest in addition to distribute goods, in addition to they are respected every bit the absolute owners of both the solid in addition to the land. Here it is the human being who has the obligation to apparel really good to attract the attending of a woman. Women handle the supreme powerfulness of divorce inwards marriage. Men are turned to solely for the tilling of the fields, hunting monkeys in addition to fishing.
                            Guinea-Bissau, Bijagos Islands, Bubaque, adult woman portrait

Bijago besides known every bit Bissagos,Bojagos,Anaki, Bidjogo, Bidyogo, and Bujagos are an ethnic grouping which tin lavatory live encountered solely inwards Republic of Guinea Bissau.The Bijagos islands, is the solely deltaic archipelago on the Atlantic coast of Africa in addition to it comprises lxxx islands in addition to covers an surface area of nearly 10,000 km off the coast of Guinea Bissau.It is argued that the country`s bring upward "Bissau " came from the corruption of the bring upward "Bissagos."

The first rituals of the Bijago peopleThe Bijago people alive on this archipelago that has resisted Portuguese invasion for v centuries.

It is a patchwork of mudflats, mangroves, palm groves in addition to savanna grasslands which create a broad variety in addition to abundance of natural resources. The archipelago currently has a population of some 25,000 inhabitants constituting over 2% of the full population of the country.
                      Bijago traditional acrobatic warrior dance

Bijago have got traditionally resented all centralized authority,whether Portuguese,*French*, English, High German or contemporary authorities officials. In 1447,when the Portuguese explorer, Nuna Tristao, tried to conquer the Bijagos, they killed him at nowadays because they do non desire whatever shape of dominion except their matriarchal traditional organization that create chiefs to dominion them.

                           Bijago warrior dancers displaying their intense dancing skills

The Bijagos rose upward inwards rebellion against the Portuguese inwards 1900,1913-1915,1917,1918,1924 in addition to 1936. Portugal did non consider the Bijago every bit pacified until 1936.
                                                             Bijago warriors (Guinea Bissau)

The Bijago are known from early on chroniclers' accounts for their daring raids on ships along the African coast using huge canoes known every bit Bijago pirate canoes. They raided on European ships in addition to made away with their cargos in addition to other items on board.

 Bijagos Islands, Republic of Guinea Bissau, Wester Africa. Anchoring the boat only about the beach for lunch. Fisheye
-Approximately 30% of the people are Muslim. 
Predominantly inwards the larger in addition to to a greater extent than populated cities of Guinea.
-Less than 10% are Christians.
-The remaining 60% retain their animist indigenous religion.
Animist Beliefs rest rigid with the coastal islands in addition to have got non been influenced past times exterior religions,
though Christians in addition to Muslims contain many of the animist beliefs into their religions. 
                                            Bijago missy inwards her traditional initiation regalia

Bijago are the most mysterious or traditionalist community inwards Republic of Guinea Bissau, nonetheless their isolation allowed them to maintain cultural traditions rigid in addition to practically intact.Little is known nigh origins of Bijago, but the linguistic traits connect them clearly to acquaint solar daytime inhabitants of in addition to hence nearby continental coast. It is in all likelihood that they come upward from the share Buba on the continental component division of the country.

              Bijago Matriarch. She is the terminal potency inwards her household. When she speaks men listen.

  "According to many inhabitants on the islands of Bubaque, nobody knows for sure when in addition to from where all the Bijagós derive. It is a mutual belief among them, however, that it was Orebok, an intermediary betwixt the Supreme Being, and the Bijagós, who began the world.

An Ocanto adult woman only dressed inwards her traditional loincloth, with her Ongbà 
child relaxing inwards the middle of the acre of swidden rice she cultivates.(Circa 1984)

The offset human existence was a woman, called Akapakama besides known as Maria. This bring upward originated from the offset give-and-take her boy told her, piece lying hopeless in addition to naked on the seashore, ‘come, have got me’. 
                                                 Bijago warrior dancer inwards his traditional outfit

Akapakama  had 4 children, called Orákuma, Oraga, Onoca or Ogubane, in addition to Ominka. They are the 4 mythological ancestors of the 4 matrilineal clans of the Bijagós. Most Bijagós tin lavatory normally handle on these traditions. When asked, however, to specify to a greater extent than particulars, a variety of opinions, according to the provenance of the informants may live heard. (Scantamburlo 1978)"

Each of the daughters had several children who, inwards turn, received a special duty of her grandfather:
Orakuma, got the Earth in addition to made the offset statue of Islamic Republic of Iran inwards the ikon of God.
She was responsible for ceremonies held inwards the land. She besides gave his sisters the correct to do the ceremonies inwards balobas (shrines).
Ominka received the body of body of water in addition to their descendants have got sought for fisheries.
Orage, given the nature with bolanhas in addition to palm trees that made it rich.
Ogubane, received powerfulness from rain, current of air in addition to controlling the fourth dimension of rain."  (Duquette 1983:261)"


