Back to Feed
Long Read

the history of conakry: why this city’s past feels like a bad anime plot

@Silas Dean2/8/2026blog

i didn’t mean to start this blog post with a map, but here it is:

. yeah, conakry’s coordinates are 9.5092,-13.7122. who cares? it’s just a bunch of buildings and chaos, right? well, not really. maybe. let’s talk about this place.

so, conakry. first off, it’s the capital of guinea-bissau. duh. but here’s the thing: it wasn’t always a capital. in fact, it didn’t exist until like… the 19th century? or was it earlier? i’m guessing i’m wrong. history nerds can correct me. but here’s the scoop: it started as a small trading post. then the french showed up. then the portuguese. then the brits. and then the guineans. it’s like a musical chairs game with empires. and i mean, honestly, the french built the train station. it’s still there. kind of. rusty.

right, so here’s where the data comes in. or, more accurately, where my friend james in the hostel bar told me this while we stared at the ceiling. he said, ‘don’t get scammed here. the cost of living’s cheap, but the safety’s a vibe.’ okay, so rent? i’m told a one-bedroom apartment can go for $200. that’s not much, but if you’re from new york, you’ll think it’s a scam. jobs? government jobs are stable, but private sector? it’s a mess.Unless you’re working at a tech startup that doesn’t exist.

now, the weather. it’s that thing where it’s always hot and humid but also surprise, a monsoon next week. i’m not kidding. one day, you’re sipping coffee, the next, you’re fleeing rain. neighbors? just a short drive to that hill where people do that weird dance thing. i don’t want to get into it. just know they’ll follow you if you’re slow.

so, overwhelless gossip: i overheard three locals saying conakry’s museums are a waste of time. one guy said, ‘the national museum has a statue of a guy holding a banana. nice.’ another said, ‘the war history exhibit is just a pile of rusted tanks.’ third guy: ‘but the coffee shop next to it is amazing.’ classic. i’m told the coffee here is strong. not sure if that’s a pro or con.

you want randomized chat? here’s a blockquote from a guy i met on a bus: ‘if you’re here, you’re either rich or lost. probably both.’ okay, that’s deep. another blockquote: ‘the job market’s a ghost town. unless you’re a teacher. then you’re golden.’ i’m not a teacher. i’m a guy who blogs about random stuff.

here’s the deal: conakry’s history is a hot mess. the freetown area was excavated recently, and they found stuff from the 1400s. apparently, the city was a port for europeans way before it became capital. but no one talks about that. why? maybe because the present is more exciting. or maybe because the present is terrifying.

i visited this old church built by the french. it’s still there. not nice. but it’s got a staircase that goes up to nowhere. i tried to climb it. no one helped. locals just looked at me. maybe i was asking for trouble.

so, why visit? for the chaos. the warmth. the fact that no one knows what they’re doing. i mean, the job market’s a mess, but the people? they’re resilient. you’ll meet artisans selling crafts that look like they were made in a garage. you’ll eat food that’s both amazing and questionable. i had a dish that tasted like regret. it was good.

here’s a tip: don’t trust anyone who says conakry is safe. it’s not. but don’t be a Karen either. it’s a vibe. just be aware.

now, the external links. if you wanna hate on the city: try this TripAdvisor. if you wanna find a hostel: Yelp. if you wanna join the chaos: reddit r/Conakry. and if you wanna see pretty photos of the city’s skyline: unsplash link - though honestly, just google it.

so, to sum up: conakry is a place where history is buried under concrete and nonsense. it’s not for everyone. but if you’re here, you’re either curious or just passing through. either way, bring rain boots.

You might also be interested in:

About the author: Silas Dean

Sharing snippets of wisdom from my daily adventures.

Loading discussion...