Wind, storm and fire: dangers of losing control (Bijagó Archipelago, Guinea Bissau)

Abstract

The article examines local perceptions of emotions among the Bijagó people. The narrative begins with a vivid description of daily life, illustrating how emotions are perceived and managed within the community. Through an anthropological lens, the article explores the concept of n’atribá, a term that encompasses what we might call "thought-feeling" in Western terms, integrating emotional and cognitive experiences. The research highlights how Bijagó children are not considered to fully possess n’atribá until they grow and learn from social interactions. Emotions are viewed as inherently social, intertwined with bodily sensations and linked to the social and cultural fabric of the community. This study sheds light on the complex interplay between emotions, cognition, and social identity in the Bijagó culture, challenging Western dichotomies of mind and body, reason and emotion