                                        Bijago men

The arrival of Europeans to their islands – offset to have got arrived were English linguistic communication in addition to Germans, later them Portuguese - was a disaster for the Bijago people, every bit it ended their centuries-old tradition of cyclic agriculture.
                                          Traditional Bijago burn dance

Islands have got the weather condition particularly convenient to grow rice, which became the main activities inwards the Archipelago.The palm groves are besides a source of nutrient products such every bit oil in addition to palm wine. Dietary beast proteins come upward chiefly from shellfish collected past times the women on the mudflats, in addition to to a lesser extent from fish caught inwards cast-nets or using wicker or stone traps at depression tide. The salient characteristic of the archipelago's economic scheme is its high storey of self-sufficiency.

                     Producing palm oil inwards the Bijagos archipelago, Guinea-Bissau


Fishing was never of import with Bijago, in addition to although they used canoes inwards the past, it was mainly for military machine purposes. On the contrary, the breeding of pigs (there is no certainty if they acquire inwards before or later Portuguese colonisation in addition to Islam influences) is ane of the essential activities for the sustainable economic scheme of Bijago.

                            Bijaga women line-fishing inwards a lagoon


                                           Bijago fishermen,Guinea Bissau

Other than those activities, the wood sculpting is what distinguishes Bijago along Nalus.  The sculptor is a voluntarily engaged artisan who, through his periodic activity inwards connecter with ceremonies of initiation in addition to worship, is familiar with numerous secrets.
                               Procession of mask wearing Bojagos

 Each villager may sculpt initiation masks, caput decorations, statuettes, vessels, in addition to hence on. The heaviest masks are worn past times the historic catamenia grouping that is non yet considered adult. These represent, inwards a realistic manner, marine animals or wild bulls. While immature boys mightiness article of apparel calf in addition to fish masks, older uninitiated youths article of apparel those depicting wild bulls, sharks, hippopotamus in addition to swordfish. Their dances are unpredictable in addition to vehement to accord with the grapheme of the beast represented in addition to their ain undomesticated nature.
                                            Bijago human being wearing the mask later his initiation

 The masks are worn either on top of the caput or inwards front end of it. The dancers copy these unsafe animals that symbolize beings that are silent untamed, every bit they have got non been initiated. The masks are danced past times boys in addition to immature men during the ceremonies that precede in addition to follow the phases of initiation. Besides ritual occasions, nowadays they besides seem inwards secular contexts, on days that commemorate historical events, in addition to when of import people visit.

 at that topographic point is a matriarchal guild where women possess all the powerfulness Info For You BIJAGO PEOPLE: GUINEA BISSAU (AFRICAN) MATRIARCHAL TRIBE THAT MANIFESTS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL CULTURES OF WEST AFRICA

Ox Mask Bijago Republic of Guinea-Bissau Brooklyn Museum

Ox Mask Dugn'be

Brooklyn Museum

Photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterjr1961/5897733195/in/photostream/

Masks representing dugn'be, "the ox raised inwards the village," are used inwards immature men's initiation ceremonies inwards the Bissagos Islands. The cord that runs through the mask's nostrils shows that the initiate is similar a tethered ox: similar the ox's, his strength must live both encouraged in addition to controlled.


Although Bijago figures tin lavatory live realistic or abstract, they have got a caput with a pointed chin, a flattened facial expression upward oftentimes with rounded eyes in addition to semi-circular ears. These iran figures are believed to live possessed past times divinities in addition to have got many functions – they serve every bit the focus of divination ceremonies, every bit protectors of households against curses in addition to every bit healers. Kept inwards modest sanctuaries or inwards special places inwards houses, these figures are offered sacrifices in addition to libations, which may create a thick patina on the surface.
                                  Bijago adult woman wearing her mask of initiation

The political powerfulness is inwards the hands of the hamlet chief, which is existence justified past times his connecter with the ancestors through matrilineal descent. He is a leader of every community, he makes the decisions in addition to controls the distribution of the land. In this of import chore he is assisted past times the council of elders.

The women are particularly of import inwards the political in addition to cultural organization of Bijago, every bit they create upward one's heed the chiefs' draw of piece of job of inheritance.The matriarchal monastic tell was hence rigid that the women selected their men in addition to could forcefulness divorce on their husbands, the human being keeping the children.
                             A adult woman Ocanto, with his kid Ongbà on the Caravela island. The adult woman has ritual scarring from the cervix to the belly, similar kinds of clamps formed past times pearls of flesh. They are the evidence of her resistance to the suffering. These scarring are prolonged over several years during the catamenia of initiation which grade the transition to adulthood.(irca 1984)

Issues related to distribution of the Earth depend on the council or only the chief.

