Preserving the national memory of Guinea-Bissau is fundamental for achieving sustainable peace in the country, and is priority for UNDP.

In partnership with INEP - Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisa, on March 15, UNDP organized the public presentation of the book “Ntori Palan na contanu historia di Guiné-Bissau”. The book tells the history of the country featuring Ntori Palan, one of the most prominent figures of Guinea-Bissau, which was created by the cartoon artists Manuel and Fernando Júlio. The book will now be presented at universities, cultural groups and different associations, and is being used in theater plays across the country partnership with Grupo de Teatro do Oprimido (GTO).

At the event, the new INEP website was also presented, as well as the project to preserve the national memory that is being developed with the support of the UNDP. This project includes the digitization of the historical documentary archives of the National Library, which allows their conservation and preservation, as well as universal access.

The ceremony was attended by the Dr. Timóteo Saba Mbunde, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Augusto Gomes, Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr. Fernando Delfim da Silva, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic, Dr. Tjark Egenhoff, UNDP Resident Representative, Dr. Samba Tenem Camara, Director of INEP, and Dr. Abduramane Djaló, Director of the Nô Pintcha newspaper.

Tjark Egenhoff, UNDP Resident Representative, stated the “importance of talking about the past, aiming at a sustainable peace in the present and in the future” and reinforced that “Guinea-Bissau deserves its history to be told and preserved”.

An initiative of UNDP, in partnership with INEP, under the scope of the project “Political Stabilization and Reform through Confidence Building and Inclusive Dialogue”, supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.

Download the Ntori Palan book here.