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GGGuuuiiinnneeeaaa for ELED 481 for ELED 481 –– Fall 2014 Fall 2014

Laura Mahon

   

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Copyright  ©  2014,  Laura  Mahon.  

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Table of Contents  

PEOPLE OF GUINEA 4

LANGUAGES 4 RELIGION 6 CULTURAL NORMS 8 MUSIC 12

CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY 13

HOW TO GET AROUND 15

TRANSPORTATION 15 PHONE AND INTERNET 16 MONEY 16 SAFETY 17 Bibliography 18 Index 19  

 

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People of Guinea The people of Guinea are known for being very friendly and welcoming. There

are about 10.5 million people and they live in villages, mostly.

Languages Most people that are educated speak French, but there are many local languages.

The major languages are Susu, Pular, Malinke, Kisi and French. People in the Lower

Region speak Susu, whereas Pular is spoken in the Middle Region, also known as the

Fouta Djallon (FOO-tuh JA-lawn). The Forest Guinea region of Guinea is where people

speak Kisi and Malinke is spoken in the Upper Region. Many people speak 3 or more

languages!

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Key Language Phrases:

Pular - English

On jaraama! Hello. (formal)

Tanna alaa? How are you?

Jam tun. I’m fine. / Everything is fine.

Beyngure nden no e jam? How is your

family?

En jango. See you tomorrow. (formal)

Hii hii, si Alla jabi. Yes, if God wills it.

Ko jelu? How much is this?

French - English

Bonjour! Hello.

Comment allez-vous? How are you?

(formal)

Ça va bien, merci. I’m doing well,

thanks.

Bon, à bientôt. See you later.

Au revoir. Goodbye.

Ça coute combien? How much is this?

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Religion A majority of the Guinea population is Muslim. About 85% of Guineans practice

Islam. The other 15% practice either Christianity or follow traditional religions and

practice Animism.

Religious Practices

It’s common to hear the call to

prayer from the mosque throughout the day

in Guinean cities and villages. You can see

people walking across town with their

prayer mats, wearing their “Boubous” and

carrying the Quran. Like many African countries where Islam is practiced, women are

not covered head to toe in black. You’ll see many women wearing a headscarf but the

neck may be exposed as well as hands and feet. The clothing is modest but still very

colorful.

Throughout the year, Muslims in Guinea celebrate several holidays. For one

month a year, Muslims fast during the daylight hours. They don’t drink water or eat

unless it’s before dawn or after dusk. Many of the markets are deserted during this time.

The end of fasting is celebrated by feasting with family members and dancing. Everyone

is dressed in their very best for Ramadan.

Another holiday celebrated in Guinea is Tabaski. On this day, goats are

slaughtered in memory of Abraham’s sacrifice to Allah of his son, Ismail. After the goat

is slaughtered, it’s shared amongst the community.

Since most Guineans are Muslim, the holidays follow the lunar calendar;

therefore the dates of the holidays are not consistent every year.

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For the Tabaski holiday, a goat is slaughtered and divided amongst community members.

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Cultural Norms In general, you’ll find that Guineans are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever

meet. Greetings are very

important no matter what

setting you’re in. If you are a

tourist or a volunteer, it’s

likely you’ll hear the words,

“foté,” or “porto,” or

“toubabou,” which all mean,

“foreigner.” However, locals

will tell you that these names

are not meant to be

offensive; they are simply

recognizing that you are

visiting. Communication is

indirect and not what Americans would consider efficient, but the reason for this

communication style is usually to save face or avoid hurting someone’s feelings. Things

move very slowly in Guinea, which is reflected in how people interact with one another

and how they approach day-to-day tasks.

Social Customs

How you interact with someone in Guinea depends on gender, class and age.

When greeting someone who is older than you, you always use a formal greeting. When

you arrive at work, it’s customary to greet everyone in the room and say hello to your

superiors. It’s also custom to say goodbye to everyone as you leave. When asking

someone about their marital status, there is a different phrase to use depending on

whether you’re asking a woman or a man. Men and women don’t normally have friends

that are of the opposite sex. Guinea is a patriarchal society where men are educated

more than women and girls tend to leave school when they’re 15 or 16 to get married.

