The Susu people are a Mande-speaking ethnic group living primarily in Guinea and Northwestern

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierra ...

, particularly in

Kambia District Kambia District is a district in the North West Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is the town of Kambia. As of the 2015 census, The District had a population of 343,686. Kambia District borders the Republic of Guinea to ...

.Susu people
Encyclopædia Britannica Influential in Guinea, smaller communities of Susu people are also found in the neighboring

Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau ( ; pt, Guiné-Bissau; ff, italic=no, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫 𞤄𞤭𞤧𞤢𞥄𞤱𞤮, Gine-Bisaawo, script=Adlm; Mandinka: ''Gine-Bisawo''), officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau ( pt, República da Guiné-Bissau, links=no ), ...

and

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣� ...

. The Susu are a patrilineal society, predominantly Muslim, who favor endogamous cross-cousin marriages with polygynous households. They have a caste system like all Manding-speaking peoples of West Africa. The artisans such as smiths, carpenters, musicians, jewelers, and leatherworkers are separate castes and believed to have descended from the medieval era of slavery. The Susu people are also referred to as Soosoo, Sossoé, Sosoe, Sosso, Soso, Sousou, Susso, Sussu, or Soussou.

Demographics and language

Their language, called ''Sosoxui'' by native speakers, serves as a major trade language along the Guinean coast, particularly in its southwest, including the capital city of

Conakry Conakry (; ; sus, Kɔnakiri; N’ko: ߞߐߣߊߞߙߌ߫, Fula: ''Konaakiri'' 𞤑𞤮𞤲𞤢𞥄𞤳𞤭𞤪𞤭) is the capital and largest city of Guinea. A port city, it serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea. Its ...

. It belongs to the Niger-Congo family of languages. In the old

Susu language The Susu language (endonym: sus, Sosoxui; french: Soussou) is the language of the Susu or ''Soso'' people of Guinea and Sierra Leone, West Africa, West Africa. It is in the Mande language family. It is one of the national languages of Guin ...

, "Guinea" means woman and this is the derivation for the country's name.

Ethnonymy

The meaning of the name "Soso or Susu" apparently derived from "''Susuwi,''" meaning "horse" or "horseman" in the Susu language. The terms "Sawsaws," "Souses," and "Sussias" are all English corruptions of "Susu," rarer variants of their name are also encountered such as ''Souzo'', ''Sossé'', ''Suzées'', ''Socé'', ''Caxi'', ''Saxi'', ''Saxe'', and even as ''Sexi''.

History

The Susu are descendants of their Manding ancestors who lived in the mountainous Mali-Guinea border. They are said to have originally been a section of the Soninke people that migrated out of

Wagadou The Ghana Empire, also known as Wagadou ( ar, غانا) or Awkar, was a West Africa, West African empire based in the modern-day southeast of Mauritania and western Mali that existed from c. 300 until 1100. The Empire was founded by the Soninke ...

and were initially a clan of blacksmiths who displayed their clear intentions to object converting to Islam. In the twelfth century, when Ancient Ghana was in decline, they migrated south and established a capital city of Soso in the mountainous region of

Koulikoro Koulikoro ( Bambara: ߞߎߟߌߞߏߙߏ tr. Kulikoro) is a town and urban commune in Mali. The capital of the Koulikoro Region, Koulikoro is located on banks of the Niger River, downstream from Mali's capital Bamako. Koulikoro is the terminu ...

. The Susu were once ruled by Sumanguru Kanté, but after that, they were ruled by the thirteenth century

Mali Empire The Mali Empire (Manding: ''Mandé''Ki-Zerbo, Joseph: ''UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. IV, Abridged Edition: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century'', p. 57. University of California Press, 1997. or Manden; ar, مالي, Māl� ...

. In the fifteenth century, they migrated west to the

Fouta Djallon Fouta Djallon ( ff, 𞤊𞤵𞥅𞤼𞤢 𞤔𞤢𞤤𞤮𞥅, Fuuta Jaloo; ar, فوتا جالون) is a highland region in the center of Guinea, roughly corresponding with Middle Guinea, in West Africa. Etymology The Fulani people call the re ...

plateau of Guinea, as the Mali empire disintegrated. The close familiarity with the Yalunka people suggest a hypothesis that they were once members of the same group in the Fouta Djallon, separated by Fula invaders, and that the Susu moved southward absorbing other people in the process. The Susu people were traditionally animist . The

Fula people The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people ( ff, Fulɓe, ; french: Peul, links=no; ha, Fulani or Hilani; pt, Fula, links=no; wo, Pël; bm, Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. ...

dominated the region from the Fouta Djallon. The Fulani created an Islamic theocracy, thereafter began slave raids as a part of

