Q 01/05

What is the capital of Guinea, whose name distinguishes the country from its neighbours?

A) Freetown

B) Bissau

C) Conakry

D) Bamako

Answer · why

C) Conakry

The city began on tiny Tombo Island and spread along the 36-kilometre Kaloum Peninsula.

Q 02/05

Guinea declared independence from France on 2 October of which year?

A) 1964

B) 1960

C) 1962

D) 1958

Answer · why

D) 1958

It had voted overwhelmingly for immediate independence in the referendum of 28 September.

Q 03/05

In the 1958 French referendum, Guinea was the only African colony to do what?

A) Boycott the vote entirely

B) Vote to become a French department

C) Vote for immediate independence

D) Vote to join Ghana

Answer · why

C) Vote for immediate independence

The French left in fury, reportedly unscrewing light bulbs and burning medicines rather than leave them behind.

Q 04/05

Who was Guinea's first president, ruling from 1958 until his death in 1984?

A) Lansana Conté

B) Ahmed Sékou Touré

C) Alpha Condé

D) Samori Touré

Answer · why

B) Ahmed Sékou Touré

He was re-elected unopposed to four seven-year terms and ran the notorious Camp Boiro prison.

Q 05/05

Guinea's first president was the great-grandson of which 19th-century empire builder?

A) Samori Touré

B) Usman dan Fodio

C) Sundiata Keita

D) Askia Mohammad

Answer · why

A) Samori Touré

Samori's Wassoulou Empire fought France for years; his 1898 defeat gave France control of Guinea.