The political system and capital of Guinea. Guinea: a brief description of the country. Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet

Most of Guinea lies in the subequatorial belt. Average monthly air temperatures range from 18° to 27°C, the hottest month is April, the coldest month is August. Precipitation falls mainly in summer, but is distributed very unevenly over the territory: on the coast, up to 4,300 mm of precipitation falls during 170 rainy days a year, and in the interior regions, separated from the ocean by a mountain range, no more than 1,500 mm.

Deep river valleys and rolling low mountains make Guinea look like a mountainous country. The largest elevations are the Futa Djallon Highlands (the highest mountain is Tamge, 1537 m), which borders a narrow coastal lowland, and the North Guinea Highlands in the southeast of the country (with the highest high mountain Nimba, 1752 m above sea level). The Fouta Djallon plateau is called by geographers the “water tower of West Africa”, because the largest rivers in the region, the Gambia and Senegal, begin here. The Niger River (here called Djoliba) also originates in the North Guinea Highlands. Guinea's numerous rivers are generally unnavigable due to numerous rapids and waterfalls, as well as sharp fluctuations water level.

The traveler is struck by the bright red or red-brown color of the soils of the savannas and forests of Guinea, rich in iron oxides. Despite the poverty of these soils, which makes farming difficult, the natural vegetation is very rich. Along the rivers, gallery tropical rainforests still exist, although in most other places they have been replaced by tropical dry forests and wooded savannas as a result of human activity. In the north of the country you can see real tall grass savannas, and on the ocean coast - mangroves. Common along the ocean shore coconut palm, Guinea oil palm, others exotic plants, making even the streets of large cities look like a botanical garden. The country's fauna is still rich: elephants, hippos, various species of antelope, panthers, cheetahs, and numerous monkeys (especially baboons, living in large herds) have survived. It is also worth mentioning forest cats, hyenas, mongooses, crocodiles, large and small snakes and lizards, and hundreds of bird species. There are also numerous insects, including many dangerous ones that carry the pathogens of yellow fever and sleeping sickness (tsetse fly).

Almost the entire population of Guinea belongs to the Negroid race. The most numerous people are the Fulani, who inhabit mainly the Futa Djallon plateau. Other peoples belong to the Mande linguistic subgroup: Malinke, Korako, Susu. The official language, French, is spoken by only a small part of the population, and the most common languages are Ful, Malinke, and Susu. 60% of the population are Muslims, about 2% are Christians, the rest adhere to traditional beliefs. The majority of the population is employed in agriculture (cattle breeding, as well as the cultivation of rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, and corn). The capital and largest city of Guinea is Conakry (about 1,400 thousand inhabitants). Other large cities are mainly industrial centers and transport hubs of Kankan, Candia, Labe, which, as a rule, are of no interest to tourists.

History of Guinea

At the end of the 19th century. Guinea was colonized by France and since 1904 has been part of the federation of French West Africa. In a referendum in 1958, the Guinean people voted for independence, which was proclaimed on October 2. A. Sekou Toure was elected president of the country, establishing a one-party system in the country, supported by a powerful repressive apparatus. In the field of foreign policy, he adhered to a moderately pro-Soviet course, and in the field of domestic policy he was an adherent of scientific socialism with African characteristics. The result of this strategy was the total socialization of property; at certain stages, even the number of traders in the bazaars was regulated by order. By the beginning of the 80s, about a million people from the country migrated abroad.

After Toure's death in 1984, power was seized by a group of military men who created the Military Committee for National Revival, led by Colonel Lansana Conte, who over the next three years eliminated the main competitors in the struggle for power. Under Comte foreign policy was oriented towards greater cooperation with France, the USA, and Great Britain, the country began to enjoy the support of international financial organizations. A side effect of the weakening of political control was a powerful increase in corruption; during Conte’s reign, Guinea became one of the world leaders in this indicator. At the end of the 80s, the process of democratization of political life began, and elections have been held regularly since the beginning of the next decade. Conte won the presidential elections three times (in 1993, 1998, 2003), and his Unity and Progress Party won the parliamentary elections; each round was accompanied by powerful protests from the opposition, to which local power ministries traditionally react very harshly. The continuing deterioration of the economic situation in the country led to mass protests in 2007 demanding the resignation of the government and the adoption of urgent measures to bring the country out of the crisis. As a result of negotiations between the authorities and the trade union movement, the post of prime minister was transferred to a compromise candidate with a mandate until the next elections, scheduled for mid-2008.

Geography of Guinea

More than half of the country's territory is occupied by low mountains and plateaus. The Atlantic coast is heavily indented by river estuaries and occupied by an alluvial-marine lowland 30-50 km wide. Further, the Futa Djallon plateau rises in ledges, divided into separate massifs up to 1538 m high (Mount Tamge). Behind it, in the east of the country, there is an elevated accumulative-denudation strata plain, to the south of which the North Guinea Upland rises, turning into basement plateaus (≈800 m) and blocky highlands (Mount Nimba is the highest point of the country with an altitude of 1752 m).

Guinea's most important mineral resources are bauxite, the reserves of which rank first in the world. Gold, diamonds, ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, zircon, rutile, and monazite are also mined.

The climate is subequatorial with a pronounced alternation of dry and wet seasons. Wet summer lasts from 3-5 months in the northeast to 7-10 months in the south of the country. The air temperature on the coast (≈27°C) is higher than in the interior (≈24°C) of the country, except during periods of drought, when the harmattan wind blowing from the Sahara raises the air temperature to 38°C.

The dense and abundant river network of Guinea is represented by rivers flowing from the plateau to the eastern plain and flowing there into the Niger, and rivers flowing from the same plateaus directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Rivers are navigable only in small, mostly estuary areas.

Forests occupy about 60% of the country's territory, but most of them are represented by secondary rare deciduous trees. Indigenous moist evergreen forests have survived only on the windward slopes of the North Guinea Upland. Gallery forests are found in fragments along river valleys. Mangroves grow in places along the coast. The once diverse fauna of the forests has been preserved mainly in protected areas (hippos, genets, civets, forest duikers). Elephants, leopards and chimpanzees have been almost completely exterminated.

Economy of Guinea

Guinea has large mineral, hydroelectric and agricultural resources, but still remains an economically underdeveloped country.

Guinea has deposits of bauxite (almost half of the world's reserves), iron ore, diamonds, gold, and uranium.

More than 75% of workers are employed in agriculture. Rice, coffee, pineapples, tapioca, and bananas are cultivated. Cattle, sheep and goats are raised.

Export goods - bauxite, aluminum, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish.

The main export partners (in 2006) are Russia (11%), Ukraine (9.6%), South Korea (8.8%).

The content of the article

GUINEA, Republic of Guinea. State in West Africa. The capital is Conakry (1.77 million people - 2003). Territory– 245.9 thousand sq. km. Administrative division– 8 provinces. Population– 9.69 million people. (2006, evaluation). Official language- French. Religion– Islam, Christianity and traditional African beliefs. Currency unit – Guinean franc. National holiday– October 2, Independence Day (1958). Guinea has been a member of the UN since 1958, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor, the African Union (AU). Member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since 1975, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) since 1969, the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), the Mano River Union (UMR) since 1980.

Geographical location and boundaries.

Continental State. It borders in the northwest with Guinea-Bissau, in the north with Senegal, in the north and northeast with Mali, in the east with Cote d'Ivoire, in the south with Liberia and Sierra Leone. West Side The country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the coastline is 320 km.

Nature.

