Guinea

Guinea is a heartland of Mande culture, famed for djembe and balafon music, weaving and griot epic.

Music & dance Spirituality & rites Textile & dress Crafts Language & oral

Knowledge in this place

Djembe drumming

Djembe drumming

Master drummers play the goblet-shaped djembe in ensembles for dance and ceremony.

Sosso-Bala balafon

Sosso-Bala balafon

The sacred Sosso-Bala xylophone is honoured as a relic of the Mali Empire.

Spirituality & rites

Indigo dyeing

Indigo dyeing

Dyers ferment indigo to colour cotton cloth in deep, patterned blues.

Textile & dress

Mande blacksmithing

Mande blacksmithing

Hereditary smiths forge tools and carve wood, holding a respected ritual role.

Epic of Sundiata

Epic of Sundiata

Griots recite the Mande epic of Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mali Empire.

Language & oral