Culture of Guinea Bissau is rich and Music of Guinea Bissau is unique. Bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the south and east and with the Atlantic Ocean to its west, Guinea Bissau is well-known for its various genres of Music.
Guinness Music is usually connected with the polyrhythmic Gumbe genre. The calabash is the key musical instrument of Guinea Bissau and it is used in extremely swift and rhythmically complex dance music. The word ‘gumbe’ is sometimes used generically to refer to any music of the country, though most specifically it refers to a unique style that fuses about ten of the country’s folk music traditions.
Independence of Guinea Bissau came in 1974 from Portugal. On the contrary to other Portuguese colonies like Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde, the fado song tradition did not enter Guinea Bissau to any significant degree. Gumbe was the first popular song tradition which arose in the country. It started in 1973 with the recording of Ernesto Dabo’s “M’Ba Bolama” in Lisbon. The next popular band to form was Super Mama Djombo, whose first appearance in 1980, Cambança, was immensely popular across the country.
Apart from Gumbe, Tina and Tinga are other popular genres, while some of the extent folk traditions in the country include ceremonial music used in funerals, initiations and other rituals along with the Balanta brosca and kussunde, Mandinga djambadon and the kundere sound of the Bijagos islands. Genres like kussunde began to become popular across the country in the 1980’s and it was led by Kaba Mane.
Before getting to Guinea Bissau, it would be necessary to know something about the unique Culture of Guinea Bissau.
Getting to Guinea Bissau
Transportation in Guinea Bissau is comfortable. Tourists will get regular flights from Portugal on every Friday. In addition to this, there is a daily Air Senegal flight from Dakar. Boat service to and between the Bijagos islands is also available. The best way to get around the country is to rent a car or taxi. Abundant minibuses, known as toca-toca, are available in the country.
Come to this beautiful destination and experience the fascinating lifestyle, culture and Music of Guinea Bissau.
Online information on Music of Guinea Bissau is provided by travel.mapsofworld.
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