Bijagós Archipelago book presentation took place on 15 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 08:05 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
A book about the Bijagós Archipelago (Arquipélago dos Bijagós) was presented in Bissau on 15 October 2026, giving the islands a fresh cultural news peg. Bijagós - Isles of Humanity records a year of documentary work on the natural and cultural life of Guinea-Bissau's island region.
The presentation took place at Hotel Ceiba in the capital. The event brought the archipelago into a public programme in Bissau rather than placing visitors on the islands themselves.
Bijagós - Isles of Humanity was presented in Bissau
Portuguese photojournalist Gregório Cunha made the photographs, design and editorial work for the volume. The book was published by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with Guinea-Bissau's Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas.
The presentation on 15 October 2026 introduced a bilingual publication in Portuguese and English. Its 304 pages are arranged in four chapters: three focus on protected areas and national parks, while the fourth brings together several important islands. A report from the 15 October presentation said the work addresses biodiversity, community life, ancestral traditions, conservation challenges and sustainable development.
The book grew from Cunha's mission in Guinea-Bissau between June 2025 and June 2026. The project also aims to present the country internationally through environmental events and distribution to diplomats and ambassadors.
Bijagós Archipelago links photography with a biosphere reserve
The archipelago is part of the Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve on Guinea-Bissau's coast in western Africa. UNESCO records 88 islands and identifies the ancient deltas of the Rio Geba and Rio Grande as the geological setting of the reserve.
UNESCO nominated the reserve in 1996. Its documented landscapes include mangroves, mudflats, palm groves, coastal woodland savannahs and semi-dry forests, giving the book's four-part structure a direct connection with the places it describes. The UNESCO reserve profile also records diverse mammals, reptiles, birds and fish, as well as ecological tourism among the activities of island communities.
Visiting Bijagós Archipelago: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The book presentation took place on 15 October 2026 at Hotel Ceiba in Bissau. It was a public presentation of a bilingual volume about the islands.
- The event has ended, so there is no presentation to attend inside the remaining October and November 2026 travel window. The book itself covers the archipelago's protected areas, national parks and important islands.
- The reserve lies on the coast of Guinea-Bissau, while the presentation venue was in Bissau. The UNESCO record identifies the island group as the Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve and confirms its 88-island extent.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Bijagós Archipelago
When did the book presentation take place at Bijagós Archipelago?
The presentation of Bijagós - Isles of Humanity took place in Bissau on 15 October 2026. The venue was Hotel Ceiba, not an island site.
What is Bijagós - Isles of Humanity?
It is a bilingual Portuguese-English book by Gregório Cunha, produced with the United Nations Development Programme and the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas. The 304-page volume has four chapters about protected areas, national parks and important islands.
Where is Bijagós Archipelago and what is it?
It is an 88-island archipelago on the coast of Guinea-Bissau in western Africa. The islands form the Bolama-Bijagós Biosphere Reserve, nominated by UNESCO in 1996.