For this reason, men are the primary household earners and tend to be more

fluent in French or English than women. In rural villages, the gender disparity in the

Boys  dominate  most  public  schools.  Many  people  take  Muslim  names  like  Ibrahim,  Mamadou,  Abdourahmane,  Fatima  and  Kadiatou.  

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workplace is much more apparent than in larger cities. Children have many duties in the

household. They are often helping with the cooking, cleaning and other chores. Adults

commonly refer to children as “petits” in French and will ask neighborhood children to

do things for them even if they don’t know them. It’s a very different social dynamic

than what currently exists in the U.S.

Children are responsible for helping out with washing clothes, washing dishes and fetching water on a daily basis.

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Greetings & Gestures

While traveling through rural villages, it’s not uncommon to greet a dozen or

more people between leaving your house and arriving at the market. Each interaction is

brief but personal. To show someone respect while you talk to them, you don’t make

eye contact. When you shake hands, you shake with your right hand and put your left

palm on your right forearm. After saying hello, there is usually a series of questions that

follows, asking about one’s health, the wife, the children, the work, etc. In less formal

greetings, usually among young people, one only asks how the other person is doing.

Touch your forearm while you shake someone’s hand to show respect.

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While you talk to someone, the distance between the speakers is much closer

than what we experience in the U.S. Depending on what region of Guinea you’re in, the

people may be more quiet and reserved (like the Peuhls in the Fouta Djallon) or they

may be more loud and social (like the Susu in Lower Guinea). When you try to call

someone over to you, do the same gesture you would do in America, but turn your

palm over so that your palm faces down. It is considered rude to call someone over

with your index finger.

When you try to call someone over to you, do the same gesture you would do in America, but turn your palm over so that your palm faces down. It is considered rude to call someone over with your index finger.

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Music Guinea is known for its djembe playing. It takes years and years to become a

djembe master. Djembe playing has deep roots when the Mandinka people migrated

from Senegal and Mali and settled in what is now Upper Guinea. The rhythms and

tempos of traditional djembe playing are typically heard at ceremonies where a

circumcision is taking place or at a wedding.

Guineans also listen to popular music from America and Europe. Popular artists

include Rihanna, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson. You can find many people

playing music on their cell phone speakers as they walk down the street. Listening to

music is a public activity. The same is true of watching television.

Young drummers at a Peace Corps volunteer swearing-in ceremony in Conakry, Guinea join professional djembe players.

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Climate and Geography Depending on what region you’re in, Guinea experiences several different

climates. There is a dry season, which is October to May. The rainy season is May to

mid-September. There is about 110 inches of rain per year! The coastal and central

parts of Guinea have more green vegetation than the Eastern part. It’s very warm in

Guinea. Normally, it’s above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, it gets below 60 degrees.

In the temperate areas, a variety of vegetables and fruits thrive.

The two major rivers in Guinea are the Niger and the Volta. During the rainy

season, wetlands and lowlands experience flash floods and monsoon-like rains.

On the coast, there is constant humidity. The temperature does not change very

much between daytime and nighttime unless there is a thunderstorm. The Fouta Djallon

region in Middle Guinea experiences mild humidity and cool nights. The mosquitoes are

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much less intense due to the California-like climate. During the dry season, Upper

Guinea can experience high temperatures into the 90s.

During the rainy season, the roads are hard to travel, but when the roads are

passable, tourists come to see some of the beautiful waterfalls in the Fouta Djallon,

especially in Pita and Labé. ‘La Dame du Mali’ is also an impressive rock formation

perched above an expansive valley.

With its temperate, dry and humid regional climates, Guinea can grow bananas,

mandarin oranges and even strawberries. Palm trees thrive in wet, humid areas and are

used to produce palm wine. Bananas are eaten on a daily basis along with peanuts, rice,

bread, potatoes and corn. Regional dishes like “maffe tigga” include rice, peanut sauce,

potatoes, carrots and hot pepper (along with meat if it’s available). Chicken is very

expensive and it’s usually only eaten at restaurants.