In the Bijago guild the hamlet with a population betwixt 100 in addition to 300 inhabitants is a basic political in addition to economical unit. The hamlet is autonomous in addition to mostly self-sufficient inwards the socio-religious in addition to economical matters.

Every hamlet having a principal is the most traditional shape of powerfulness of Bijagos. Because of the high costs of the state's administration, today it occurs solely on the Canhabaque Island.

Bijagos performing traditional dance. The Island is known to hold africa`s hole-and-corner every bit many kings in addition to Queens are buried here.

Within the clan the inheritance is of the matrilineal type, but later the matrimony the whole household unit of measurement lives inwards the husband's house. All of them belong to the clan of the mother. It is of import inwards price of the allotment of the Earth in addition to responsibilities typical for Bijagos.

                           Bijago women (They Rule Their World)

The regulation of matrilineal heredity, strongly supported past times the principal living e'er inwards the clan's village, reinforces integrity of the Bijago community. Four matrilineal clans are acquaint on all islands in addition to that regulation doesn't permit to split upward the Earth property.
                             Beautiful Bijago woman. She is a queen of her household.

 On the other hand, the fact of living inwards the husband's solid leaves the existent possession of the hamlet in addition to its social construction inwards the hands of the manly someone parent relatives. It reinforces the role of the human being inwards economical life, giving stability to chore distribution inwards the farm piece of job in addition to maintains unity of extended household unit of measurement despite the divorce in addition to polygamy.

In the matters of faith, the influence of monotheistic religions wasn't every bit rigid every bit inwards the residuum of the country. It results inwards Bijago silent maintaining rigid connecter with their traditional beliefs. Islamic influences are to a greater extent than of the cultural that purely religious nature. 

                           Bijago priest with juju/charms inwards his hand

For Bijagos the Orebok is a Creator, mediator betwixt the Supreme Being, Nindo, in addition to people. "Orebok covers 3 main categories :the women undergoing initiation, possessed past times a dead uninitiated man;the anthropomorphic statues of the village’s main god in addition to the spirit that inhabits the trunk in addition to that escapes at expiry or bring together the ‘orebok’s land’ (anorebok ...)"
                                         Bijago adult woman with talisman on her neck 

The wood plays fundamental role inwards the social infinite of Bijago. It's at that topographic point where most of the rituals of initiation throughout the individuals' life have got place.
                                                   Initiated Bijago Warrior


                                          Bijago fire-eating dancer

Initiation for Bijago men (fonado/coming of age) in addition to women represents the crossing betwixt unlike stages in addition to periods of life. It grants paternity of men in addition to motherhood of women. It has to live pointed out that Bijago are the solely ethnic grouping inwards Republic of Guinea Bissau which doesn't exercise circumcision of boys nor ablation of girls.
                             Bijago missy showing her initiation grade on her stomach


At her offset populace appearance every bit defunto/initiate, the immature missy wears caprine animal leather shorts in addition to dances frentically miming a crazy caprine animal that makes everybody laugh.
.Later on, the defuntos send over their heads a miniature of the ... cow-mask (... esene, b). They mimic wild cows ... . Finally, every bit they move ‘adults’, they set on ... a wooden-carved imitation.

                                        Bijago missy inwards initiation procession


                    Fonado initiates from Bijago tribe inwards Canhabaq,Guinea Bissau

Bijagos have got a staunch belief inwards reincarnation. Death is for a Bijago` zilch to a greater extent than than a curt sleep. They besides believe that if they transcend far away from their Earth they volition provide to it later death. But such returns depend on the storey of kinship with the household unit of measurement inwards which the provide occurs, because the soul of the dead may ascension ane time to a greater extent than soon or long later the expiry of a kid past times the same family, some other tabanca (village) or a some other island.
                Bijago tribe kids from Republic of Guinea Bissau`s Bissagos archipelago be`s showcasing their tribe`s woman someone initiation (defunto) in addition to manly someone (fonado) initiation rite

 How is the identification of a reincarnated kid done inwards Bijago tradition? Here the fetish priests (orase-male/Okinka-femaleconsults the oracle/deity in addition to the children themselves, before they tin lavatory verbalise fluently, begins to narrate his origins, his mother's name, specifying with the women of the father, if he is a polygamist, in addition to the bring upward of the hamlet to which he belongs.
   Young Bijago girls with traditional talisman caput article of apparel in addition to a painted facial expression upward later their initiation into their Matriarchal society


One of the main natural resources in addition to a major ecotourismof the Bijagos Archipelago are body of body of water turtles.