Jihad Jihad (; ar, جهاد, jihād ) is an Arabic word which literally means "striving" or "struggling", especially with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it can refer to almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with Go ...

that impacted many West African ethnic groups including the Susu people. In particular, states Ismail Rashid, the Jihad effort of Fulani elites starting in the 1720s theologically justified enslavement of the non-Islamic people and also led to successful conversion of previously animist peoples to Islam. The political environment led the Susu people to convert to Islam in the seventeenth and eighteenth century, along with further westward and southward migration towards the plains of Guinea. The colonial-era Europeans arrived in the Guinea region of resident Susu people in the late eighteenth century for trade, but got politically involved during the era of Temne wars that attacked the Susu people along with other ethnic groups. While Temne sought British support, the Susu sought the French. The region split, with Temne speaking Sierra Leone regions going with the

British colonial empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

, and Susu speaking Guinea regions becoming a part of the

French colonial empire The French colonial empire () comprised the overseas colonies, protectorates and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "First French Colonial Empire", that exis ...

in the late nineteenth century during the

Scramble for Africa The Scramble for Africa, also called the Partition of Africa, or Conquest of Africa, was the invasion, annexation, division, and colonization of most of Africa by seven Western European powers during a short period known as New Imperialism ( ...

Society and culture

The Susu live with their

extended family An extended family is a family that extends beyond the nuclear family of parents and their children to include aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins or other relatives, all living nearby or in the same household. Particular forms include the stem a ...

Polygyny Polygyny (; from Neoclassical Greek πολυγυνία (); ) is the most common and accepted form of polygamy around the world, entailing the marriage of a man with several women. Incidence Polygyny is more widespread in Africa than in any o ...

is an accepted practice since

Islamic law Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the ...

allows men to have as many as four wives. This is not always practiced because having multiple wives requires more means than most men have. The men provide for their families by working the rice fields, fishing, or engaging in trade. The women cook the food and take care of the children. They often engage in small commerce, usually of vegetables they have raised in their garden. Often women will have their room or hut next to their husband's lodging where they will stay with their children. Over 99% of Susu are Muslim, and Islam dominates their religious culture and practices. Most

Islamic holidays There are two official holidays in Islam, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which are celebrated by Muslims worldwide. Both holidays occur on dates in the lunar Islamic calendar, which is different from the solar-based Gregorian calendar, so they a ...

are observed, the most important being the celebration that follows Ramadan (a month of prayer and fasting). The Susu people, like other Manding-speaking peoples, have a caste system regionally referred to by terms such as ''

Nyamakala The ''Nyamakala'', or ''Nyamakalaw'', are the historic occupational castes among Islamic societies of West Africa, particularly among the Mandinka people. The ''Nyamakala'' are known as ''Nyaxamalo'' among the Soninke people, and ''Nyenyo'' among t ...

'', ''Naxamala'' and ''Galabbolalauba''. According to David Conrad and Barbara Frank, the terms and social categories in this caste-based social stratification system of Susu people shows cases of borrowing from Arabic only, but the likelihood is that these terms are linked to Latin, Greek or Aramaic. The artisans among the Susu people, such as smiths, carpenters, musicians, and bards (''Yeliba''), jewelers, and leatherworkers, are separate castes. The Susu people believe that these castes have descended from the medieval era slaves. The Susu castes are not limited to Guinea, but are found in other regions where Susu people live, such as in Sierra Leone where too they are linked to the historic slavery system that existed in the region, states Daniel Harmon. The Susu castes in the regional Muslim communities were prevalent and recorded by sociologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Some Susu combine their Islamic faith with traditional beliefs, such as the existence of spirits who inhabit certain areas, and the belief in sorcerers who have the power to change into animals, cast evil spells on people, or heal people from certain ailments. The Susu people also utilize practices of the Bondo secret society which aims at gradually but firmly establishing attitudes related to adulthood in girls, discussions on fertility, morality and proper sexual comportment. The society also maintains an interest in the well-being of its members throughout their lives. The Susu are primarily

farmers A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer ...

, with rice and millet being their two principal crops. Mangoes, pineapples, and coconuts are also grown. The Susu are also known as skilled traders and blacksmiths. The women make various kinds of

palm oil Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of the oil palms. The oil is used in food manufacturing, in beauty products, and as biofuel. Palm oil accounted for about 33% of global oils produced fr ...

from palm nuts. Ancient Susu houses were typically made of either mud or cement blocks, depending on the resources available.

Susu patronyms

Some common Susu surnames are: *Conté *Yansané *Fofana *Sylla or Sillah *

Soumah Soumah is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Abdoulaye Soumah (born 1985), Guinean footballer * Alhassane Soumah (born 1996), Guinean footballer * Amara Soumah (born 1990), Guinean footballer *Fodé Soumah, Guinean politician * I ...

