Paper short abstract:

The Manjuandades are props of union to generate feminine force and modes of survival. However, they structure much more because they generate the true identity of Guinean women.

Paper long abstract:

African societies, and more specifically the ones of West Africa, traditionally organize knowledge through oral practices. Men and women have been sustaining this tradition in order to guarantee the continuity of power, as well as of their ancestry. In other words, to preserve and defend their identity. In line with this tradition, women have created manjuandade, which refers a specifically feminine practice where women who share the same age and similar histories help each other in order to strengthen the social ties between them and understand which social aspects are more relevant to them in order to be stronger actors within the Guinean society. I aim at analyzing manjuandades as a form of social representation in Guinea-Bissau and as a social phenomenon where different female groups find their representation and express their identity.

In the present paper, I also intend to discuss the role of older women and their dialogue with the young generations through the analysis of traditional songs, with the aim of perceiving their shared tradition and mutual influences. Traditional songs represent an ancient tradition, deeply respected within the Guinean modern society. They also offer interesting readings of the female figure in the urban and daily context of Bissau. Therefore, my intention is also to examine how the younger women are influenced by the older ones by observing how traditional songs are used by the movement of mandjuandade.