Source:http://www.diverseworld.eu/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103%3Agwinea-etniczne-pl&catid=54%3Agwinea&Itemid=206&lang=en&limitstart=2


              Bijago initiated (fonado or coming of age) boy
Bijagos: The people that make  Guinea Bissau a house where Africa falls inwards love


                           Bijago Dancers


A tiny province located on the Atlantic shores of Africa, crushed betwixt the fossil oil Sahara in addition to the deep forests of the Congo basin. H5N1 quondam Portuguese colony that barely achieved independence inwards 1975. H5N1 nation ravished past times a bloody civil state of war that lasted for amend component division of the lastly decade in addition to with an undeserved reputation every bit drug trafficking haven. An institutionally instable country, with ane of the worst human evolution indexes, in addition to a mainly rural in addition to pathetic society. H5N1 province with solely 1.5 1000000 people, no jails in addition to where the people telephone phone themselves “sinners”.
With that sort of resumé, Republic of Guinea-Bissau is for sure non anyone’s thought of paradise on Earth. However, the modest West African nation is non solely ane of the continent’s best kept secrets but besides the perfect house to autumn inwards love.
Miles-long deserted beaches environment the beautiful palmed-tree isle of Rubane, ane of the dozens of islands that shape the Bijagós archipelago, located at the oral fissure of the mighty Gabú river in addition to the epicenter of Bissau’s enchantment. Pristine bluish waters in addition to soft pinkish sands invite fifty-fifty the most skeptical in addition to stressed of visitors to acquire loose in addition to abandon himself to the delights of a Earth that seems to live lost inwards fourth dimension in addition to space. In a world where fourth dimension is coin in addition to connectivity is everything, this string of islands, without electrochemical cell coverage or meshing access, stand upward for an endangered species in addition to ane of the lastly refuges for enjoying life every bit it should be: Eating, drinking in addition to watching the hours move past times without worrying nigh anything else but existence content. It may audio hedonistic, but it is a formula that has worked perfectly for the people of Bissau.

 at that topographic point is a matriarchal guild where women possess all the powerfulness Info For You BIJAGO PEOPLE: GUINEA BISSAU (AFRICAN) MATRIARCHAL TRIBE THAT MANIFESTS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL CULTURES OF WEST AFRICA
A immature missy brought her picayune brother, an Ongbà kid on the Canhabaque Island. The girls larn really early on to help their mothers. Because they are married really young, they have got to larn really speedily how to send children in addition to perform the many tasks of the household


                      Bijago drummers entertaining the crowd,Guinea Bissau


                      Bijago Girl,Guinea Bissau


A immature Capuni girl, the breast adorned with clamps, wears the traditional loincloth, inwards the middle of the acre of swidden rice she cultivates inwards the forest. She could conjoin solely with a Onhaqui warrior of his clan, ane time he'd have got satisfied inwards all the tests of initiation which have got house on several years inwards the sacred forest.(Circa 1984)



                          Guinea-Bissau Bolama Bubaque

 at that topographic point is a matriarchal guild where women possess all the powerfulness Info For You BIJAGO PEOPLE: GUINEA BISSAU (AFRICAN) MATRIARCHAL TRIBE THAT MANIFESTS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL CULTURES OF WEST AFRICAChildren of Bubaque isle inwards Republic of Guinea Bissau.




Joaquim Cabritan playing the ngopata, the folk lute of the Bujogo (Bijago). Soga Island, Republic of Guinea Bissau, 8/06 (Nick Bamber)

 at that topographic point is a matriarchal guild where women possess all the powerfulness Info For You BIJAGO PEOPLE: GUINEA BISSAU (AFRICAN) MATRIARCHAL TRIBE THAT MANIFESTS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL CULTURES OF WEST AFRICA
                                     Circa 1984


                                                Kids playing with a dug-out canoe 

 at that topographic point is a matriarchal guild where women possess all the powerfulness Info For You BIJAGO PEOPLE: GUINEA BISSAU (AFRICAN) MATRIARCHAL TRIBE THAT MANIFESTS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL CULTURES OF WEST AFRICA
A household unit of measurement on an isle inwards Biombo. The waters inwards the Bijagos Archipelago feed the tribes of all the islands. But today the Senegalese hack their fishes which move scarcer. This creates novel conflicts.




                                        Bijago fisherman with a large catch

















                      Traditional bottle of Bijagos




                   Bijago man child with his line-fishing trap




                     Bijago tribe girl




















Photosource;http://jeanrobert.photoshelter.com/image/I0000_TV9JRNz2po
                    http://photographer.photoshelter.com/image/I0000T798RJOSKAk

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