Bangoura Bangoura (French spelling in Guinea) or "Bangura" (English spelling in Sierra Leone) is a typical Susu surname. Notable people with the surname include *Aboubacar Bangoura (disambiguation), several people *Alhassane Bangoura (born 1992), Guinean fo ...

*Yattara *Sankhon *Youla *Daffé *Cissé *Camara *Touré *Diarso *Diarisso

Notable Susu people

Political figures

* Amara Bangoura, Guinean diplomat *Elhadj Aly Jamal Bangoura, current Secretary General of Religious Affairs of Guinea *

Fodé Bangoura Fodé Bangoura is a Guinean political figure, once a key aide to president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may ...

, Guinean politician and former Minister Secretary General to President Lansana Conté *

Karim Bangoura Karim Bangoura (c. 1926 – 1972) was a Guinean diplomat. Born into a notable Susu family in Coyah in the mid-1920s, Bangoura was originally a school teacher and was an important member of the African Bloc of Guinea. Until 1958, he was a rep ...

, Guinean diplomat *Kiridi Bangoura, Guinean politician *

Mafory Bangoura Mafory Bangoura, or ''Hadja Aissatou Mafory Bangoura'' (born circa 1910, died 1976 in Bucharest) was an activist for an independent Guinea, and post-independence a politician holding the post of Minister for Social Affairs in the 1970s. Known as ...

, was a radical activist for the independence of Guinea *

Mahawa Bangoura Mahawa Bangoura Camara (born 13 March 1927) is a Guinean diplomat and politician, the first woman to be the foreign minister of Guinea, Guinea's Ambassador to the United States, and its permanent representative at the United Nations. Early life Ma ...

, Guinean diplomat *Mohamed Saloum Bangoura, current Deputy Director General of the Armed Forces Health Service of Guinea *

Abdoul Kabèlè Camara Abdoul Kabèlè Camara (born 12 February 1950) is a Guinean politician and diplomat. Legal career Camara obtained a licentiate in legal sciences from Cheikh Anta Diop University, and also graduated from the National School of Administration ...

, Guinean politician *

Arafan Camara General Arafan Camara (2 January 1948 – 6 January 2008) was a politician and military official in Guinea. Camara was named defense minister A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry o ...

, Guinean politician * Makalé Camara, Guinean diplomat *

Manga Kindi Camara Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is use ...

, the founder of Kindia *

M'Balia Camara M'Balia Camara (1929 – February 18, 1955) was a Guinean independence activist. February 9th was named Guinean Women's Day in honour of her Life Born in Posséah in the Dubréka Prefecture, Camara was from a peasant family. Early in life she beca ...

, Guinean independence activist *

Zeinab Camara Zeinab Camara (born January 27, 1981) is a Guinean politician. She was the first woman to lead a football club in Guinea. Life Camara was born in Guinea. She moved to Leicester to study; first International Relations at De Montfort University a ...

, Guinean politician *

Lansana Conté Lansana Conté (30 November 1934 – 22 December 2008

, former President of Guinea from 1984 to 2008 * Seydou Conté, Guinean diplomat *

Abdulai Conteh Abdulai Osman Conteh (born 5 August 1945) is a lawyer and politician from Sierra Leone. He is a former vice president of Sierra Leone, who served under President Joseph Saidu Momoh before he was ousted by the military junta in 1992. Conteh later ...

, former Vice president of Sierra Leone *

Kandeh Baba Conteh Dr. Kandeh Baba Conteh (born October 15, 1958) is a Sierra Leonean politician and political scientist. He is the leader of the Peace and Liberation Party (PLP). Conteh was appointed ambassador of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council junta in 19 ...

, Sierra Leonean politician *

Ahmed Ramadan Dumbuya Ahmed Ramadan Dumbuya is a former Sierra Leonean politician. Dumbuya served as foreign minister A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of ...

, Sierra Leonean politician *

Dala Modu Dumbuya Dala may refer to: Places *Dala Airport, Dalarna province, Sweden *Dala, Angola * Dala, Bhutan * Dala, Kano, Nigeria **Dalla Hill, a hill in Kano, Nigeria *Đala, Serbia * Dalas, Khuzestan Province, Iran *Dala Township, Yangon, Myanmar People * ...

, was an Important Sierra Leonean-Susu trader during the colonial era *

Ibrahima Kassory Fofana Ibrahima Kassory Fofana (born 15 April 1954) is a Guinean politician who served as Prime Minister of Guinea between 21 May 2018 and 5 September 2021. A macro-economist and specialist in economic policy, he previously held several strategic posi ...

