Bissau

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This article is about the capital of Guinea-Bissau. For the town in Rajasthan, India, see Bissau, Rajasthan.
Bissau
Capital city
Bissau-Stroossenzeen--w.jpg
Ministério da Justiça, Guiné-Bissau.jpg
Consulmar Bissau.jpg
Museu Militar da Luta de Libertação Nacional (13).jpg
Catedral de Bissau 1.jpg
Mausoléu de Amílcar Cabral, novembro de 2017 04.jpg
Hotel Império, Bissau.jpg
20130610 - Monumento aos Heróis da Independência.jpg
Agencia BCEAO em Bissau.jpg
Aeroporto de Bissau, Guinea-Bissau 2.jpg
Agência da Aliança Seguradora, Bissau.jpg
Traffic in Bissau, Ministério da Justiça, Consulmar, the car of Amílcar Cabral in the Museu Militar da Luta de Libertação Nacional, Cathedral of Bissau, mausoleum of Amílcar Cabral, Monumento aos Heróis da Independência, BCEAO building, Bissau airport, Branch of the Aliança insurance company
Flag of Bissau
Flag
Coat of arms of Bissau
Coat of arms
Bissau is located in Guinea-Bissau
Bissau
Bissau
Location of Bissau in Guinea-Bissau
Bissau is located in Africa
Bissau
Bissau
Bissau (Africa)
Coordinates: 11°51′N 15°34′W / 11.850°N 15.567°W / 11.850; -15.567Coordinates: 11°51′N 15°34′W / 11.850°N 15.567°W / 11.850; -15.567
CountryGuinea-Bissau
RegionBissau Autonomous Sector
Founded1687
Area
 • Total77.5 km2 (29.9 sq mi)
Elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2015 census)
 • Total492,004
 • Density5,009/km2 (12,974/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
ISO 3166 codeGW-BS
ClimateAw

Bissau (Portuguese pronunciation: [βiˈsaw]) is the capital and largest city of Guinea-Bissau. As of 2015, it had a population of 492,004.[1] Bissau is located on the Geba River estuary, off the Atlantic Ocean, and is Guinea-Bissau's largest city, major port, and its administrative and military centre.

Etymology[edit]

The term Bissau may have come from the name of a clan N'nssassun, in its plural form Bôssassun.[2] Intchassu (Bôssassu) was the name given to the nephew of King Mecau—the first sovereign of the island of Bissau—, son of his sister Pungenhum. Bôssassu formed a clan of the Papel peoples.[3]

History[edit]

See also: Timeline of Bissau

The city was founded in 1687 by Portugal as a fortified port and trading center.[4] In 1942 the capital of Portuguese Guinea was transferred from Bolama to Bissau.

After the declaration of independence by the anti-colonial guerrillas of PAIGC in 1973, the capital of the rebel territories was declared to be Madina do Boe, while Bissau remained the colonial capital. When Portugal granted independence, following the military coup of April 25 in Lisbon, Bissau became the capital of the new independent state.

Bissau was the scene of intense fighting during the beginning and end of the Guinea-Bissau Civil War in 1998 and 1999.[5]

Geography and climate[edit]

View of Downtown Bissau in the 1960s as the capital of Portuguese Guinea

Bissau is located at 11°52' North, 15°36' West (11.86667, -15.60) GNS: Country Files, on the Geba River estuary, off the Atlantic Ocean. The land surrounding Bissau is extremely low-lying, and the river is accessible to ocean-going vessels despite its modest discharge for about 80 kilometres (50 mi) beyond the city.

Bissau has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), not quite wet enough to qualify as a tropical monsoon climate (Am) but much wetter than most climates of its type.

Almost no rain falls from November to May, but during the remaining five months of the year the city receives around 2,000 millimetres (79 in) of rain.