The territory of Guinea is divided into four physiographic regions. The first of them, located in the west of the country - Lower, or Maritime, Guinea - is a flat lowland up to 32 km wide, with heights less than 150 m above sea level. The swampy coastline is covered with mangroves; dense rocks come to the surface only in the Conakry region. Lower Guinea is a region of commodity-export agriculture. Mostly representatives of the Susu people live here. The rivers Kogon, Fatala and Konkure, cutting through the lowlands, originate in the deep valleys of the second region - Central Guinea. Here the Futa Djallon sandstone massif with peaks of 1200–1400 m crosses the country from north to south. The most high point the plateau located north of Labe is Mount Tamge (1538 m). Central Guinea is characterized by a predominance of savannah landscapes, with mountain meadows in the highest places. The area is inhabited by the Fulani people. The predominant occupation of the population is animal husbandry.

To the east of the Fouta Djallon massif, on the plains in the upper Niger River basin, is Upper Guinea. It is a savannah region inhabited primarily by Malinke farmers.

Forest Guinea, located in the southeast of the country, occupies part of the North Guinea Upland with small tracts of remnant mountains. Here, near the border with Liberia in the Nimba Mountains, is the highest point of Guinea (1752 m). In this area, the background is savannah; in some areas, especially along river valleys, tropical forests have been preserved. Forest Guinea is home to many small ethnic groups who engage in farming.

The climate of Guinea is characterized by a clear contrast between the wet season, which lasts from May to October (and on the coast - longer than on the plains of the northeast) and the dry season, when a hot wind blows from the northeast - the harmattan. With the exception of its northernmost part, the coastal lowland is reliably protected from dry winds by mountains. Moist southwesterly winds bring heavy rainfall, which falls on the western slopes of the mountains. The Conakry region has an average annual rainfall of 4,300 mm, of which 4,000 mm occurs during the wet season. Inland areas receive an average of 1,300 mm of precipitation per year. High temperatures prevail throughout the year, rarely falling below 15°C, and sometimes reaching 38°C.

The Futa Djallon massif is characterized by the highest population density, where the Fulani graze cattle, sheep and goats in the mountain meadows, and various crops are grown in the fertile valleys. Coffee, which is produced in Central and Upper Guinea, as well as bananas grown in the coastal lowlands and in the valleys near the railway, are of export importance. In a number of coastal areas, mangroves have been cleared for rice fields.

Minerals– diamonds, aluminum, bauxite, granite, graphite, iron, gold, limestone, cobalt, manganese, copper, nickel, pyrite, platinum, lead, titanium, chromium, zinc, etc.

Dense branched river network (Bafing, Kogon, Konkure, Tomine, Fatala, Forekarya, etc.). The Niger (one of the largest in Africa) and Gambia rivers originate in Guinea.

Population.

The Malinke live in the interior of the country, mainly in the Niger River basin, the Susu (presumably the most ancient inhabitants of the savannas) live on the coast, including the strip between Conakry and Kindia. The main occupation of the Mandean-speaking peoples, who make up approximately half of the country's population, is agriculture. The warlike Fulani pastoralists, who appeared in these places in the 16th century, inhabit mainly the central part of the country - the Futa Djallon massif. A number of small ethnic groups are found along the coast, on the western slopes of the Fouta Djallon plateau and in Forest Guinea. The old enmity between the Mande-speaking rural population and the conquering Fulani herders has not yet been eradicated, and has now taken the form of rivalry for political hegemony in the country.

Approximately 90% of Guineans are Muslim. Most of the rest are adherents of local traditional beliefs and cults. Although the first Christian missions were founded in what is now Guinea in the 19th century, the number of Christians is small.

The average population density is 34 people. per 1 sq. km (2002). Its average annual growth is 2.63%. Birth rate – 41.76 per 1000 people, mortality – 15.48 per 1000 people. Infant mortality is 90 per 1000 births. 44.4% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents over 65 years of age – 3.2%. Average age population is 17.7 years old. The fertility rate (average number of children born per woman) is 5.79. Life expectancy is 49.5 years (men – 48.34, women – 50.7). (All indicators are given in estimates for 2006).

Guinea is a multi-ethnic state. The African population makes up more than 97%, there are approx. 30 nationalities and ethnic groups. The largest of them are Fulbe (40%), Malinke (30%) and Susu (20%) - 2002. Their languages are the most widely spoken of the local languages. OK. 7% of the population are Baga, Basari, Dialonke, Kisi, Kpelle (or Gerze), Landuma, Mikifore, Nalu, Tiapi, etc. Approx. 3% of the population are Europeans, Lebanese, Moors and Syrians.

The rural population is more than 70% (2004). Large cities (in thousand people, 2003) are Nzerekore (120.1), Kankan (112.2) and Kindia (106.3). Guinean labor migrants and refugees are in Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia and other countries in Africa and Europe. There are refugees from Sierra Leone in Guinea.

Religions.

According to estimates, 85% of the country's population are Muslims, 8% are Christians (the majority are Catholics), 7% of Guineans adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.) - 2003.

The first Muslims appeared on the territory of modern Guinea in the 12th century. The massive penetration of Islam began in the 15th–16th centuries. AD from the territory of modern Mauritania and other Maghreb countries. Islam of the Sunni () direction of the Maliki persuasion is widespread. The Sufi orders (tarikat) Tijaniyya, Qadiriyya, Barkhayya (or Barqiyya) and Shadiliyya ( cm. SUFISM). Christianity began to spread in the beginning. 19th century The first Christian missionaries (mostly members of monastic Catholic orders from France) appeared in the country at the end. 19th century

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

State structure.

Guinea is a republic. The constitution in force was adopted on December 23, 1991, as amended in November 2001. The head of state is the president, who, according to this amendment, is elected by universal secret ballot for a 7-year term. The President can be elected to this post more than once. Legislative power is exercised by a unicameral parliament (National Assembly), which consists of 114 deputies elected by universal suffrage for a 5-year term. 1/3 of the parliament is elected from single-member constituencies, and 2/3 is elected on the basis of proportional representation.

The President is Conte Lansana. Elected on December 21, 2003. Previously elected in 1993 and 1998. Has served as president since April 5, 1984.

State flag. A rectangular panel consisting of three vertical stripes of the same size - red (at the shaft), yellow and green.

Administrative device.

The country is divided into 8 provinces, which consist of 34 prefectures.

Judicial system.

Based on the French civil law system. There are the Supreme Judicial Council, the Supreme Court, the High Court, the State Security Court and magistrates' courts.

Armed forces and defense.

The national armed forces were created on the basis of units that were part of the colonial army. In the beginning. In 2005, their number (ground forces, air force and navy) amounted to 20 thousand people. Military service (2 years) is compulsory. In November 2005, mass dismissals were carried out (approx. 2 thousand people) from the army of officers, incl. and generals. Defense expenditures in 2005 amounted to $119.7 million (2.9% of GDP).

Foreign policy.

It is based on a policy of non-alignment. Guinea maintains good neighborly relations with Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, including within the framework of the Organization for effective use resources of the Gambia River. Takes part in solving regional problems in Africa, incl. conflict resolution in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Guinea were established on October 4, 1958. Soviet Union provided assistance to Guinea in the construction of industrial facilities, the creation of research centers and the training of national personnel. In December 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the legal successor of the USSR. In 1990 - early In the 2000s, intergovernmental contacts continued to develop (including in 2001, President Conte paid an official visit to Moscow), as well as relations in the field of military-technical cooperation, economics and training of national personnel for Guinea. Some Russian companies are actively working on the Guinean market (in May 2006, the Russian Aluminum company bought the Frigia bauxite mining industrial complex, located 150 km from the capital).