, former Prime Minister of Guinea * Mohamed Said Fofana, former Prime Minister of Guinea *

Soumaoro Kanté Soumaoro Kanté (also known as Sumaworo Kanté or Sumanguru Kanté) was a 13th-century king of the Sosso people. Seizing Koumbi Saleh, the capital of the recently defunct Ghana Empire, Soumaoro Kanté proceeded to conquer several neighboring stat ...

, was a Thirteenth-century king of the Sosso Empire *

Domin Konteh Karel Domin (4 May 1882, Kutná Hora, Kingdom of Bohemia – 10 June 1953, Prague) was a Czech botanist and politician. After gymnasium school studies in Příbram, he studied botany at the Charles University in Prague, and graduated in 1906. ...

, was the leader of the earliest wave of Soso migrants into present-day Sierra Leone *Elhadj Sékhouna Soumah, the Kountigui of costal Guinea *

Fodé Soumah Fodé Soumah is a politician from Guinea. Soumah was a prominent figure in the ruling Party of Unity and Progress and was appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Guinea. Following the 2003 Guinean presidential election, Soumah was ...

, Guinean politician * Sam Mamady Soumah, Guinean politician *Foday Sumah, Sierra Leonean diplomat *Ibrahima Abé Sylla, Guinean politician *

M'Mahawa Sylla M'Mahawa Sylla is a Guinean army officer. She is the one and only woman to have reached the rank of general since the creation of the Guinean army in 1960. Since September 10, 2021, she has been the governor of the city of Conakry. Education ...

, Governor of the city of Conakry *Foday Tarawallie, was a Nineteenth-century marabout * Soumba Toumany, was a Yalun-Soso elephant hunter and founded the Kingdom of Dubréka * Facinet Touré, Guinean politician and former soldier of the French colonial army * Fodé Katibi Touré, the founder of Moriah in Forécariah * Kémoko Touré, Guinean politician *Kalémodou Yansané, Guinean politician *

Kerfalla Yansané Kerfalla Yansané is a Guinean diplomat serving as Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea in the United States since 2018. A lawyer by training, he got his first position in the faculty of law at Dakar and then in 1985 he was named Governor of the ...

, current Ambassador of Guinea to the United States * Sékou Mouké Yansané, Guinean diplomat *

Osman Foday Yansaneh Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh is a Sierra Leonean politician who has been Secretary-General of the All People's Congress political party, the ruling party in Sierra Leone, since 2012. Yansaneh is a close ally and senior advisor to President Er ...

, Sierra Leonean politician *Bountouraby Yattara, Guinean politician *Momodu Yillah, Sierra Leonean politician * Mamady Youla, former Prime minister of Guinea from 2015 to 2018 *

Nabi Youla Nabi may refer to: People *Adil Nabi (born 1994), English footballer * Heiki Nabi (born 1985), Estonian wrestler *Isadore Nabi, satirical pseudonym of Richard Levins and Richard Lewontin, scientists in the 1960s * Mohammad Nabi (born 1985), Afghan ...

, Guinean diplomat *

Kandeh Yumkella Alhaji Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella (born July 5, 1959) is a Sierra Leonean agricultural economist, politician, and the former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy ...

, Sierra Leonean politician *Mohamed Foday Yumkella, Sierra Leonean politician

Musicians

* Amatala, Guinean musician *

King Alasko King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the ti ...

, Guinean musician *Bafodé Bangoura, Guinean musician * Fodé Seydou Bangoura, Guinean drummer * Mohamed Bangoura, Guinean drummer * Yaya Bangoura, Guinean musician * Soul Bang's, Guinean musician *

Bangoura Batafon Bangoura (French spelling in Guinea) or "Bangura" (English spelling in Sierra Leone) is a typical Susu surname. Notable people with the surname include * Aboubacar Bangoura (disambiguation), several people *Alhassane Bangoura (born 1992), Guinean f ...

, Guinean musician *Doudou Benny, Guinean musician * Oumar le Blanc, Guinean musician *

Lévi Bobo Levi or Lévi is a Jewish surname. It is a transliteration of the Hebrew word לוי meaning "attached" or "joining". Another spelling of the name is Levy (or Lévy). According to Jewish tradition, people with the surname are Levites who can cla ...

, Guinean musician * Mousto Camara, Guinean musician *

Natu Camara Natu may refer to: People Given name * Natu Gopal Narhar (1911–1991), Marathi poet * Natu Tuatagaloa (born 1966), former professional football player in the American NFL * Natu (singer), pseudonym of Polish singer Natalia Przybysz Surna ...

, Guinean musician * Petit Camara, Guinean musician * N'nato Camara, Guinean musician *Hamid Chanana, Guinean musician *

Daddi Cool Daddi Cool (born in Makeni, Sierra Leone) is a Sierra Leonean-born Guinean reggae musician. He was born and raised in Makeni, Sierra Leone. Daddi Cool served in the Sierra Leonean army, but fled the country during the early years of the Sierra ...

