Guinea-Bissau Arts Scene Builds Momentum Ahead of 2027 Biennale

BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau — Guinea-Bissau’s contemporary arts sector is preparing for another major international showcase after the MoAC Biss Biennale opened its call for artists for the 2027 edition.

The second edition will take place in May 2027 under the theme “Djidiundadi – Timelessness and Utopias,” drawing inspiration from the traditional Djidiu or griot, a cultural figure associated with preserving history, knowledge and collective memory.

Artists are being invited to participate across performing arts and moving images, plastic and visual arts, literature, conferences and public policy. The organisers say the programme aims to strengthen the role of artists as transmitters of knowledge and agents of social transformation.

The new call could give Guinea-Bissau’s emerging artists greater access to international cultural networks and professional opportunities.

The initiative follows the country's first MoAC Biss Biennale and its 2026 artistic programmes, including Kaminhus di Arti, which brought together established and emerging artists working across performance, sound, image, text and visual arts.

With applications now open, Guinea-Bissau is positioning its contemporary arts scene for a bigger international presence in 2027.