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How to Get Around

Transportation Many Guineans use bikes, moto taxis or taxis to get around. Motos can wind

around the potholes that trucks and cars can’t avoid during the rainy season. Overall,

transportation is cheap. It’s important when using any taxi to talk about the price before

you load your bags and use any local language you know. Keep your valuables on you, as

the packing and unpacking involved in taxi travel can really take a toll on your luggage.

Also, know that taxis (except motos) wait until all the seats are sold in their vehicle

before the driver leaves the station. You could be waiting around for several hours.

Bring water, a handkerchief for the dust and snacks to share with your fellow taxi

friends.

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Phone and Internet Mobile phones are common in Guinea. Nearly everyone has a phone. Calls to

people on the same carrier as you (Orange, Cellcom, Areeba) are cheap. Some people

carry multiple phones with a different SIM card in each so that they can get cell service

wherever they go. All phones are prepaid, so all you have to do is buy minute credit.

Only in bigger cities will you find cyber cafés. You pay by the hour and hope that

the electricity doesn’t cut out. Some places may have a generator, but it’s not always the

case. Printing is also a convenience that’s only found in bigger cities.

Money Guinea uses the Guinean Franc as their currency. One dollar is about 7,000

francs. It’s recommended that you withdraw money when you’re in a big city as there

are no ATMs or banks in rural villages. Try to use only 5,000-franc bills or lower. The

10,000-franc bill is hard to get change for in smaller villages. Cash is used everywhere

except some places in Conakry, the capital. There are not many fixed prices for things

besides common food staples and common building materials. With this is mind, you will

do a lot of bargaining at the markets for things like clothing or household supplies. Ask a

local before you buy a big-ticket item to avoid getting ripped off. Leaving tips at a

restaurant is not practiced.

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Safety Like many countries, it’s advised that visitors avoid large crowds and not travel

late at night. In rural areas, walking at night may not be an issue but it’s not

recommended that you walk through bigger cities at night, especially if you’re by

yourself. Pick pocketing is common in large cities and tourists and visitors are huge

targets for theft. Make sure that if you stay at a hotel, that there is a place to lock your

belongings and that all the locks on doors and windows are secure. Some hotels have

24-hour security, which is always a safer option.

Overall, Guineans are very peaceful. Many long-distance bikers choose to stay

with locals because the people are so generous and want to take good care of visitors

and travelers.

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Bibliography  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Guinea_Regions_map.png      http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Guinea+Conakry    

http://atlinliberia.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/pb080113.jpg      http://www.accessgambia.com/information/tobaski-­‐feast-­‐festival.html      http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Tabaski-­‐Kounkane.jpg      http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvaras.org%2Fvolunteers-­‐in-­‐ghana-­‐pictures-­‐videos%2Fvolunteer-­‐visiting-­‐the-­‐elders-­‐images%2F&ei=Xex4VKmLB4yWigKA54CICA&bvm=bv.80642063,d.cGU&psig=AFQjCNGZqjPWRuAa_dysDBgJAbn1H-­‐T79g&ust=1417297302624863      http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/Gesture_hand_straight_out_palm_down_then_curl_fingers_down.jpg      http://djembefola.com/drumming.php      

Index

Animism 3 Christian 3 Climate 10, 11 Clothing 3, 13 Conakry 9, 13 Djembe 9 Dry season 10, 11 Electricity 13 Food 11, 13 Formal 2, 5, 7 Fouta Djallon 1, 8, 10, 11 Franc 13 French 1, 2, 5, 6 Gender 5 Geography 10 Greetings 5, 7 Holiday 3, 4 Internet 13 Kisi 1 Labé 11 Language 1, 2, 12 Lower Guinea 1, 8 Malinke 1 Middle Guinea 1, 10 Money 13 Muslim 3, 5 Phones 13 Prayer 3 Pular 1, 2 Rainy season 10, 11, 12 Ramadan 3 Religion 3 Susu 1, 8 Tabaski 3, 4 Taxi 12 Temperate 10, 11 Transportation 12 Upper Region 1, 9, 11 Village 1, 5, 7, 13

     

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