The Fulani
They represent about 40% of the current population and live mainly in middle Guinea in the heart of the Fouta-Djalon massif. They settled in Guinea in the 17th century, during the great wave of migration from Fouta-Toro and Massina, imposing a theocratic state in Fouta in the 18th century and pushing the previous Baga and Sousou occupants to the coast. They are traditional breeders and their herds of cows (n'damas) constitute their most sacred wealth. Formerly nomads, they are now mostly sedentary in Guinea. Their origin remains mysterious, probably on the borders of northern Africa. The organization of Fulani society is still very much influenced by the ancestral caste system. Even if they have officially disappeared, relations between families are largely determined by their original caste. Today, the Fulani of Guinea hold a large part of the country's economy and especially its trade. The reputation of the great Fulani merchants is well established. It should be noted that no Guinean president has ever come from the Fulani community.
The Malinke
Malinké means "inhabitant of Manden", the region from which all Mandingo groups originate. The Malinke were the dominant ethnic group of the Mali empire, founded by Soundiata Keita. Mandingo society was organized according to a caste system with nobles at the top of the hierarchy, followed by caste people (blacksmiths, griots, etc.) and finally the captives. In Guinea, they represent 30% of the population and live in the savannahs of upper Guinea, the most disadvantaged region of the country. They proudly claim their Mandingo warrior ancestry which includes heroes such as Samory Touré. Today they are very present in the upper echelons of the state. The current president of the transition, Mamadi Doumbouya, as well as his predecessor, Alpha Condé, are Malinké
The Malinke have a long history of hard work in the fields and are formidable hunters, proudly represented by the Dozo brotherhood, which is still very present in social life. They are also known for their traditional music and dances, with the rhythm of koras, balafons and djembes, perpetuated by the griots
The Soussou
The Soussou, like the Malinke, form a branch of the Mandingo family, who like them come from the Mande. Settled in Fouta-Djalon, where they coexisted with other ethnic groups such as the Nalou, the Coniagui and the Baga, many fled the region in the face of the Islamization imposed by the Fulani in the 18th century. They therefore largely settled on the coast, where they established powerful kingdoms and trading posts (spices, palm oil, pepper, slaves) to facilitate trade with Europeans. Giving little influence to the chieftaincy, the life of the Sousou communities is essentially governed by the chiefs of the patrilineal lineage. Today they are largely islamized and occupy most of the plains of maritime Guinea, including Conakry, but little of the coast, occupied by the Baga. They represent 20-25% of the population. Traditionally, the Soussou have always been large-scale farmers who have developed a sense of commerce and diplomacy through contact with Europeans. The late President of the Second Republic, Lansana Conté, was from the Soussou ethnic group.
The forest peoples
"Foresters" is a term commonly used to refer to the ethnic groups living in Forest Guinea. They represent about 10% of the total population. With a fairly homogeneous population, these few ethnic groups used to live in autarky. They each have incredibly rich customs and rites. The Kissi, the majority ethnic group of the forest, came from the south-east of Fouta-Djalon, a region from which they were chased by the Djallonke. They are a large farming ethnic group, especially for rice. The Kissi, who are resistant to Islam, are very attached to the cult of the ancestors, whose funeral cults they have kept, especially the anthropomorphic stone sculptures called pomdo. Traditions and sacred places, such as certain forests, are faithfully respected and venerated in order to bring about the fertility of women and crops, and at the same time to ward off bad luck. The Toma live around the town of Macenta and are very similar to the Kissi physically, but they have significantly different rites and customs. They are a people renowned for their stone sculptures, flat-faced wooden masks with characteristic right-angled noses and eyebrows, divinatory statues and fetishes. The male organization of the Poro, which is a very ancient and complex initiation system, has made them famous. The Toma are among the first to have inhabited the region. The Guerze, inhabitants of N'Zérékoré, are also close to the Kissi and the Toma, but their traditions differ. Their initiation masks are rather similar to those of the peoples of Côte d'Ivoire. The Guerze are mainly animists. They venerate the spirits, those unknown and elusive forces that influence life, death, illness and natural phenomena. Hence the great importance they give to magical practices, sacrifices and initiation rites
Some minority ethnic groups
The Baga are settled in the plains between Boffa and Kamsar on the Atlantic coast. They descended from Fouta-Djalon and settled in the northeast of the region inhabited by the Soussou. The nimba mask from Baga art has become the emblem of the whole country. Moving towards the Senegalese border, in the vicinity of Koundara, one meets two small ethnic groups, the Bassari and the Coniagui, who still keep their ancestral traditions intact. Their initiation festivals take place in May and feature exceptional dance performances
On the other hand, several thousand Lebanese (formerly Syrians) have been living in Guinea for more than a hundred years, monopolizing the chain of stores, hotels, restaurants and other luxury establishments. As for Europeans, Americans and Asians, there are a few thousand living in Guinea, but most of them are temporary, and mainly in Conakry. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of expatriates from China, most of whom live in isolation and work on large infrastructure projects or for mining companies.