Climate data for Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (1974-1994)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 36.7
(98.1) 		38.3
(100.9) 		38.9
(102.0) 		41.1
(106.0) 		39.4
(102.9) 		35.6
(96.1) 		33.3
(91.9) 		32.8
(91.0) 		33.9
(93.0) 		34.4
(93.9) 		35.0
(95.0) 		35.6
(96.1) 		41.1
(106.0)
Average high °C (°F) 31.1
(88.0) 		32.8
(91.0) 		33.9
(93.0) 		33.3
(91.9) 		32.8
(91.0) 		31.1
(88.0) 		29.4
(84.9) 		30.0
(86.0) 		30.0
(86.0) 		31.1
(88.0) 		31.7
(89.1) 		30.6
(87.1) 		31.5
(88.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 24.4
(75.9) 		25.6
(78.1) 		26.6
(79.9) 		27.0
(80.6) 		27.5
(81.5) 		26.9
(80.4) 		26.1
(79.0) 		26.4
(79.5) 		26.4
(79.5) 		27.0
(80.6) 		26.9
(80.4) 		24.8
(76.6) 		26.3
(79.3)
Average low °C (°F) 17.8
(64.0) 		18.3
(64.9) 		19.4
(66.9) 		20.6
(69.1) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.2
(72.0) 		18.9
(66.0) 		21.1
(70.0)
Record low °C (°F) 12.2
(54.0) 		13.3
(55.9) 		15.6
(60.1) 		16.7
(62.1) 		17.2
(63.0) 		19.4
(66.9) 		19.4
(66.9) 		19.4
(66.9) 		19.4
(66.9) 		20.0
(68.0) 		15.0
(59.0) 		12.8
(55.0) 		12.2
(54.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.5
(0.02) 		0.8
(0.03) 		0.5
(0.02) 		0.8
(0.03) 		17.3
(0.68) 		174.8
(6.88) 		472.5
(18.60) 		682.5
(26.87) 		434.9
(17.12) 		194.8
(7.67) 		41.4
(1.63) 		2.0
(0.08) 		2,022.8
(79.63)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 248 226 279 270 248 210 186 155 180 217 240 248 2,707
Source 1: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial[6]
Source 2: World Climate Guides (sunshine only)[7]

Demographics[edit]

At the 1979 census, Bissau had a population of 109,214. By the 2015 census Bissau had a population of 492,004.[1]

Economy[edit]

Bissau is the country's largest city, major port, educational, administrative, industrial and military center. Peanuts, hardwoods, copra, palm oil, milk products, and rubber are the chief products. Bissau is also the main city of the fishing and agricultural industry in the country.[8]

Transportation[edit]

Air[edit]

Bissau is served by Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, the country's sole international airport, which currently offers flights from six different airlines.

Highways[edit]

The main highway connecting Bissau to the rest of the nation and the continent is the Trans–West African Coastal Highway. There are also many smaller national highways that connect to other big cities such as Bafatá and Gabu.

Education[edit]

The main secondary school institutions in Bissau are the National Lyceum Kwame N'Krumah[9] and the Bethel-Bissau Adventist School.[10] The main higher education institutions in the city are the Amílcar Cabral University,[11] the Catholic University of Guinea Bissau, and the Jean Piaget University of Guinea-Bissau.

The city of Bissau still has two international schools:[12]

  • Escola Portuguesa da Guiné-Bissau
  • Escola Portuguesa Passo a Passo

Culture[edit]

Attractions include the Portuguese-built Fortaleza de São José da Amura barracks from the 18th century, containing Amílcar Cabral's mausoleum, the Pidjiguiti Memorial to the dockers killed in the Bissau Dockers' Strike on August 3, 1959, the Guinea-Bissau National Arts Institute, Bissau New Stadium and local beaches.

Many buildings in the city were ruined during the Guinea-Bissau Civil War (1998–1999), including the Guinea-Bissau Presidential Palace and the Bissau French Cultural Centre (now rebuilt), and the city centre is still underdeveloped. Because of the large populations of Muslims in Bissau, Ramadan is also an important celebration.[13][14]

Sports[edit]

Football is the most popular sport in the country, as well as in the city. Many teams are based in the city, such as: UD Internacional, SC de Bissau, SC Portos de Bissau, Sport Bissau e Benfica, and FC Cuntum. Stadiums that are located in the city are Estádio Lino Correia and Estádio 24 de Setembro.

Religion[edit]

The majority of the population of Bissau is with the majority being Muslims (50%), then Christians (34%) and animists (7.9%).[15]

Places of Worship[edit]

Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Muslim mosques.[16] There are also some Christian churches and temples such as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bissau (Catholic Church), Evangelical Churches, and the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.

