The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has added the Bijagós Islands of Guinea-Bissau to the World Heritage List, specifically citing the unique shell-mural tradition of the local communities. For centuries, the islanders have decorated their communal dwellings with intricate patterns of crushed mollusks and sea-glass, creating a resilient architectural skin that protects structures from salt-air erosion.
The designation highlights the matrilineal society of the Bijagós, where women are the primary architects and artists of these murals. UNESCO emphasized the need for protection against rising sea levels, which threaten both the coastal source of the materials and the villages themselves, making this site a priority for climate-resilient heritage funding.