Political organizations.

A multi-party system has developed in the country. The most influential political parties:

– « Unity and Progress Party», PEP(Parti de l'unité et du progrès, PUP), leader - Lansana Conté, acting general secretary - Sekou Konaté. Ruling party, founded in 1992;

– « Union for Progress and Renewal», SPO(Union pour le progrès et le renouveau, UPR), chaired by Ousmane Bah. The party was created in September 1998 as a result of the merger of the “Party of Renewal and Progress” and the “Union for a New Republic”;

– « Uniting the Guinean people», OGN(Rassemblement populaire guinéen, RPG), leaders – Alpha Condé and Ahmed Tidiane Cissé. Main party in 1992.

Trade union associations.

"National Confederation of Workers of Guinea", CNTG (Confédération nationale des travailleurs de Guinée, CNTG). Created in 1984. The General Secretary is Mohamed Samba Kébé.

ECONOMY

Guinea belongs to the group of poorest countries in the world. The basis of the economy is the agricultural sector. OK. 40% of the population is below the poverty line (2003).

Labor resources.

In 2001, the country's economically active population was 4.1 million people, of which 3.43 million people were employed in agriculture.

Agriculture.

The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 23.7% (2005). 4.47% of land is cultivated (2005). The main cash crops are pineapples, peanuts, bananas, coffee, oilseeds and citrus fruits. Sweet potatoes, legumes, corn, mangoes, cassava, vegetables, rice, sugarcane, fonio (millet) and yams are also grown. Livestock farming (breeding goats, cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys and pigs) and poultry farming are developing. Agriculture is carried out using backward methods with poor technical equipment. It does not fully provide the population with food. In forestry, timber is harvested (including valuable varieties) and lumber is produced. Export of unprocessed wood is prohibited. Fishing is carried out in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and rivers. The catch of fish (mullet, mackerel, stingray, sardinella, etc.) and seafood in 2000 amounted to 91.5 thousand tons.

Industry.

Its share in GDP is 36.2% (2005). The main and most dynamically developing industry is the mining industry, which provides up to 80% of foreign exchange earnings. There is industrial mining of bauxite (30% of the world's proven reserves), aluminum ore (average annual production averages 2.2 million tons), gold, diamonds, iron and granite. The manufacturing industry is poorly developed; there are factories and factories for fish processing, flour production, palm oil, etc.

International trade.

The volume of imports exceeds the volume of exports: in 2005, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 680 million, exports - 612.1 million. The bulk of imports are petroleum products, metal, machinery, vehicles, textiles, grain and food. The main import partners are Cote d'Ivoire (15.1%), France (8.7%), Belgium and China (5.9% each) and South Africa (4.6%) - 2004. Main export products - aluminum, bauxite (Guinea is one of the world's largest exporters), gold, diamonds, coffee, fish.The main export partners are France (17.7%), Belgium and Great Britain (14.7% each), Switzerland (12 .8%) and Ukraine (4.2%) – 2004.

Energy.

The country's energy system is underdeveloped; demand for electricity is noticeably ahead of supply. Guinea has significant hydroelectric potential. Electricity production in 2003 amounted to 775 million kilowatt-hours.

Transport.

Transport infrastructure is poorly developed. The functioning of roads is complicated by frequent tropical downpours. The first railway was built in 1910. The total length of railways is 837 km (2004). The total length of roads is 44.3 thousand km (4.3 thousand km are paved) - 2003. The merchant fleet consists of 35 ships (2002). The seaports of Kamsar and Conakry are of international importance. The length of river waterways is 1300 km. There are 16 airports and runways (5 of them have hard surfaces) - 2005. Gbessia International Airport is located in Conakry.

Finance and credit.

The currency is the Guinean franc (GNF), divided into 100 centimes. The national currency was put into circulation on March 1, 1960. In December 2005, the national currency rate was: 1 USD = 2,550 GNF.

Tourism.

Foreign tourists are attracted by the beauty of natural landscapes, historical and architectural monuments, and the original culture of local peoples. In 2000, 32.6 thousand foreign tourists from France (more than 7 thousand), Senegal, Belgium, etc. visited Guinea. Tourism income in 2002 amounted to 12 million US dollars (in 1998 – 1 million US dollars) .

Sights - the National Museum in the capital, mosques in the cities of Kankan and Farana, the picturesque Bafarah waterfall, etc. Many Russian travel agencies provide the opportunity to visit Guinea.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

In the pre-colonial period, there was an extensive network of Muslim (Koranic) schools throughout the country. Already at the end. 17th century centers of Muslim education were established in the cities of Kankan and Tubu. The first European-style schools were opened at the end. 19th century at Christian missions.

Six years of education is compulsory, and children begin to receive it at the age of seven. Secondary education (7 years) begins at the age of 13 and takes place in two stages (the first is a four-year college education, the second is a three-year lyceum education). According to UNESCO's 2003 World Human Development Report, Guinea is among the countries with the lowest rates of girls' access to primary and secondary school.

The higher education system includes two universities (in the cities of Conakry and Kankan) and institutes located in the cities of Boke and Farana. In 2002, at the university in Conakry (founded in 1962), 824 teachers worked in four faculties and 5 thousand students studied, at the university in Kankan (established in 1963, received university status in 1987) - respectively, 72 teachers and more than one thousand students . There are several research centers, incl. Guinea Pasteur Institute and National Institute of Scientific Research and Documentation. In the beginning. In the 2000s, approx. people were literate. 35.9% of the population (49.9% men and 21.9% women).

Healthcare.

Architecture.

The main type of traditional dwelling is a round hut (6–10 m in diameter) under a cone-shaped thatched roof. In different regions of the country, these huts differ in the material used in the construction of their walls: the so-called. "banko" (a building material made from a mixture of clay and straw), wattle coated with clay, stakes driven into the ground or bamboo mats suspended from a wooden frame. The houses of urban residents are mainly buildings rectangular shape under flat roof and with a unique terrace. Special view architecture - construction of mosques. Business districts of modern cities are built up multi-storey buildings made of brick, reinforced concrete structures and glass. Soviet specialists took part in the design and construction of some administrative and cultural facilities (radio center, USSR Embassy in Conakry, Rogbane Science Center, etc.).

Fine arts and crafts.

The surviving objects of fine art (helmet-shaped halo masks, polychrome banda masks, round sculpture of the Baga and Temne peoples, etc.) of the peoples inhabiting the territory of modern Guinea date back to the 14th–15th centuries. Items ancient art Guineas are represented in exhibitions and private collections of many museums around the world, incl. The Hermitage and the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) in St. Petersburg.

Professional fine arts began to develop after independence. Artists: D. Kadiatu, M. Conde, M. B. Cossa, Matinez Sirena, K. Nanuman, M. C. Fallot, M. Phills. Many of the national artists were educated in the USSR.

Crafts and arts are well developed - wood and ivory carving, metal processing (casting and embossing), pottery, making popular prints, leather working, weaving, jewelry (including filigree work on gold and silver), and also weaving (making colorful baskets, fans, mats, etc.).

Literature.

Based on the traditions of oral creativity (myths, songs, proverbs and fairy tales) of local peoples. A major role in preserving folklore traditions belongs to the griots (a caste of wandering actors, storytellers, musicians and singers in West African countries). In the pre-colonial period, only the Fulbe people had written literary monuments in the local language (large poems called “qasidas”).

