Guinea, formerly People’s Revolutionary Republic of Guinea, independent nation in western Africa, bounded on the north by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali; on the east and southeast by Cote d'Ivoire; on the south by Liberia and Sierra Leone; and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The total area of the country, including the Los Islands of Conakry, is 245,857 sq km (94,926 sq mi). Conakry is the capital and largest city.
A trade crossroads long before Europeans appeared on the scene, Guinea was part of several empires over the 500 year period between the 10th and 15th centuries. In the years that followed, Conakry became an important port city. Many Guineans were employed there and allowed to organize their own trade unions. Sekou Toure, a great-grandson of Samory and the head of the powerful General Union of Workers of Black Africa, led the agitation in the 1950s for more African representation in government. In 1952 Toure became the secretary general of the Democratic Party of Guinea.
In the September 1958 plebiscite, Guinea was the only territory to reject the constitution of the Fifth French Republic. This caused immediate severance of political and economic ties with France. Guinea achieved independence on October 2, 1958, with Toure as president of the new nation.
In 1961 Guinea joined with Ghana and Mali in the Union of African States, a loose federation that lasted only two years. After surviving several assassination attempts, Toure accused French officials of plotting his overthrow and broke off relations with France in November 1965. Guinea’s relations with Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Senegal, and Burkina Faso continued to be stormy until 1978. In the late 1980s, Guinea sought to attract Western capital by liberalizing investment regulations. In 1990 a new constitution was adopted authorizing a transitional committee to establish the framework for a civilian government. In December 1993 President Conte was confirmed in office in Guinea’s first multiparty elections. Conte’s Party of Unity and Progress won 71 out of 114 National Assembly seats in June 1995 legislative elections. In February 1996 almost one-quarter of Guinea’s 8,500-member armed forces mutinied in the streets of Conakry, demanding more pay and better working conditions. President Conte immediately fired his defense minister and negotiated a truce with his troops, but not before at least 30 people were killed and the presidential palace set ablaze. Conte was reelected in 1998.
Traditional music remains popular with most of the people in Guinea, despite the rise in popularity of more modern forms. National and international stars have blended western instruments with African rhythms and instruments, and the two types of music still exist side by side. Over 80 recordings have been made by Syliphone, the country's home-grown music label. They cover an enormous range of popular and traditional styles, and some of the big names are Bembeya Jazz, Keletigui et ses Tambourinis, and Camayenne Sofa.
French is the official language, many African languages are spoken: Malinké, especially in the north; Fula, mainly in the Fouta Djalon region; and Susu, mostly in the south around Conakry. Around 75% of Guineans are Muslims, less than 1% are Christians, and the remainder practise traditional religions.
In most towns, street food such as brochettes, grilled fish, peanuts and cakes is available, and there are usually one or two restaurants offering cheap meals of rice and sauce. Only the larger towns will have restaurants offering meat, chicken or chips. Conakry has several French-style pâtisseries selling coffee and cakes, pizzas, hamburgers and other western-style food.
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