FLAG OF GUINEA-BISSAU: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The Guinea-Bissau flag is the national flag that represents this West African republic. It is made up of a vertical red stripe and two horizontal yellow and green stripes. In the center of the red stripe is a black five-pointed star.

The country adopted this flag after gaining independence from Portugal in 1973. Since then, it has been the only symbol that has flown in the independent nation. Their colors are Pan-African, but they are related to the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde.

Flag of Guinea-Bissau. (by User: SKopp via Wikimedia Commons)

For this reason, the symbols of both countries have been historically related, combining their independence movements and even trying to form a joint federation.

The colors of the flag also have an internal meaning. Red represents the blood shed during the struggle for independence from Portugal. Green, in addition to representing vegetation, is identified with the future and the future of the country.

Yellow is identified with African riches and specifically gold. The five-pointed star is related to the five senses of man.

History of the flag

The current territory of Guinea-Bissau was dominated by different African groups long before the arrival of the Portuguese. Until the seventeenth century, most of the current Bissauguinean territory was occupied by the Kingdom of Gabu, dependent on the then powerful Empire of Mali.

The first contacts with the Europeans were led by the Portuguese. The Portuguese navigator Álvaro Fernandes reached the current coasts of Guinea-Bissau in 1446 and claimed the territory for Portugal.

However, its occupation did not occur until 1588 with the founding of the town of Cacheu, dependent on the Cape Verde colony.

Portuguese colony

The formal Portuguese establishment in the territory took place in 1630, with the founding of the General Captaincy of Portuguese Guinea, also dependent on the Cape Verdean colony. From this moment, the Portuguese flag became official in the territory as it was incorporated into the Portuguese Empire.

After the Portuguese Restoration of 1640, the colony began to be populated again, with the founding of new cities such as Farim. In addition, the Portuguese began to navigate the rivers of the colony and to conquer dominions. At the end of the 17th century the fortress of Bisáu, current capital of the country, was built.

Symbols during the Portuguese period

The creation of the Portuguese Guinea colony delayed until 1879, when it officially separated from Cape Verde. During the entire period before and after, in the current Bissauguinean territory, Portuguese flags waved that responded to the different political regimes that the country had: first a monarchy and since 1910, a republic.

The first and only symbols that the colony maintained were established in 1935. First, a shield was incorporated. The design of this symbol was predetermined for all Portuguese colonies, as it only varied in one barracks, which was the upper right. In this the particular symbols of each colony were positioned, in addition to the name on the ribbon at the bottom.

In the case of Portuguese Guinea, the colony's barracks were black and included a column on which stood a bust in gold. This symbol remained identifying the Portuguese Guinea until independence.

Coat of Arms of the Portuguese Colony of Guinea. (1935-1951). (Thommy, via Wikimedia Commons).

In 1951, the Portuguese colonies changed their status and became overseas provinces. This was reflected in the shield, since the inscription colónia was changed to provín on the lower ribbon., acronym for province.

Coat of arms of the Portuguese Province of Guinea. (1951-1974). (Thommy, via Wikimedia Commons).

Independent Guinea-Bissau

Most of the French and British colonies in Africa had already become independent, but the Portuguese remained an outstanding debt. Throughout this process, in 1956 the Bissauguinean political leader Amílcar Cabral founded the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC).

The PAIGC began a guerrilla struggle against the denial of the Portuguese dictatorship to grant independence. The PAIGC dominated the territory and declared independence on September 24, 1973.

However, Cabral was assassinated that year. In 1974, the dictatorship fell in Portugal with the Carnation Revolution, and the new government recognized the independence of Guinea Bissau on September 10 of that year.

Relationship of the national flag with the PAIGC

From the moment of independence, the current national flag was adopted. This largely coincides with the flag of the PAIGC, a party that aspired to achieve a sovereign state for Portuguese Guinea and a unified Cape Verde.

The Cape Verdean flag, a country that became independent in 1974, was practically the same as the Bisauguinean flag, with some spikes around the difference star.

The PAIGC flag maintains the same colors and structure, but with the acronym PAIGC in black under the star. Although all hope of the hypothetical union with Cape Verde ended in 1980 after a coup in Guinea-Bissau, the flag remained.

Flag of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). (Thommy, via Wikimedia Commons).

This has generated confusion, since the PAIGC is still a current party in Guinea-Bissau, but it is no longer the only party in the country. For this reason, voices have been raised to demand a change that, while representing the Pan-African colors and symbols of the country, makes a differentiation between the national symbols and those of the PAIGC, since there is also a coincidence with the shield and the national anthem..

Meaning of the flag

As is common, the colors of the Bissau-Guinean flag are Pan-African. However, its primary origin is that it is practically the same flag used by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). For this reason, its meaning comes from this movement and especially from its founder, Amílcar Cabral.

Red color

From its initial conception, red represents the blood shed by all those who fought for the freedom of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, especially when the PAIGC became a guerrilla and faced the Portuguese colonial government.

The location of this strip on the left and the inclusion of a star, representative of Bissau, also corresponds to the representation of the western coastal part of the country.

Green color

Green, on the other hand, is the representative color of the lush and tropical vegetation of the country. In addition, she identifies with the future and hope. This strip is in the lower part, just as the country's forests are to the south.

Yellow color

The color yellow, for Amílcar Cabral, is that of gold and represents unity among Africans, qualifying Africa as more valuable than gold. Also, yellow is at the top, just like the country's savannas are to the north.

Black Star

In principle, the black star represented the leadership of the PAIGC, as well as the African people and their determination to live in freedom, dignity and peace.

In addition, being a five-pointed star, its meaning has also been related to each of the five senses of man.

References

1. Casimiro, F. (August 15, 2009). The symbols of the Republic of Guiné-Bissau must be revalued. Guiné-Bissau Contribution Project. Recovered from didinho.org.
2. Entralgo, A. (1979). Africa: Society. Editorial of Social Sciences: La Habana, Cuba.
3. PAIGC. (sf). Party symbols. African Party for the Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde. Recovered from paigc.net.
4. Silva, AED (2006). Guiné-Bissau: because of nationalism and the PAIGC foundation. Cadernos de Estudos Africanos, (9/10), 142-167.
5. Smith, W. (2011). Flag of Guinea-Bissau. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Recovered from britannica.com.