Notable people[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • View of Bissau from Geba River

    View of Bissau from Geba River

  • Ministério da Justiça - Guinea-Bissau's Justice Ministry

    Ministério da Justiça - Guinea-Bissau's Justice Ministry

  • Che Guevara Square, Bissau

    Che Guevara Square, Bissau

  • Public transport in Bissau

    Public transport in Bissau

  • A landmark monument in the city center

    A landmark monument in the city center

  • Administration building of the Portuguese energy company Galp

    Administration building of the Portuguese energy company Galp

  • An ECOWAS branch in Bissau

    An ECOWAS branch in Bissau

  • PAIGC's headquarters

    PAIGC's headquarters

  • Residential area in Bissau

    Residential area in Bissau

  • Guinea-Bissau's Presidential Palace

    Guinea-Bissau's Presidential Palace

  • French Culture Centre in Bissau

    French Culture Centre in Bissau

  • Solar panels on a rooftop of a building

    Solar panels on a rooftop of a building

  • Central Post Office building

    Central Post Office building

  • Museu Etnográfico Nacional - National Ethnographic Museum

    Museu Etnográfico Nacional - National Ethnographic Museum

  • Combatentes da Liberdade Avenue, Bissau

    Combatentes da Liberdade Avenue, Bissau

  • Bissau-Guinean Customs Agency, Porto de Bissau

    Bissau-Guinean Customs Agency, Porto de Bissau

  • One of the hotels in the city

    One of the hotels in the city

International relations[edit]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Guinea-Bissau

Twin towns – Sister cities[edit]

Bissau is twinned with:

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Africa by Country Internet User Stats and 2017 Population". internetworldstats.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-04. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  2. ^ Nanque, Neemias António (25 November 2016). "Revoltas e resistências dos Papéis da Guiné-Bissau contra o Colonialismo Português - 1886-1915. (Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso de Bacharelado em Humanidades)". p. 17. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. (direct link to pdf)
  3. ^ "O casamento tradicional na Guiné-Bissau" (PDF). p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-07-12. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  4. ^ Cybriwsky, Roman Adrian (2013). Capital Cities Around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 53.
  5. ^ "Guinea-Bissau". Uppsala Conflict Data Program Conflict Encyclopedia. Uppsala University. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  6. ^ "GUINEA-BISSAU - BISSAU". Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Archived from the original on 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  7. ^ "Bissau Climate Guide". Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Archived from the original on 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  8. ^ Urbanização na Guiné-Bissau: Morfologia e Estrutura Urbana da sua Capital [Urbanization in Guinea-Bissau: Morphology and Urban Structure of its Capital] (Master's thesis) (in Portuguese). Lisbon University of Humanities and Technologies. 2010. pp. 93–97. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2020.{{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ^ Furtado, Alexandre Brito Ribeiro (2005). Administração e Gestão da Educação na Guiné-Bissau: Incoerências e Descontinuidades [Administration and Management of Education in Guinea-Bissau: Inconsistencies and Discontinuities] (Doctorate thesis) (in Portuguese). Universidade de Aveiro. hdl:10773/1098.
  10. ^ "Voluntários Fazem Diferença em Projeto em Guiné-Bissau" [Volunteers Make a Difference in a Project in Guinea-Bissau]. Notícias Adventistas (in Portuguese). 22 July 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-01-06.
  11. ^ "Equipamento Novo e Desafios Adicionais para Universidade Amílcar Cabral" [New Equipment and Additional Challenges for Universidade Amílcar Cabral]. Rádio das Nações Unidas (in Portuguese). 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-05-29. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  12. ^ "Escolas com Currículo Português na Guiné-Bissau" [Portuguese Curriculum Schools in Guinea-Bissau]. Direção de Serviços de Ensino e Escolas Portuguesas no Estrangeiro (DSEEPE) of the Portuguese Education Ministry (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  13. ^ "Korité in Guinea-Bissau in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  14. ^ "Guinea-Bissau Holidays and Festivals". iexplore.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  15. ^ "Guinea-Bissau: socio-cultural characteristics" (PDF). National Statistics Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-05. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  16. ^ "Guinea-Bissau | History - Geography". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  17. ^ "Taipei City Council-International Sister Cities". Archived from the original on 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
  18. ^ "Sister Cities of Ankara". www.ankara.bel.tr. Archived from the original on 2018-12-24. Retrieved 2016-08-11.

Further reading[edit]

See also: Bibliography of the history of Bissau
  • Lobban, Richard Andrew Jr.; Mendy, Peter Karibe (1997). Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press. pp. 91–96. ISBN 0-8108-3226-7.

External links[edit]

  • Media related to Bissau at Wikimedia Commons
  • Bissau travel guide from Wikivoyage
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