Guinea-Bissau

Islam in Guinea-Bissau is the dominant religion, making it one of the most Islamic countries in West Africa.

1. Muslim Population
About 46% to 50% of Guinea-Bissau’s population (around 2 million people) are Muslims. Most Muslims belong to various ethnic groups such as:

  • Fula (Fulani) — the largest Muslim ethnic group.
  • Mandinka.
  • Soninke.

Islam is strongest in the northern and northeastern regions of the country.

2. History of Islam in Guinea-Bissau

  • Islam arrived in the region through trans-Saharan and trans-Sahelian trade routes around the 12th–14th centuries.
  • The Fulani and Mandinka traders and rulers played a crucial role in spreading Islam.
  • By the 18th and 19th centuries, Islam was well established, especially in the interior regions, while the coastal areas remained influenced by Christianity and indigenous beliefs.

3. Religious Practices
The majority of Muslims in Guinea-Bissau follow Sunni Islam (Maliki school of jurisprudence). Sufism is influential, particularly through Sufi brotherhoods such as the Tijaniyya and Qadiriyya. Islamic practices include:

  • Daily prayers (Salah).
  • Fasting during Ramadan.
  • Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha celebrations.
  • Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca for those who can afford it.

4. Mosques and Islamic Institutions

  • Mosques are present in almost every village and town, especially in the north.
  • There are Islamic schools (madrasahs) where children learn the Qur’an and Arabic.
  • Some Islamic NGOs operate in the country, providing education, health, and humanitarian aid.

5. Role in Society

  • Islam shapes the cultural, social, and moral values of the Muslim population.
  • Religious leaders (called imams or marabouts) are respected figures in society, often involved in conflict resolution, education, and community leadership.
  • Islamic festivals are widely celebrated in Muslim-majority regions.

6. Religious Diversity
Guinea-Bissau is religiously pluralistic:

  • 30-40% follow indigenous African traditional religions.
  • Around 10% are Christians (mainly Roman Catholics in the south and capital, Bissau).
  • Religious tolerance is generally strong, and there are few reports of religious conflict.

7. Challenges

  • Many Muslims in rural areas practice a blend of Islam and traditional African beliefs, which some conservative Muslims criticize as un-Islamic.
  • The country suffers from poverty, political instability, and weak infrastructure, affecting religious institutions as well.

8. Fun Fact
In Guinea-Bissau, it is common to find people who practice both Islam and local animist traditions, like consulting traditional healers while observing Muslim prayers — a sign of the region’s syncretic religious culture.

Guinea-Bissau
Country Code Top-Level Domain: .gw
Country Code: +245