, Guinean-reggae musician *Junior Conté, Guinean musician * Fodé Conté, Guinean musician *

Ans T Crazy Ans or ANS or ''variation'', may refer to: Places * Ans, Belgium, a municipality in Belgium * Ans, Denmark, a village in Denmark * Angus, Scotland, UK; a council area by its Chapman code * Ainsdale railway station, England, UK (by station code ...

, Guinean musician *Ousmane Soty Daffé, Guinean musician *

King Détruit King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the ti ...

, Guinean musician *

Mohamed Django Muhammad was an Islamic prophet and a religious and political leader who preached and established Islam. Muhammad and variations may also refer to: *Muhammad (name), a given name and surname, and list of people with the name and its variations ...

, Guinean musician *

Lasso Doumbouya A lasso ( or ), also called lariat, riata, or reata (all from Castilian, la reata 're-tied rope'), is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the Spanish an ...

, Guinean musician *

Antoine Flingo Antoine is a French language, French given name (from the Latin ''Antonius'' meaning 'highly praise-worthy') that is a variant of Danton (name), Danton, Titouan, D'Anton and Antonin. The name is used in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, West ...

, Guinean musician *Fish Killa, Guinean musician *Abdoulaye Korofé, Guinean musician * Sister Lessa, Guinean rapper *

RB Tout Locks Rb or RB may stand for: Arts and entertainment * Rebecca Black, an American pop singer * Richard Blackwood, a British rapper * Rhythm and blues, a music genre combining blues, gospel and jazz influences * ''Rock Band'', a music video game series ...

, Guinean musician *

Konko Malela , or just Konkō, is a Shintō sect, being a part of the ''Kyoha Shintō Rengokai'' (Association of Sectarian Shinto), and an independent faith with origins in Shinbutsu-shūgō beliefs. Konkokyo worships the spirit and energy that flows through ...

, Guinean rapper *Kader Mafia, Guinean musician *

Bouba Menguè Bouba may refer to: * Bouba/kiki effect, an observed neurophysiological effect tying certain sounds to specific shapes * ''Bouba (TV series)'', a.k.a. ''Jacky and Jill'', or '' Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac'', a Japanese anime television series ...

, Guinean musician * Dija NGM, Guinean rapper *Lil Sacko, Guinean musician *

Bill de Sam Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Pla ...

, Guinean musician *

Abraham Sonty Abraham, ; ar, , , name=, group= (originally Abram) is the common Hebrew patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father of the special relationship between the Jews ...

, Guinean musician *Ahmed Soumah, Guinean musician * Alphonse Soumah, Guinean musician *Armand Soumah, Guinean musician *

Djibril Soumah Djibril may refer to: * A form of the given name Gabriel * Djibril Cissé (born 1981), French footballer * Lord Djibril This is a list of fictional characters featured in the Cosmic Era (CE) timeline of the Gundam anime metaseries. These charac ...

, Guinean musician *M'mahawa Soumah, Guinean musician *

Momo Wandel Soumah Momo Wandel Soumah (1926 - June 15, 2003) was a singer, composer, and saxophonist from Guinea, recognisable by his characteristic gravelly voice. Soumah started out in the 1950s playing in dance bands, but moved to modern Guinean music follow ...

, Guinean musician *N'Fa Moussa Soumah, Guinean musician *Toumany Z Sparta, Guinean musician * Aly Sylla, Guinean musician *

Maciré Sylla Maciré Sylla is a singer and dancer. Born in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, but raised in Tayiré, a village in the north of Conakry. Author and composer, Maciré sings mainly in Soussou and her style is inspired by Mandingo, Afropop, Funk ...

, Guinean musician * One Time, Guinean musician * Ablos Touré, Guinean musician * Macheté Touré, Guinean musician * Yarie Touré, Guinean musician *Papche Warano, Guinean musician *

Alpha Wess Alpha (uppercase , lowercase ; grc, ἄλφα, ''álpha'', or ell, άλφα, álfa) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of one. Alpha is derived from the Phoenician letter aleph , which ...

, Guinean-reggae musician *Jack Woumpack, Guinean musician *

Takana Zion Takana is a forum of prominent personalities with the objective of fighting sexual abuse in the National Religious sector in Israel. The forum came to the spotlight in February 2010 when it published a statement claiming that Rabbi Mordechai Elo ...

, Guinean-reggae musician

Sportspeople

Abdoul Karim Bangoura Abdoul Karim Bangoura (born 9 February 1971) is a Guinean former professional footballer who played as a defender. He was a squad member at the 1994 and 1998 Africa Cup of Nations The 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso was the 21st ...

