The compounds usually adjoin to form compact villages. In general, the dwellings are round with mud walls and cone-shaped, thatched roofs. However, many local variations exist. In the Biafada community, men hunt, fish, clear the land, and tend to the cattle. The women do the gathering and help some in the agricultural work.
Chiefs exercise political authority in the villages.
Succession usually passes to the next brother, or to the oldest son of the deceased chief's oldest sister. Circumcision of males is practiced, and some female circumcision is also continued. The Biafada tolerate premarital sexual freedom for girls and prefer cousins as marriage partners. In such cases, however, each wife has her own hut, and the husband spends a fixed period with each on a rotation basis. A large percent of the population of Guinea-Bissau are ethnic religionists , following their traditional beliefs.