Bidyogo

The Bidyogo people, also known as Bijagós, are an ethnic group inhabiting the Bijagós Islands off the coast of Guinea-Bissau in western Africa. These islands are characterized by lush vegetation and sandy beaches, with palm products being a primary cash crop.1

The Bidyogo people speak a language belonging to the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo family. Their economy traditionally relies on women cultivating rice and men fishing and tending to palm and kola trees. Some Bidyogo also work in bauxite mines on the nearby Los Islands. Their traditional social structure emphasizes kin groups, with authority resting in the hands of male elders who also formed village councils. While many Bidyogo are Muslim, some remote groups may still practice animist traditions.2