Guinea-Bissau is a West African country bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the southeast. The country was part of the Kaabu Kingdom and later the Mali Empire before being colonized by Portugal in the 19th century. Guinea-Bissau became independent in 1973, but has had an unstable political history since then. The official language is Portuguese, but most people speak Guinea-Bissau Creole, a Creole language based on Portuguese. The country has a predominantly Muslim population and is known for its traditional music and dances. Places of interest include the islands of the Bijagós archipelago, Cantanhez National Park, and the Cacheu River.