Binhan (Guinea-Bissau)
- Jun 30
- 1 min read
Binhan, born Binhanquinhe Quimor in Catió, Guinea-Bissau, began his musical career in the church before emerging as one of his country’s most distinctive voices. Named breakthrough artist of 2008 by Guinean music critics, he was invited to join Super Mama Djombo, the iconic national band whose Cuban-influenced sound and political lyrics made them Guinea-Bissau’s most celebrated group in the years following independence. His debut solo album, Lifante Pupa (2014), established him as a sharp social commentator. His most recent album, Nha Mininessa (2024), draws on his own difficult childhood experiences.
Featured Song:
“Nafiki” (Hypocrite) is sung in Guinean Creole and takes its title from the Arabic-derived word for a false friend or gossip. Cuban music has been woven into Guinea-Bissau’s popular music since independence, and that influence runs through “Nafiki,” which pulses with the groove of kumbelé, a popular Guinean dance rhythm with strong Cuban flavors. The song is a husband’s defiant response to a hypocrite spreading rumors about his marriage. “Hypocrite, stay out of this / Don’t come begging, don’t open your mouth / I trust in my wife / She doesn’t listen to the talk of the world / She is the one who runs our home / This is our marriage / Oh hypocrite, his punishment is what God will deliver.”
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