Modern literature develops in French. The writer Kamara Ley is considered one of the founders of national literature. Other writers are William Sasein, Thierno Monemembo, A. Fanture, Emil Sise. Many works of Guinean writers have been published in France. Famous Guinean poets are Lunsaini Kaba, Nene Khali and Rai Otra.

Music and theater.

The national musical culture is diverse and was formed as a result of the interaction of traditions of numerous local peoples. Professional musical art (the creation of palace orchestras at the courts of African rulers) developed during the Middle Ages. The musical culture of Guinea has been greatly influenced by Arabic music.

Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing are an inseparable part national culture. Rich musical traditions in Guinea have been preserved and continue to develop today. The musical art of the griots, who accompany themselves mainly on the kora (a string instrument), has been preserved. The musical instruments are diverse: drums (from small tamaru to giant dun-dun - bote, droma, dudumba, tamani, etc.), balafons, castanets, rattles (lala, sistrum vasama), dudaru horn, rattles, flutes (serdu, hula ). There are many stringed instruments: harps (baleil, haububataken), bolen (musical bow), keperu (violin), kerona, keronaru (guitar), condival, koni, kora, molar. Orchestral music performance is popular. The first national orchestra was created in 1959.

Solo and choral singing is widespread. Epic tales and songs of praise are popular. Famous singers and musicians - Ahmed Traoré, M. Vandel, M. Kouyate, Mamamu Camara, Sori Kandia Kouyate. In 2004, the Guinean kora virtuoso Ba Sissoko (his compositions are a symbiosis of traditional African motifs and modern rhythms) became one of the finalists of the international competition called “Music of the World” (since 1981 with the aim of promoting the development of national music in Africa and the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean zone is carried out by the radio station Radio France Internationale).

Elements of theater were present in numerous rites and rituals that were performed on various holidays. In 1948, an African music and dance ensemble called “Balle African” was created; after the declaration of independence, he repeatedly performed on tours in the countries of Asia, America and Europe (in 1961 - in the USSR). The professional ballet ensemble "Djoliba" performed in the Soviet Union in 1966 and 1971. The formation of national theatrical art was greatly influenced by the French school of William Ponty in Dakar (Senegal), where many Guinean actors, playwrights and directors studied their craft in the 1930s. One of the first Guinean playwrights is Emile Cissé.

Cinema.

Production documentaries began in the first half of the 1960s. One of the first documentaries - Revolution in action(1966, director A. Aksana), Eight and twenty(1967, directed by D. Costa), And freedom came(1969, directed by Sekou Umar Barry). The first feature films Black skin(1967) and Yesterday Today Tomorrow(1968), were filmed by director D. Costa. The first full-length feature film was Sergeant Bakari Woolen(1968, directed by Mohammed Lamine Akin). Other film directors are Alpha Bald, A. Dabo, K. Diana, M. Toure. The USSR provided active assistance in training national personnel. Since 1968, Guinean filmmakers have actively participated in international film festivals in Asia and Africa, which were held in Tashkent. Weeks of Guinean cinema were held in Moscow in 1970 and 1973. Until 1992, weeks of Soviet cinema were regularly held in Guinea, and later screenings of works by Russian filmmakers were held.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet.

Published in French:

– daily government newspaper “Horoya” (translated from the Susu language - “Dignity”);

– the government newsletter “Journal officiel de Guinée” - “Guinean Official Newspaper”, published twice a month;

– monthly magazine “Fonikee”.

The Guinean Press Agency, AGP (Agence guinéenne de presse, AGP), has been operating since 1960 and is located in Conakry. The government's "Guinea Radio and Television Service" (Radiodiffusion-télévision guinéenne, RTG) is also located in the capital. National television has been operating since May 1977. Radio and television programs are broadcast in French, English, Arabic and Portuguese, as well as in some local languages. In 2005, there were 46 thousand Internet users in Guinea.

STORY

In the 10th–11th centuries. Most of the northeast of modern Guinea was part of the state of Ghana. The mines near Siguiri probably produced some of Ghana's gold, which was exchanged for salt and other goods from North Africa in the cities of the Sahel. In the 12th century The Ghana Empire collapsed, and in the 13th century. in its place arose the Mali Empire, created by the Malinke people. Islam spread widely among the nobility and townspeople. Until the beginning of the 16th century. Mali remained a powerful force in the region. Later, a significant part of the territory of Mali was captured by the Songhai Empire of Gao in the east and the state of Tekrur created by the Fulani in the west. In the middle of the 17th century. The Bambara of Segu overthrew the Malinke Emperor.

By that time, the center of trade had moved to the coast, where there was intense competition between Portuguese, English and French slave traders. However, in this part of the West African coast the slave trade was less widespread than on the coasts of Nigeria, Dahomey and Senegal. After the official ban on the slave trade at the beginning of the 19th century. The coastal areas of modern Guinea continued to attract human traffickers, as the heavily indented coastline provided safe hiding places for slave trading vessels hunted by British warships. In the middle of the 19th century. The slave trade was replaced by trade in peanuts, palm oil, hides and rubber. European traders settled in several trading posts and paid tribute to the leaders of the local tribes. Attempts by the leaders to increase the size of the tribute ended with France establishing its protectorate over the Boke region in 1849.

The longest and most decisive resistance to the French colonialists was provided by Samory Toure. Malinka by ethnicity, he captured Kankan in 1879 and created a Muslim state southeast of Siguiri. In 1887 and 1890, the French concluded friendship treaties with Samori, but then denounced them, and hostilities resumed. In 1898, the French captured Samory Toure near Man in the west of modern Cote d'Ivoire and sent him into exile, where he died. The capture of Samory Toure marked the end of organized African resistance to the French invaders in the territory of modern Guinea, although spontaneous protests by Guineans did not stop until the beginning First World War.

In 1895, Guinea was included in French West Africa, and in 1904, after the British transferred the Los Islands to the French, the borders of the colony were established. During French colonial rule, Guineans were deprived of basic political rights, paid a poll tax, and were mobilized for unpaid forced labor and military service.

In 1946, France decided to create an elected territorial assembly in Guinea and gradually relaxed the property and educational qualifications for voting. In 1957, the entire adult population of the colony could participate in the elections, and the Government Council was created - a territorial executive body consisting of Guineans.

The influence of the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG), a mass political organization led by trade unionist Sékou Touré, grew rapidly. Thanks to the propaganda work of party activists, in 1958 almost the entire population of Guinea voted in a referendum against the new French constitution and for the country's exit from the French Community. As a result, on October 2, 1958, Guinea gained independence.

The Guineans' choice in favor of independence resulted in the loss of French economic assistance and investment, a guaranteed market for export products and technical assistance from qualified specialists. The urgent need for economic and technical assistance forced the new government to turn to the USSR and China for help, which led to Guinea's further isolation from France and its allies. In 1965, Guinea broke off diplomatic relations with France, accusing it of participating in a conspiracy to overthrow the Guinean government. By the end of the 1960s, Guinea had established relations with a number of Western countries, which was largely due to the interest of the country's leadership in foreign investment. However, the nationalization of trade and the agricultural sector resulted in stagnation in all sectors of the Guinean economy, except for mining. Although Sékou Touré himself retained his authority among the population, the government's policy became increasingly unpopular, and many thousands of Guineans emigrated.

