Bissau Bonito | Vibrant scenes from the West African city
The West African country of Guinea Bissau is known for its natural tropical beauty. Lush, verdant forests create a rich habitat for a bevy of wildlife such as saltwater hippo, marine turtle and chimpanzee. Its thick-forested; sparsely populated Bijagós archipelago is a protected UNESCO biosphere reserve.
The mainland capital of Bissau is a port with a strong Portuguese colonial history, with marks in the city in the form of florid colloquialisms and enchanting dilapidated buildings. Bissau Bonito, a photography page on Instagram offers a glimpse into this world where post colonial traces linger on in the tropics.
Susanna Knyphausen, a Swedish consultant based in Guinea Bissau runs Bissau Bonito, photographing the hustle and bustle of life in the tropical West African capital. Through her lens we are offered a glimpse into the everyday lives of the local people of Bissau - from the colourful traditional African print worn by the women, to the upright; proud stances exuded by the men leaning against old pre-colonial buildings, bringing us ever-closer to the ease and simplicity of life in the small west African nation.
Earlier this year, Bissau Bonito exhibited photographic works at the French Culture Centre capturing the essence of the capital. The Ocean African spoke to Susanna Knyphausen to learn more about what inspired her to pick up a camera and begin capturing the beauty of Bissau:
The Ocean African: When did you move to Guinea Bissau?
Susanna Knyphausen: I moved to Guinea Bissau in 2016. I have clients and work in Sweden too so I divide my time between Bissau and Sweden. I always return to Sweden for 3 months out of the year.
OA: What inspired you to start taking pictures of Guinea Bissau?
SK: Bissau itself. When people see my photographs they often ask, ‘what filter do you use?’, ‘what retouch technique do you use?’. My answer is always the same - none, it’s Bissau! The city has the most scenic and beautiful light. Majestic women drifting around as queens in their colourful clothes, the beautiful dilapidated buildings, and the powerful history, Bissau is like a scene from a movie.
I also started taking pictures of Bissau because I was tired of the common narrative used to describe Guinea Bissau: “narco-state, political crises, corruption, coup d`etats and poverty” There are other stories to be told and other pictures to be shown from Guinea Bissau. As the Bissau-Guinean writer Abdulai SilÁ, once said: “Em Bissau, nada é fÁcil mas em Bissau tudo dÁ um prazer especial.” In English, “In Bissau, nothing is easy but in Bissau everything gives a special pleasure.”
OA: Who are your favourite artists and photographers?
SK: I do admire Ricci Schyrock, Jacques Henri Lartigue, Vivian Maier, Damien Ariel Corera, Anselme Boix-Vives, Vilhelm Hammershoi and Njideka Akunyili Crosby.
OA: When did you start working with photography?
SK: I started working with photography five years ago.
OA: What do you do in Guinea Bissau?
SK: I work as a consultant and of course photography and art direction.
OA: What do you enjoy capturing with your photographs?
SK: In Bissau I would say it’s more about the moment, and the light. Although, if I look through my photographs, I see I mostly portray women. To me they are so iconic and beautiful. I also favour all the dilapidated buildings; some are abandoned and some are not. To me they are beautiful and tell so many stories about the capital and its powerful history and struggle.
OA: What do you like to drink?
SK: I love Maracuja (passionfruit) juice. baobab juice, onjo/ sorrel (hibiscus) and the Bissau caipirinhas are also amongst my favourite beverages.
OA: What do you do in spare time in Guinea Bissau?
SK: I enjoy travelling to the archipelago outside Bissau, the Bijagós. The archipelago contains 88 untouched paradise islands with its very own unique culture. I also bike around the city’s neighbourly streets, passing through the vivid harbour area - it’s all an adventure!
OA: What top three places do you encourage people to visit in Bissau?
SK: I’d definitely start with the Bijagós archipelago. Guinea Bissau has an amazing unexploited, protected archipelago with unique diverse fauna. It has been protected by UNESCO for over ten years. Bolama, Guinea Bissau’s former capital until 1941 is quite special with its old beautiful abandoned buildings. Finally, I’d pick Varela, a remote beach with pristine waters. It’s purely majestic!
Follow Bissau Bonito on Instagram for more lovely scenes from Bissau.