, Guinean footballer *

Alhassane Bangoura Alhassane "Lass" Bangoura (born 30 March 1992) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Super League Greece 2 club Chania FC. Club career Rayo Vallecano Born in Conakry, Bangoura began his career with local Étoile de ...

, Guinean footballer *

Alkhaly Bangoura Alkhaly Bangoura (born on 8 January 1996) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays for Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 club CS Chebba and the Guinea national football team. Biography As a 7-year-old boy, he joined AS Mambo of Kindia, fou ...

, Guinean footballer *

Facinet Bangoura Facinet Bangoura (born March 7, 1972) is a Guinean former swimmer, who specialized in breasts stroke events. Bangoura competed only in the men's 100 m breaststroke at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the st ...

, Guinean swimmer *

Ibrahima Bangoura Ibrahima Sory Bangoura (born 8 December 1982 in Conakry)Ismaël Bangoura
lequipe.fr< ...

, Guinean footballer *

Ismaël Bangoura Ismaël Bangoura (born 2 January 1985) is a Guinean former Association football, footballer who played as a forward (association football), forward. Although his primary position is striker (association football), striker, Bangoura has also pl ...

, Guinean footballer * Ismaël Karba Bangoura, Guinean footballer * Kilé Bangoura, Guinean footballer *

Lappé Bangoura Kanfory Mohamed "Lappé" Bangoura (born in 1961) is a Guinean football coach. Bangoura was appointed manager of the Guinea national football team The Guinea national football team ( French: '' Équipe de football du Guinée'') represents Gui ...

, Guinean football coach *

Mamadama Bangoura Mamadama Bangoura (born November 10, 1993) is a Guinean judoka. Career She competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the Judo at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's 63 kg, women's 63 kg event, in which she was eliminated by Estefania García in the ...

, Guinean judoka * Mamadouba Bangoura, Guinean footballer * Mohamed Bangoura, Guinean footballer *

Momar Bangoura Momar Bangoura (born 24 February 1994 in Dakar) is a Senegalese footballer and Guinean origin. He currently plays for Cluses Scionzier Football Club in France. Club career Bangoura last played for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He plays as ...

, French footballer *

Ousmane Bangoura Ousmane Bangoura (born 1 December 1979) is a retired Guinean football striker. He last played for Shenyang Ginde Guangzhou City Football Club (广州城) is a Chinese professional football club that competes in the Chinese Super League und ...

, Guinean footballer * Pierre Bangoura, Guinean footballer *

Sambégou Bangoura Sambégou Bangoura (born 3 April 1982) is a Guinean former footballer who played as a striker. Career Bangoura started his footballing career in Belgium with Lokeren and then Standard Liège before leaving to play in The Championship with Sto ...

, Guinean footballer * Yady Bangoura, Guinean footballer *

Mohamed Bangura Mohamed Bangura (born 27 July 1989) is a professional footballer from Sierra Leone. Club career IFK Värnamo On 19 March 2010, Swedish Football Division 1, Swedish third tier side IFK Värnamo (coached by the former Sweden midfielder Jonas Th ...

, Sierra Leonean footballer *

Abdoul Camara Abdoul Razzagui Camara (born 20 February 1990) is a Guinean former professional footballer who as a striker, but was also often utilized as a left-winger. Football career Early career Camara was born in Mamou in Guinea, but he moved to France ...

, Guinean footballer *

Abou Mangué Camara Abou Mangué Camara (born 30 April 1996) is a Guinean footballer who plays as a right-back for Horoya and the Guinea national team. International career Camara made his debut with the Guinea national team in a 1–0 2020 African Nations Champ ...

, Guinean footballer * Alsény Camara, Guinean footballer * Alsény Camara, Guinean footballer *

Aguibou Camara Aguibou Camara (born 20 May 2001) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Greek Super League club Atromitos, on loan from Olympiacos, and the Guinea national team. Club career On 29 March 2019 ...

, Guinean footballer *

Dede Camara Dede Camara (born 22 July 1991 in Fria) is a Guinean swimmer. She competed for Guinea at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Camara ranked 46th in the Women's 100m breaststroke event and did not advance to the semifinals. Disappearance On 11 August 2012 ...

, Guinean swimmer *

Ibrahima Sory Camara Ibrahima Camara may refer to: *Ibrahima Camara (footballer, born 1985), Guinean footballer *Ibrahima Camara (footballer, born 1992), Guinean footballer *Ibrahima Camará (footballer, born 1999), Guinean footballer See also

*Ibrahim Camara, Gui ...

, Guinean footballer * Kémoko Camara, Guinean footballer *

Mady Camara Mohamed Mady Camara (born 28 February 1997) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A club Roma, on loan from Olympiacos. He also represents the Guinea national team. Club career Ajaccio Camara began ...