In November 1970, Guinean emigrants who were in opposition to the Sékou Touré regime took part in an armed invasion of Guinean territory, which was organized with the support of Portugal. This action pursued two main goals: the overthrow of the government of Sékou Toure and the destruction of the bases of the partisans who fought for the liberation of Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau). The rebels were quickly defeated. After the failed attempt at aggression, massive purges were carried out in the state apparatus and armed forces of Guinea. In August 1977, a wave of riots swept through the cities, during which several provincial governors appointed by the DPG were killed. After these events, the policy of the Guinean leadership changed dramatically. In the late 1970s, political repression eased and the masses were able to participate in public life, private trade was allowed. Guinea's relations with neighboring African states and Western countries have improved. In 1976, diplomatic relations with France were restored.

Sekou Toure died on March 26, 1984, and already on April 3, 1984, a group of military personnel led by Colonel Lansana Conte carried out a bloodless coup. The military authorities dissolved the DPG and released all political prisoners. The economic reforms of the Conte regime did not bring positive results. In 1991, a new constitution was adopted, providing for the creation of a transitional government and then a multi-party republic. As a first step towards the transition to civilian rule, the activities of political parties were legalized. Based on the results of the first multiparty elections in the country's history in 1993, Conte was elected president. The 1995 parliamentary elections, accompanied by numerous clashes and acts of violence, were won by the Party of Unity and Progress, led by Conte.

In 1996, Conte appointed a new cabinet and introduced the post of prime minister, appointed by the president. Conte entrusted the government with the task of more vigorously implementing the program economic reforms, which provides for reducing government spending, fighting corruption and increasing the efficiency of the tax system.

In the presidential elections held on December 14, 1998, Conte won again (56.1% of the vote). 71.4% of voters participated in the elections. According to the results of the national referendum (November 2001), the term of office of the country's president, starting with the 2003 elections, was extended to 7 years. In the parliamentary elections (June 30, 2002), the presidential Unity and Progress Party (UPP) won a landslide victory (85 of 114 seats in the National Assembly). The Union for Progress and Renewal (SPO) party won 20 seats.

Guinea in the 21st century

The opposition boycotted presidential elections, which took place on December 21, 2003, and as a result Conte was re-elected for a third term (95.63% of the vote). 86.1% of voters participated in the elections.

In 2004, mass protests took place in major cities of the country, caused by a sharp rise in prices for rice, the main food product. The opposition accused the government of creating the most difficult economic situation in the country over the past five years. In January 2005, a coup attempt was foiled and more than 100 people were arrested on charges of participation in the conspiracy.

GDP is 18.99 billion US dollars, its growth is 2%. Inflation rate - 25%, investment - 17.3% of GDP (data for 2005, estimate). The main financial donors are France, the World Bank and the European Union. In the beginning. In the 2000s, Japan provided significant financial assistance for the development of the agricultural sector of the Guinean economy.

In July 2005, the government implemented a number of political reforms: freedom of association of opposition parties was guaranteed, an audit of voter lists was carried out, and an independent election commission was created. In the municipal elections held in December 2005, the ruling PEP won a landslide victory (it won a majority of votes in 31 of the country's 38 cities). The last changes in the government were made on April 4, 2006. In March 2006, the health condition of President Conte, suffering from leukemia and diabetes mellitus. Conte died on December 22, 2008. He ruled the country for 24 years, and two days after his death, a group of army conspirators, who proclaimed themselves the new government, completely captured the capital of the country. Due to the political crisis in the country, protest demonstrations began. All existing laws were repealed, and the leader of the military junta, Musa Dadis Kamara, promised to hold elections in 2010. His intention to stand as a candidate for them caused mass protests in the country. The military junta - the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) - refuses to conduct peace negotiations with the opposition, demonstrations and speeches are dispersed with force military force– in September 2009 alone, more than 150 people died, many were injured and arrested.

Lyubov Prokopenko

Literature:

Firsov A.A. Republic of Guinea. M., “Knowledge”, 1961
Recent history of Africa. M., “Science”, 1968
Guinea. Directory. M., “Science”, 1980
Mirimanov V.B. Art of Tropical Africa. M., “Art”, 1986
Kalinina L.P. Guinea. Directory. M., “Science”, 1994
Arulpragasam, J., and Sahn, D.E. Economic Transition in Guinea: Implications for Growth and Poverty. New York, New York University Press, 1997
The World of Learning 2003, 53rd Edition. L.-N.Y., Europa Publications, 2002
Africa South of the Sahara. 2004. L.-N.Y., Europa Publications, 2003
African countries and Russia. Directory. M., Publishing House of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2004

General information

Official name - Republic of Guinea. The state is located in West Africa. The area is 245,857 km2. Population - 11,176,026 people. (as of 2013). The official language is French. The capital is Conakry. The monetary unit is the Guinean franc.

The state borders in the south with Liberia (border length 563 km) and (652 km), in the east and southeast - with Cote d'Ivoire (610 km), in the north - with Guinea-Bissau (386 km), (858 km) and Senegal (330 km), in the west Guinea is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The total length of the border is 3,399 km, the length of the coastline is 320 km.

The territory of Guinea receives the maximum amount of precipitation for all of West Africa (more than 3,000 mm per year). Two seasons are clearly visible here: summer season rains lasting up to 7 months and dry winter season with drying dusty winds. The average air temperature throughout the year is about +26°C.

Story

The ancient history of Guinea has not been studied. In the Middle Ages, some parts of what is now Guinea were part of the empires (VIII-IX centuries) and Mali (XIII-XV centuries). At that time, the territory of Guinea was inhabited by various tribes, the most numerous were the Mandinka, Dialonke, and Susu.

In the 16th century, nomadic Fulani herders settled on the Futa Djallon plateau. In the 1720s, the Islamized elite of the Fulani began a war against the Dialonke, as well as against the pagan Fulani. This war largely ended in the late 1770s. As a result, the early feudal Fulbe state was created - Futa Djallon.

In the 19th century, the French began to penetrate Guinea. They tried to organize trade relations with local residents, but this often ended in the destruction of European merchants. Since 1865, she began to build forts and fortified posts on the Pepper Coast (in southern Guinea) to protect traders. The French tried to conclude non-aggression treaties with the leaders of local tribes.

In 1897, France entered into an agreement with the ruler of Fouta Djallon on a protectorate. In 1898-1894. approximately on the territory of modern Guinea there was a French colony of Rivière du Sud.

At the end of the 19th century, French Guinea was colonized and since 1904 has been part of the federation of French West Africa.

French colonization of Guinea proceeded slowly. Only after the end of the First World War did the creation of banana, pineapple, and coffee plantations begin there. However, the plantation economy did not receive much development. Industry also developed slowly in Guinea - only on the eve of World War II the first mining enterprises and small manufacturing workshops appeared there.

In a referendum in 1958, the Guinean people voted for independence, which was declared on October 2. Guinea, like other French colonies that gained independence, was declared a Republic.

Ahmed Sekou Toure was elected President of the Republic, establishing a one-party system in the country, supported by a powerful repressive apparatus. In the field of foreign policy, he adhered to a moderately pro-Soviet course, and in the field of domestic policy he was an adherent of scientific socialism with African characteristics. The result of this strategy was the total socialization of property; at certain stages, even the number of traders in the bazaars was regulated by order. By the early 1980s, about a million people from the country had migrated abroad.

After the death of Ahmed Sekou Toure in 1984, power was seized by a group of military men who created the Military Committee for National Revival, led by Colonel Lansana Conte, who over the next three years eliminated the main competitors in the struggle for power. Under President Lansan Conte, foreign policy was oriented towards greater cooperation with France and Great Britain, and the country began to enjoy the support of international financial organizations. A side effect of the weakening of political control was a powerful increase in corruption; during the reign of President Conte, Guinea became one of the world leaders in this indicator.

