Bissau: History, Human Rights and the Port

If you want to get to know Bissau through its history, Amura Fortress, Casa dos Direitos, the Cathedral and Pidjiguiti Port offer different points of connection. These places represent a range of topics: memorials to the liberation struggle, the transformation of a prison, architecture and the port’s morning activity. You can plan your stay around the aspects of the city that interest you most.

Amura Fortress and Memorial Sites

The Mausoleum of Amílcar Cabral is located inside Amura Fortress. His remains were laid to rest there in 1975. A monument to the national heroes also stands within the fortress; the independence fighters Titina Silá, Francisco Mendes, Osvaldo Vieira and Pansau na Isna are buried there. The mausoleum and monument thus represent two forms of remembrance for people connected with the history of Guinea-Bissau.

Access to the fortress is restricted. A 2018 guide states that, due to its military status and restricted access, a formal written request in advance is required. Check the current arrangements before visiting. This allows you to understand the fortress as an important historic site without treating its special access requirements as those of an ordinary visit.

Casa dos Direitos: Transformation and Human Rights

Casa dos Direitos is located in a former police station and prison in Bissau. A 2018 guide describes it as the headquarters of the Guinean-Bissau Human Rights League and other non-governmental organizations. It also mentions a library, a resource center, and spaces for exhibitions and debates. A permanent photographic exhibition explores the transformation of the prison into a center for the protection of human rights.

Both the building’s former use and its described transformation are central here. The exhibition adds the subject of human rights to the institution’s history. This distinguishes Casa dos Direitos from the memorial sites at Amura Fortress: one focuses on remembering people and the liberation struggle, while the other concerns a building’s history and its connection to human rights work.

Pidjiguiti: Port and Historical Remembrance

The event known as the Pidjiguiti Massacre is considered one of the most significant moments in Guinea-Bissau’s liberation struggle. Monuments to the martyrs of the massacre of 3 August 1959 stand at the entrance to the port. In the square in front of the port is the large fist sculpture “Mão de Timba”; images on a wall there also commemorate the massacre. Alongside its role as a port, the site thus has a distinct historical significance.

A 2018 guide also highlights the port’s morning atmosphere: lively activity and a variety of sounds, smells and colors define the scene. If you are interested in this aspect, morning is the specific time recommended for experiencing the port’s described atmosphere. The memorials and the busy port offer different perspectives, both rooted in the same place.

The Cathedral and the View from the Avenida

Bissau Cathedral dates from 1945 and was designed by architect João Simões. This brief account of its construction offers a distinct point of interest for visitors interested in architecture. It complements the memorial sites and the history of Casa dos Direitos with a different subject: the creation of a significant building in the city.

From Avenida 3 de Agosto, you can see the mouth of the Geba River, the port and Ilhéu do Rei, opposite Bissau. At the same time, the road is in poor condition and often occupied by heavy vehicles waiting for port clearance. Keep both aspects in mind when planning to visit this viewpoint: the view of the river mouth, port and island, as well as the described road and traffic conditions.

Discover more destinations: Nhiquim, Bruce.

See the overview of destinations: Guinea-Bissau.