African Resilience Studies (Social, Ecological - Interdisciplinary) | 17 April 2005
Syncretic Identities in Diaspora Guinea-Bissau: A Study of Religious Adaptations and Cultural Integration
F, e, r, n, a, n, d, a, N, h, a, m, i, t, ô, o
Abstract
This review examines a book that explores religious syncretism and cultural adaptation among diaspora communities in Guinea-Bissau. The author employs ethnographic research methods to gather data from interviews with participants in Guinea-Bissau’s diaspora communities. Key themes emerged regarding the syncretic blending of traditional Guinean beliefs with Christian practices, particularly Catholicism and Protestantism, influencing daily life and social interactions. The book highlights how religious adaptations facilitate cultural integration within a multicultural society where multiple ethnic groups coexist. Future research could focus on the long-term effects of these syncretic identities on community cohesion and national identity formation in Guinea-Bissau.