P’tites Annonces · Guinée-BissauGuinea-Bissau

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Guinea-Bissau combines coastal plains, mangroves and the Bijagós archipelago, with strong relationships between cultivated land and marine environments. Balanta, Fula, Manding and Bijagós communities, among others, retain distinct languages and practices. Creole facilitates many exchanges without removing this plurality. Carnival brings music, costumes and community references together through collective creation. In the Bijagós islands, some rituals and social institutions are connected with the organisation of particular island communities; their forms should not be attributed to the whole country. Carved objects and dances carry meanings that depend on these specific contexts. Cooking gives an important role to rice, cultivated notably in managed areas near mangroves. Fish and sauces form meals whose seasonings differ between households and regions. Groundnuts, roots and vegetables add other resources to the table. Celebrations and visits involve preparations shared between several people. Dividing the work and distributing portions express care for relatives and guests, while recipes carry memories of agricultural practices, particular places and the cooks who pass their skills on.