Guinea-Bissau is a small country in West Africa, and yet it managed to wrest its independence from Portugal back in 1973, at the cost of a long and bitter struggle against seemingly implacable odds. This was a time to be proud of, and there was also a moment about two decades ago, when it looked like a trendsetter for democracy. Since then things have gone seriously wrong, with a collapsing infrastructure, a dilapidated economy and a political stage prone to military coups d’etats. This fourth edition of Historical Dictionary of Guinea-Bissau tells the long and sometimes unpleasant story. However, like all the country historical dictionaries, it tells it several times and in several ways. First, the chronology traces the history of what became Guinea-Bissau, and this over a period of centuries and not just decades. Then the introduction recounts that history again, providing more insight and understanding, and conveys a good idea of how things are going now. The details follow in the dictionary section with entries on important persons, places, institutions, and events among other things. And the bibliography points to further reading.

A reference on the west African country updated to encompass events and new scholarship during the eight years since the second edition. Considers the Guinean economy, foreign and domestic politics, Crioulo culture, the 1991 multi-party elections in Cape Verde that had a great influence on Guinea- Bissau, the social structure, arts and music, demography, health, ecology, and other aspects. A chronology, maps, and a battery of appendices are also included. Mendy is a Guinean scholar and Lobban one of the few Americans to have visited the country during the fight against Portuguese colonization. No index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Thoroughly updated and extensively revised, this 4th edition provides a very solid and substantial guide to a better understanding of this richly endowed but poorly understood nation. Students and others seeking information about the country will find an introductory narrative accounting of Guinea's political and economic history, a chronology that spans the earliest known history of the area to the present day Republic of Guinea, 400 dictionary entries covering the personalities and events that made contemporary Guinea, and an extensive bibliography of current publications.

Historical, biographical, statistical and bibliographical information on Guinea, Africa and its leaders.

A reference guide to the history of one of Africa's smallest, poorest countries, with alphabetically arranged entries discussing important events and individuals, a detailed introduction, a chronology, and a bibliography.