Matriarchal society in Bijagos Islands The Bijago society is a matriarchal society, women are the ones choosing their husbands and directing many aspects of social structure: the economy, the law, welfare or spirituality. According to an old bijago legend, life began this way: “God created the first island, and he gave the name of Orango Island, which would be the world. Later a man and his wife arrived, her name was Akapakama. They had four daughters named Orakuma, Ominka, Ogubane and Oraga. Then the animals and plants would emerge. Each of them had several children and each of these families was granted special rights. The Orakuma people were granted the right of the land and the direction of the ceremonies that took place there. They were also granted the right to carve the statues of the iras, where according to the traditional cult of the Bijago people, the spirits reside. Ominka’s family was granted the sea and therefore fishing. Oraga’s family received nature, with its fields and palm trees and all its wealth. Ogubane’s family received the power of wind and rain, thus being able to cause the dry season and the rainy season. Thus, the four daughters would perform different but complementary and very important functions” And this is, according to legend, why women play such an important role in Bijago society