, Guinean footballer *

Naby Camara Naby Camara (born 10 May 1996) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Guinée Championnat National club AS Kaloum and the Guinea national team. International career Camara made his debut with the Guinea national tea ...

, Guinean footballer *

Souleymane Camara Souleymane Camara (born 22 December 1982) is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is a former Senegal international and has represented his nation at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and three Africa Cup of Nations tou ...

, Senegalese footballer * Abdoulaye Cissé, Guinean footballer *

Abdu Conté Abdu Cadri Conté (born 24 March 1998) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central defender or a left-back for Ligue 2 club Troyes. He represented Sporting CP B, Moreirense and Troyes in his career, making his Primeira Lig ...

, Bissau-Guinean footballer * Ibrahima Sory Conté, Guinean footballer *

Naby Diarso Naby Diarso (born 1 January 1977 in Conakry) is a Guinean footballer, who plays with Satellite FC. International career He represented Guinea at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and 2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman B ...

, Guinean footballer * Boubacar Fofana, Guinean footballer *

Ibrahima Sory Sankhon Ibrahima Sory Sankhon (born 1 January 1996) is a Guinean footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, ...

, Guinean footballer *

Chérif Souleymane Chérif Souleymane, also known as Chérif Soulegmane, (born 20 October 1944) is a former Guinean footballer. He is considered among the finest footballers Guinea has ever produced. He was named the France Football African Footballer of the Year a ...

, Guinean footballer *

Issiaga Soumah Issiaga Soumah (born 14 May 1974 in Conakry) is a Guinean football (soccer) midfielder. He currently plays for Tours FC Tours Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Tours (), is a French association football club based in Tours, the ...

, Guinean footballer *

M'mah Soumah M'mah Soumah (born 10 May 1985 in Conakry) is a Guinean judoka who competed in the women's half-lightweight category. She picked up a bronze medal in the 52-kg division at the 2004 African Judo Championships in Tunis, Tunisia, and represented he ...

, Guinean judoka *

Morlaye Soumah Morlaye Soumah (born 4 November 1971) is a Guinean former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Soumah spent most of his playing career with SC Bastia in France's Ligue 1. He was part of the Guinea national team at the 2004 Afr ...

, Guinean footballer * Naby Soumah, Guinean footballer *

Ndèye Fatou Soumah Ndèye Fatou Seck Soumah Sow (born 6 April 1986 in Saint-Louis, Senegal) is a Senegalese woman sprinter. At the 2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an i ...

, Senegalese sprinter *

Seydouba Soumah Seydouba Soumah (born 11 June 1991) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Guinea national team. Club career Ajax Cape Town Born in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, Soumah began his football career playin ...

, Guinean footballer *

Soriba Soumah Soriba Soumah (1946 – 11 June 2004), also known as Edenté, was a Guinea international football forward. Career Born in Conakry, Soumah played club football for local side Hafia F.C. Soumah represented Guinea at the 1968 Summer Olympics in ...

, Guinean footballer *

Abubakar Suma Abū Bakr ( ar, أبو بكر ) is an Arabic given name meaning "Father of a Young Camel" (Abu meaning 'Father of' and Bakr meaning 'Young Camel') that is widely used by Sunni Muslims. Other transliterations include Abu Bakar, Abu Bekr, Ebubekir, ...

, Sierra Leonean footballer *

Lamin Suma Lamin Suma (born 14 July 1991) is a Sierra Leonean Association football, footballer who plays as a midfielder for Stumptown Athletic in the National Independent Soccer Association. Club career Born in Freetown, he was playing with Mighty Black ...

, Sierra Leonean footballer *

Sheriff Suma Sheriff Awilo Suma (born 12 October 1986) is a Sierra Leonean professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Atlanta SC and the Sierra Leone national football team. He was a member of Sierra Leone U-17 team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Ch ...

, Sierra Leonean footballer * Abdoul Karim Sylla, Guinean footballer *

Idrissa Sylla Idrissa Sylla (born 3 December 1990) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Guinea national team. He is also referred to as Waddle due to him possessing a similar style of play to Chris Waddle. Club career Le Man ...

, Guinean footballer *

Issiaga Sylla Issiaga Sylla (born 1 January 1994) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as a left-back for club Montpellier and the Guinea national team. Club career Sylla was born in Conakry, Guinea. He made his debut for Toulouse on 4 May 2013, ...

, Guinean footballer *

Kanfory Sylla Kanfory Sylla (born 7 July 1980 in Conakry) is a Guinean football defensive all-arounder who currently plays for Zakho FC in the Iraqi Premier League. He played for Sivasspor, İstanbul BB and Konyaspor in Turkey's Super League. Internati ...