The process of democratization of political life began in the late 1980s, and elections have been held regularly since the beginning of the next decade. Lansana Conte won the presidential elections three times (in 1993, 1998, 2003), and his Party of Unity and Progress won the parliamentary elections, although each round was accompanied by powerful opposition protests, to which local power ministries traditionally react very harshly.

The continuing deterioration of the economic situation in the country led to mass protests in 2007 demanding the resignation of the government and the adoption of urgent measures to bring the country out of the crisis. As a result of negotiations between the authorities and the trade union movement, the post of prime minister was transferred to a compromise candidate with a mandate until the next elections, scheduled for mid-2008.

On Monday, December 22, 2008, the President of the Republic of Guinea, Lansana Conte, died suddenly and, according to the Constitution, his responsibilities passed to the President of the National Assembly (that is, to the Chairman of Parliament) Aboubakar Sompara, who was supposed to hold elections for a new President of the Republic within 60 days. However, on December 23, 2008, a few hours after the death of President Lansan Conté, a group of military personnel who declared themselves the National Council for Democracy and Development, CNDD (French Conseil national pour la d?mocratie et le d?veloppement, CNDD), committed a state coup. On December 24, 2008, the duties of the President of the Republic were transferred to Captain Moussa Dadi Camara by agreement between the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare and the military, which created the National Council for Democracy and Development. Moussa Dadi Camara's term of office is set at two years, until the end of December 2010, when free elections should take place.

On September 28, 2009, the opposition organized a protest rally in the country's capital against Moussa Camara's intention to run for the 2010 presidential elections. The ruling junta suppressed the rally using tear gas and live weapons, killing 157 people and wounding more than 1,200.

Sights of Guinea

Almost the entire surface of Guinea is covered with mountain peaks, various rivers and dense forests.

On the border of two states and rises 1000 meters Mount Nimba. By the way, this is where the Mount Nimba Nature Reserve is located.

This reserve was opened back in 1944 and, strangely enough, iron ore was mined here, which is in abundance here. However, already in 1981, a decree was issued banning any work in this territory, except for scientific research. Therefore, the Mount Nimba Nature Reserve was included in UNESCO as a protected site that is in danger.

Biologists and zoologists are often present in this area and study these places.

On the slopes of Mount Nimba you can find dense forests and mountain meadows. This attraction is amazing because there are about 1000 plant species, of which 25 are not present anywhere on earth. There are also about 1000 species of fauna, and again most of them are not found on the planet. These include antelope, leopard, pygmy monkeys, etc.

Center Conakry quite modern and is a complex of office and banking buildings between the Roux du and Ave de la République. The National Museum has a large collection of masks, sculpture and national instruments, housed in a spacious exhibition building in the style of the Parisian Louvre. Against presidential palace(former office of the OAU organization) there are about 50 picturesque villas in Moorish style, currently used as offices for a number of international organizations. The enormous People's Palace in the northern part of the Roux du Niger is home to traditional performances by the two local ballet theaters and hosts numerous festive ceremonies.

10 km. located from the capital Ile de Los- a group of small islands in the Atlantic Ocean, a favorite resort area for residents and guests of Conakry, with a completely modern water center and regularly scheduled mini-cruises on boats to the picturesque beach in the Novotel area, and just a good place for a weekend getaway.

Futa Djallon Plateau- one of the main natural attractions of the country along with the Bafara Falls and Fuyama Rapids. Located 220 km. northeast of the capital and connected by a good road, it attracts thousands of tourists with its emerald green vegetation covering picturesque hills (up to 1000 m), the relative coolness of the local climate, charming villages with friendly residents and very high quality local cuisine. The most popular towns here are Mamu - the “gate of Futa Djallon”, Dalaba - a former colonial mountain resort with the D'Asuel health center.

Nzerekore is the cheapest city in Guinea, located on the border with Liberia. The local market is considered the largest base for goods from neighboring countries, so you can buy almost everything here at a modest price. It is also the starting point for ecological excursions into the forest area - one of the few places in Africa where leopards, elephants and numerous primates can still be found.

Guinean cuisine

The cuisine of the Republic of Guinea is not particularly sophisticated. Simplicity is characteristic of her. Guinean cuisine mainly includes a wide variety of porridges. In addition, various stews are prepared from corn, millet or rice. They are flavored with spices, vegetable seasonings and vegetable oil. Meat side dishes (and just meat) are rarely used in cooking. Seafood and fish are a much more familiar product for Guineans. The most popular drink in Guinea is milk, which is consumed fermented or fresh.

Guinea on the map

4 199

Republic of Guinea. State in West Africa. The capital is Conakry (1.77 million people - 2003). Territory - 245.9 thousand square meters. km. Administrative division - 8 provinces. Population - 9.69 million people. (2006, evaluation). The official language is French. Religion - Islam, Christianity and traditional African beliefs. The monetary unit is the Guinean franc. National holiday - October 2, Independence Day (1958). Guinea has been a member of the UN since 1958, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor, the African Union (AU). Member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since 1975, Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) since 1969, International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), Union of Mano River States (UMR) since 1980. Guinea. The capital is Conakry. Population - 9030 thousand people (2003). Population density - 31 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 23%, rural - 77%. Area - 245.9 thousand square meters. km. The highest point is Mount Nimba (1752 m). The main languages are Fulani, Malinke, Susu, French (official). The main religions are Islam and local traditional beliefs. Administrative division - 8 provinces. Monetary unit: Guinean franc = 100 centimes. National holiday: Independence Day - October 2. National anthem: "Freedom".

Geographical location and boundaries.

Continental State. It borders in the northwest with Guinea-Bissau, in the north with Senegal, in the north and northeast with Mali, in the east with Cote d'Ivoire, in the south with Liberia and Sierra Leone. The western part of the country is washed by waters of the Atlantic Ocean.The length of the coastline is 320 km.

Nature.

The territory of Guinea is divided into four physiographic regions. The first of them, located in the west of the country - Lower, or Maritime, Guinea - is a flat lowland up to 32 km wide, with heights less than 150 m above sea level. The swampy coastline is covered with mangroves; dense rocks come to the surface only in the Conakry region. Lower Guinea is a region of commodity-export agriculture. Mostly representatives of the Susu people live here. The rivers Kogon, Fatala and Konkure, cutting through the lowlands, originate in the deep valleys of the second region - Central Guinea. Here the Futa Djallon sandstone massif with peaks of 1200-1400 m crosses the country from north to south. The highest point of the plateau, located north of Labe, is Mount Tamge (1538 m). Central Guinea is characterized by a predominance of savannah landscapes, with mountain meadows in the highest places. The area is inhabited by the Fulani people. The predominant occupation of the population is animal husbandry.

To the east of the Fouta Djallon massif, on the plains in the upper Niger River basin, is Upper Guinea. It is a savannah region inhabited primarily by Malinke farmers.

Minerals - diamonds, aluminum, bauxite, granite, graphite, iron, gold, limestone, cobalt, manganese, copper, nickel, pyrite, platinum, lead, titanium, chromium, zinc, etc.

Dense branched river network (Bafing, Kogon, Konkure, Tomine, Fatala, Forekarya, etc.). The Niger (one of the largest in Africa) and Gambia rivers originate in Guinea.

Population.

