The history of postcolonial kinglets in Guinea Bissau

Abstract

This paper attempts to demonstrate that the role of traditional authorities in today’s Guinea Bissau is embedded in a long-term history that goes back to their pre-colonial and colonial history. Looking back to the situation of traditional authorities by the end of the colonial period (the early ‘70s), the paper discusses the different configurations of legitimacy of present-day authorities in relation to both local population and State authorities.

Keywords

• Guinea Bissau
• traditional authorities
• colonialism
• postcolonialism
• State