2nd October: Guinea Independence Day

Today is Guinea Independence Day. Guinea became independent from France in 1958. Here are ten facts about Guinea:

1. The country is officially known as the Republic of Guinea. It was formerly known as French Guinea. Today, the country is sometimes referred to as Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea. It's possible the whole region was named as a result of a translation error. The word guinè means "woman" in the language of the Susu people. When Europeans arrived, the first people they met were some women washing clothes. The women informing the visitors that they were women was misunderstood as them referring to the name of the area.
2. After Guinea gained independence, the first president, Sekou Touré, named the country the People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea. The second president, Lansana Conté, changed the official name to the Republic of Guinea. There have only been two presidents since independence. Conté has been in power since 1984.
3. The capital and largest city is Conakry, which has the distinction of being the wettest capital in the world with 3.7 metres of rain per year.
4. The highest point in Guinea is Mount Nimba at 1,752 m (5,748 ft).
5. Guinea is the world's second largest producer of bauxite, producing 25% of the world's supply. It also produces diamonds, Gold, Coffee, Rice, Pineapples and palm kernels. 80% of the people work in agriculture.
6. A national symbol of the country is the nimba, a wooden headdress that represents fertility among the Bagas in the coastal region. It appears on the currency, the Guinean franc, and is used as a logo by government agencies.
7. The country's motto is "Work, Justice, Solidarity."
8. The Flag is a tricolour of Red, Yellow, and Green and was first flown during Touré's regime. The colours of the flag from left to right are the reverse of the flag of Mali.
9. At 245,857 km2 (94,926 sq mi), Guinea is roughly the size of the United Kingdom. It has 320 km (200 mi) of coastline and 3,400 km (2,100 mi) of land borders.
10. Family meals are often served in large communal bowls and eaten with spoons. In large families, the men will eat from one bowl and the women from another. It is impolite to eat while walking in Guinea.