The average population density is 34 people. per 1 sq. km (2002). Its average annual growth is 2.63%. Birth rate - 41.76 per 1000 people, mortality - 15.48 per 1000 people. Infant mortality is 90 per 1000 births. 44.4% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents over 65 years of age - 3.2%. The average age of the population is 17.7 years. The fertility rate (average number of children born per woman) is 5.79. Life expectancy is 49.5 years (men - 48.34, women - 50.7). (All indicators are given in estimates for 2006).

The rural population is more than 70% (2004). Large cities (in thousand people, 2003) - Nzerekore (120.1), Kankan (112.2) and Kindia (106.3). Guinean labor migrants and refugees are in Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia and other countries in Africa and Europe. There are refugees from Sierra Leone in Guinea.

Religions.

The first Muslims appeared on the territory of modern Guinea in the 12th century. The massive penetration of Islam began in the 15th and 16th centuries. AD from the territory of modern Mauritania and other Maghreb countries. Islam of the Sunni (See also SUNNI) Maliki direction is widespread. The Sufi orders (tarikat) Tijaniyya, Qadiriyya, Barkhayya (or Barqiyya) and Shadiliyya (see SUFISM) enjoy a certain influence among the country's Muslims. Christianity began to spread in the beginning. 19th century The first Christian missionaries (mostly members of monastic Catholic orders from France) appeared in the country at the end. 19th century

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

State structure.

The President is Conte Lansana. Elected on December 21, 2003. Previously elected in 1993 and 1998. Has served as president since April 5, 1984.

State flag. A rectangular panel consisting of three vertical stripes of the same size - red (at the shaft), yellow and green.

Administrative device.

The country is divided into 8 provinces, which consist of 34 prefectures.

Judicial system.

Based on the French civil law system. There are the Supreme Judicial Council, the Supreme Court, the High Court, the State Security Court and magistrates' courts.

Armed forces and defense.

Foreign policy.

It is based on a policy of non-alignment. Guinea maintains good neighborly relations with Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, including within the framework of the Organization for the Efficient Use of Resources of the Gambia River. Takes part in solving regional problems in Africa, incl. conflict resolution in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Guinea were established on October 4, 1958. The Soviet Union provided assistance to Guinea in the construction of industrial facilities, the creation of research centers and the training of national personnel. In December 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the legal successor of the USSR. In 1990 - early In the 2000s, intergovernmental contacts continued to develop (including in 2001, President Conte paid an official visit to Moscow), as well as relations in the field of military-technical cooperation, economics and training of national personnel for Guinea. Some Russian companies are actively working on the Guinean market (in May 2006, the Russian Aluminum company bought the Frigia bauxite mining industrial complex, located 150 km from the capital).
Political organizations.
A multi-party system has developed in the country. The most influential political parties:

- “Party of Unity and Progress”, PEP (Parti de l'unité et du progrès, PUP), leader - Lansana Conté, acting general secretary - Sekou Konaté. Ruling party, founded in 1992;

- “Union for Progress and Renewal”, SPO (Union pour le progrès et le renouveau, UPR), chairman - Ousmane Bah. The party was created in September 1998 as a result of the merger of the “Party of Renewal and Progress” and the “Union for a New Republic”;

- “Uniting the Guinean People”, RPG (Rassemblement populaire guinéen, RPG), leaders - Alpha Condé and Ahmed Tidiane Cissé. Main party in 1992.

Trade union associations.

"National Confederation of Workers of Guinea", CNTG (Confédération nationale des travailleurs de Guinée, CNTG). Created in 1984. The General Secretary is Mohamed Samba Kébé.

ECONOMY

Guinea belongs to the group of poorest countries in the world. The basis of the economy is the agricultural sector. OK. 40% of the population is below the poverty line (2003).

Labor resources.

In 2001, the country's economically active population was 4.1 million people, of which 3.43 million people were employed in agriculture.

Agriculture.

Industry.

Transport.

Finance and credit.

Tourism.

Sights - the National Museum in the capital, mosques in the cities of Kankan and Farana, the picturesque Bafarah waterfall, etc. Many Russian travel agencies provide the opportunity to visit Guinea.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

Healthcare.

Architecture.

The main type of traditional dwelling is a round hut (6-10 m in diameter) under a cone-shaped thatched roof. In different regions of the country, these huts differ in the material used in the construction of their walls: the so-called. "banko" (a building material made from a mixture of clay and straw), wattle coated with clay, stakes driven into the ground or bamboo mats suspended from a wooden frame. The houses of urban residents are mainly rectangular buildings under a flat roof and with a kind of terrace. A special type of architecture is the construction of mosques. Business districts of modern cities are built up with multi-story buildings made of brick, reinforced concrete structures and glass. Soviet specialists took part in the design and construction of some administrative and cultural facilities (radio center, USSR Embassy in Conakry, Rogbane Science Center, etc.).

Fine arts and crafts.

The surviving objects of fine art (helmet-shaped halo masks, polychrome banda masks, round sculpture of the Baga and Temne peoples, etc.) of the peoples inhabiting the territory of modern Guinea date back to the 14th-15th centuries. Objects of ancient art of Guinea are presented in exhibitions and private collections of many museums around the world, incl. The Hermitage and the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) in St. Petersburg.

Crafts and arts are well developed - wood and ivory carving, metal working (casting and embossing), pottery, making popular prints, leather working, weaving, jewelry (including filigree work on gold and silver), and also weaving (making colorful baskets, fans, mats, etc.).

Literature.

Music and theater.

Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing are an inseparable part of the national culture. Rich musical traditions in Guinea have been preserved and continue to develop today. The musical art of the griots, who accompany themselves mainly on the kora (a string instrument), has been preserved. The musical instruments are diverse: drums (from small tamaru to giant dun-dun - bote, droma, dudumba, tamani, etc.), balafons, castanets, rattles (lala, sistrum vasama), dudaru horn, rattles, flutes (serdu, hula ). There are many stringed instruments: harps (baleil, haububataken), bolen (musical bow), keperu (violin), kerona, keronaru (guitar), condival, koni, kora, molar. Orchestral music performance is popular. The first national orchestra was created in 1959.

Solo and choral singing is widespread. Epic tales and songs of praise are popular. Famous singers and musicians - Ahmed Traoré, M. Vandel, M. Kouyate, Mamamu Kamara, Sori Kandia Kouyate. In 2004, the Guinean kora virtuoso Ba Sissoko (his compositions are a symbiosis of traditional African motifs and modern rhythms) became one of the finalists of the international competition called “Music of the World” (since 1981 with the aim of promoting the development of national music in Africa and the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean zone is carried out by the radio station Radio France Internationale).

Elements of theater were present in numerous rites and rituals that were performed on various holidays. In 1948, an African music and dance ensemble called “Balle African” was created; After the declaration of independence, he repeatedly performed on tour in the countries of Asia, America and Europe (in 1961 - in the USSR). The professional ballet ensemble "Djoliba" performed in the Soviet Union in 1966 and 1971. The formation of national theatrical art was greatly influenced by the French school of William Ponty in Dakar (Senegal), where many Guinean actors, playwrights and directors studied their craft in the 1930s. One of the first Guinean playwrights is Emile Cissé.

Cinema.

