Guinea-Bissau, democracy in literature, traditional cultures, mentality change, gender identities

This chapter focuses on the implementation of the idea of democracy in the imagery of Guinea-Bissau. Although egalitarian, consultative, and representative structures might be present in tribal legacies, the concept was introduced by decolonial movements. The time of turmoil (the civil war of 1998 – 1999, and subsequent military coups) led to scepticism concerning the viability of Guinean democracy, voiced in Portuguese- and Kriol-speaking poetry. The development of the imagery of democracy continued in theatre, narrative genres, and other forms of literature (in the broad sense encompassing oral and written expression), transforming the multiethnic society. This transformation rewrites not only the mental sequels of colonial oppression but also the postcolonial conception of one-party politics under the auspices of a ‘great leader’ rooted in the gender construct of matchundadi. The transcolonial reinvention of Guinean identity creates a pluralistic space for tribal legacies, creating a fertile ground for a stable democratic structure.

This chapter focuses on the implementation of the idea of democracy in the imagery of Guinea-Bissau. Although egalitarian, consultative, and representative structures might be present in tribal legacies, the concept was introduced by decolonial movements. The time of turmoil (the civil war of 1998 – 1999, and subsequent military coups) led to scepticism concerning the viability of Guinean democracy, voiced in Portuguese- and Kriol-speaking poetry. The development of the imagery of democracy continued in theatre, narrative genres, and other forms of literature (in the broad sense encompassing oral and written expression), transforming the multiethnic society. This transformation rewrites not only the mental sequels of colonial oppression but also the postcolonial conception of one-party politics under the auspices of a ‘great leader’ rooted in the gender construct of matchundadi. The transcolonial reinvention of Guinean identity creates a pluralistic space for tribal legacies, creating a fertile ground for a stable democratic structure.