, Guinean footballer * Mohamed Lamine Sylla, Guinean footballer *

Mohamed Ofei Sylla Mohamed Ofei Sylla (15 August 1974 – 4 February 2019) was a Guinean professional football midfielder. Club career Sylla played in the Turkish Super Lig for Gaziantepspor and Denizlispor. International career Sylla played for the Guinea na ...

, Guinean footballer * Momo Sylla, Guinean footballer *

Morciré Sylla Morciré Sylla (3 March 1948 or 22 September 1948– 12 August 2005) was a Guinea international football forward. Career Born in Kindia, Sylla played several youth sports, including football, volleyball, basketball and handball. He started playi ...

, Guinean footballer *

Morlaye Sylla Morlaye Sylla (born 23 July 1998) is a Guinean footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arouca and the Guinea national team. International career Sylla made his debut with the Guinea national team in a 1–0 2020 African Nations Championship ...

, Guinean footballer * Sekou Oumar Sylla, Guinean footballer * Djibril Fandjé Touré, Guinean footballer * Momo Fanyé Touré, Guinean footballer * Sylla M'Mah Touré, Guinean sprinter *

Ibrahima Yattara İbrahim Yattara (born 3 June 1980 in Kamsar), or İbrahim Üçüncü, is a Guinean former footballer. He also once competed on ''Survivor Turkey''. Career Yattara began his career in his native Guinea with the team San Garedi. He moved on to ...

, Guinean footballer *

Mohamed Yattara Mohamed Lamine Yattara (born 28 July 1993) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays for Armenian Premier League club Ararat-Armenia and the Guinea national team as a striker. Early and personal life He is brothers of Ibrahim Yattara an ...

, Guinean footballer *

Naby Yattara Naby-Moussa Yattara (born 12 January 1984) is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Championnat National 3 club Stade Beaucairois and the Guinea national team. International career Yattara was member of the Guinea n ...

, Guinean footballer *

Souleymane Youla Souleymane Youla (born 29 November 1981) is a Guinean football player. He has Turkish citizenship with the name Süleyman Yula. Career Club Youla's professional career started in Belgium in 1999, when Lokeren signed him to replace the depart ...

, Guinean footballer *

Sekou Yansane Sekou, also spelled Sékou or Seku, is a given name from the Fula language. It is equivalent to the Arabic ''Sheikh''. People with this name include: Given name * Seku Amadu (1776–1845), also known as Sékou Amadou or Sheikh Amadu, founder of th ...

* Momo Yansane *

Henri Camara Henri Camara (born 10 May 1977) is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a striker. Starting his career in the late 1990s, he went on to play professionally in France, Switzerland, Scotland, England, and Greece before retirin ...

Actors

* Fode Bangoura, Canadian actor *Soumah Mangué, Guinean actor *

Prince Modupe A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

, Guinean actor * Souleymane Sylla, Guinean actor

Journalists

* Foniké Menguè, Guinean activist and journalist * Harry Yansaneh, Sierra Leonean journalist

Writers

Abdoulaye Ditinn Camara Abdoulaye is a West African masculine given name and surname. It is equivalent to the Arabic names Abdallah or Abdullah ( ar, عبد الله ''ʿAbdu-llahi''; ''servant of God''), given name of Muhammad's father. People with this name include: Gi ...

, Guinean writer *

Alioum Fantouré Alioum is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Sidi Alioum (born 1982), Cameroonian football referee * Alioum Boukar (born 1972), Cameroonian footballer * Alioum Moussa (born 1977), Cameroonian graphic designer an ...

, Guinean writer

Other notable people

Mohamed Bentoura Bangoura Muhammad was an Islamic prophet and a religious and political leader who preached and established Islam. Muhammad and variations may also refer to: *Muhammad (name), a given name and surname, and list of people with the name and its variations ...

, Guinean sociologist * Kerfalla Person Camara, Guinean entrepreneur *

Tigui Camara Tigui Camara, also Tiguidanké Camara, is a Guinean model and mining entrepreneur, who is Chief Executive Officer of Tigui Mining Group and a member of the association International Women in Mining. She is one of the youngest mining entrepreneur ...

, Guinean entrepreneur * Ousmane Conté, Lansana Conté's son *Cheick Yansané, Guinean model

Musical groups

*Ideal Black Girls, Guinean rap group * Instinct Killers, Group of artist and dancers * Les Espoirs de Coronthie, Guinean musical group *Les Espoirs de Kakandé, Guinean musical group * Les Étoiles de Boulbinet, Guinean musical group *Les Messagers de Boulbinet, Guinean musical group

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Susu People Indigenous peoples of West Africa Ethnic groups in Guinea Ethnic groups in Sierra Leone Mandé people Muslim communities in Africa West African people Female genital mutilation Female genital mutilation by country