Documentary film production began in the first half of the 1960s. Some of the first documentaries are Revolution in Action (1966, directed by A. Aksana), Eight and Twenty (1967, directed by D. Costa), And Freedom Came (1969, directed by Sekou Umar Barry). The first feature films, Black Skin (1967) and Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (1968), were directed by D. Costa. The first full-length feature film was Sergeant Bakari Woolen (1968, directed by Mohammed Lamine Akin). Other film directors are Alpha Bald, A. Dabo, K. Diana, M. Toure. The USSR provided active assistance in training national personnel. Since 1968, Guinean filmmakers have actively participated in international film festivals in Asia and Africa, which were held in Tashkent. Weeks of Guinean cinema were held in Moscow in 1970 and 1973. Until 1992, weeks of Soviet cinema were regularly held in Guinea, and later screenings of works by Russian filmmakers were held.
Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet.
Published in French:

Daily government newspaper “Horoya” (translated from the Susu language - “Dignity”);

The government newsletter “Journal officiel de Guinée” (Guinean Official Newspaper), published twice a month;

Monthly magazine “Fonikee”.

STORY

In the 10th-11th centuries. Most of the northeast of modern Guinea was part of the state of Ghana. The mines near Siguiri probably produced some of Ghana's gold, which was exchanged for salt and other goods from North Africa in the cities of the Sahel. In the 12th century The Ghana Empire collapsed, and in the 13th century. in its place arose the Mali Empire, created by the Malinke people. Islam spread widely among the nobility and townspeople. Until the beginning of the 16th century. Mali remained a powerful force in the region. Later, a significant part of the territory of Mali was captured by the Songhai Empire of Gao in the east and the state of Tekrur created by the Fulani in the west. In the middle of the 17th century. The Bambara of Segu overthrew the Malinke Emperor.

At the beginning of the 18th century. A powerful Fulani state arose on the territory of the Futa Djallon plateau. Islam became his state religion, which then spread among the inhabitants of the coastal regions, many of whom paid tribute to the Fulani leaders. Further development of European trade and the creation of new strongholds on the coast in the mid-19th century. led to friction between the French and the Fulbe leaders, who in 1861 were persuaded to recognize the French protectorate over Boke. A few years earlier, Haj Omar, a militant religious reformer from eastern Senegal, had settled in Fouta Djallon. By 1848, his popularity among the local population had grown so much that it began to cause concern among the Fulani leaders. Hajj Omar was forced to move to Dingirai, where he declared jihad (holy war) in the territory of Western Sudan, especially the kingdoms of Segu and Masina. In 1864, in a battle with the soldiers of Masina, Haj Omar died, and his son Ahmad took his place. In 1881, he concluded an agreement with the French, according to which the territory along the left bank of the Niger up to Timbuktu came under French protectorate. Later, Ahmad tried to renounce this agreement, but in 1891-1893 he was removed from power by the French.
The longest and most decisive resistance to the French colonialists was provided by Samory Toure. Malinka by ethnicity, he captured Kankan in 1879 and created a Muslim state southeast of Siguiri. In 1887 and 1890, the French concluded friendship treaties with Samori, but then denounced them, and hostilities resumed. In 1898, the French captured Samory Toure near Man in the west of modern Cote d'Ivoire and sent him into exile, where he died. The capture of Samory Toure marked the end of organized African resistance to the French invaders in the territory of modern Guinea, although spontaneous protests by Guineans did not stop until the beginning First World War.

In November 1970, Guinean emigrants who were in opposition to the Sékou Touré regime took part in an armed invasion of Guinean territory, which was organized with the support of Portugal. This action pursued two main goals: the overthrow of the government of Sékou Toure and the destruction of the bases of the partisans who fought for the liberation of Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau). The rebels were quickly defeated. After the failed attempt at aggression, massive purges were carried out in the state apparatus and armed forces of Guinea. In August 1977, a wave of riots swept through the cities, during which several provincial governors appointed by the DPG were killed. After these events, the policy of the Guinean leadership changed dramatically. In the late 1970s, political repression eased, the masses were able to participate in public life, and private trade was allowed. Guinea's relations with neighboring African states and Western countries have improved. In 1976, diplomatic relations with France were restored.

In 1996, Conte appointed a new cabinet and introduced the post of prime minister, appointed by the president. Conte's government has been tasked with more vigorously pursuing an economic reform program that includes cutting government spending, fighting corruption and improving the efficiency of the tax system.

The opposition boycotted the presidential elections, which took place on December 21, 2003, and as a result, Conte was re-elected for a third term (95.63% of the vote). 86.1% of voters participated in the elections.

In July 2005, the government implemented a number of political reforms: freedom of association of opposition parties was guaranteed, an audit of voter lists was carried out, and an independent election commission was created. In the municipal elections held in December 2005, the ruling PEP won a landslide victory (it won a majority of votes in 31 of the country's 38 cities). The last changes in the government were made on April 4, 2006. In March 2006, the health of President Conte, suffering from leukemia and diabetes, sharply deteriorated. Conte died on December 22, 2008. He ruled the country for 24 years, and two days after his death, a group of army conspirators, who proclaimed themselves the new government, completely captured the capital of the country. Due to the political crisis in the country, protest demonstrations began. All existing laws were repealed, and the leader of the military junta, Musa Dadis Kamara, promised to hold elections in 2010. His intention to stand as a candidate for them caused mass protests in the country. The military junta - the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) - refuses to conduct peace negotiations with the opposition, demonstrations and speeches are dispersed using military force - in September 2009 alone, more than 150 people were killed, many were injured and arrested.

Guinea- a state in West Africa. In the north it borders with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mali, in the east and southeast - with Cote d'Ivoire, in the south - with Liberia and Sierra Leone. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The name of the country comes from the Berber iguawen - “dumb”.

Capital: Conakry.

Square: 245857 km2.

Population: 7614 thousand people

Administrative division: The state is divided into 8 provinces.

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: President, elected for a term of 5 years.

Big cities: Kankan, Labe, Nzerekore.

Official language: French.

Religion: 85% are Sunni Muslims.

Ethnic composition: 35% - Fulani, 30% - Malinke, 20% - Su-Su, 15% - other tribes.

Currency: Franc = 100 centimes.

Climate

The climate of Guinea varies depending on the topographic zones, predominantly subequatorial. In the coastal strip the average annual temperature is + 27 °C, in Fouta Djallon - about + 20 °C, in upper Guinea + 21 °C. The hottest month of the year is April, and the rainiest months are July and August. The rainy season lasts from April-May to October-November. On the coast, during 170 rainy days a year, up to 4300 mm of precipitation falls, in inland areas - no more than 1500 mm.

Flora

The vegetation in Guinea is quite diverse: dense mangrove forests, coconut palms, Guinean oil palms, and other exotic plants grow along the ocean shores. In the Upper Guinea region there is savanna, and in the Lower Guinea region there is impenetrable jungle.

Fauna

Representatives of the fauna of Guinea, which is quite rich, include elephant, leopard, hippopotamus, wild boar, panther, antelope, many monkeys (especially baboons, living in herds). There are a large number of snakes and crocodiles, as well as parrots and banana-eaters (turaco).

Rivers and lakes. The largest rivers are Bafing, Gambia, Senegal, and the Niger (here called Djoliba) and Milo rivers originate here.

Attractions

National Museum with a rich collection of exhibits, including historical and ethnographic ones.

Useful information for tourists

The Republic of Guinea primarily attracts visitors with its picturesque elevated landscapes of the Fouta Djallon highlands, an excellent road network by African standards (especially in the southeast) and the impressive contrast between the dry northern valleys and the endless jungle in the southern regions.

Nzerekore is the cheapest city in Guinea and the starting point for ecological excursions into the forest area, famous for its inhabitants - forest elephants, numerous primates, and it is also one of the few places in Africa where you can still meet the forest leopard. The local market is considered the largest transshipment base for goods from neighboring countries, so you can buy almost everything here at a modest price.