Mandinka people
Encyclopedia
The Mandinka, Malinke (also known as Mandinko) are one of the largest ethnic group
s in West Africa
with an estimated population of eleven million (the other 3 major ethnic groups in the region being the non-related Fula
, Hausa
and Songhai
).
They are the descendants of the Mali Empire
, which rose to power under the rule of the great Mandinka king Sundiata Keita
. The Mandinka in turn belong to West Africa's largest ethnolinguistic group, the Mandé, who account for more than twenty million people (including the Dyula, Bozo
, Bissa and Bambara). Today, over 99% of Mandinka in Africa are Muslim
.
The Mandinka live primarily in West Africa, particularly in The Gambia
, Guinea
, Mali
, Sierra Leone
, Cote d'Ivoire
, Senegal
, Burkina Faso
, Liberia
, Guinea Bissau, Niger
, Mauritania
and even small communities in the central Africa
n nation of Chad
. Although widespread, the Mandinka do not form the largest ethnic group in any of the countries in which they live except The Gambia.
Most Mandinkas live in family-related compounds in traditional rural villages. Mandinka villages are fairly autonomous and self-ruled, being led by a chief and group of elders. Mandinkas live in an oral society. Learning is traditionally done through stories, songs and proverb
s. Western education's impact is minimal; the literacy
rate in Latin script overall among the Mandinka is quite low. However, more than half the adult population can read the local Arabic script; small Quranic schools for children where Arabic
is taught are more common.
Originally from Mali, the Mandinka gained their independence from previous empires in the thirteenth century, and founded an empire which stretched across West Africa. They migrated west from the Niger River
in search of better agricultural lands and more opportunities for conquest. Through a series of conflicts, primarily with the Fula
-led Kingdom of Fouta Djallon
, about half of the Mandinka population converted from indigenous beliefs to Islam. During the 16th, 17th and 18th century as many as a third of the Mandinka population were shipped to the Americas
as slaves
through capture in conflict and therefore a significant portion of the African-Americans in the United States
are descended from the Mandinka people.
basin in search of better agricultural
lands and more opportunities for conquest. During this expansion, they established their rule from modern-day Gambia to Guinea. They were probably one of the original groups that inhabited the ancient city of Jenné-Jeno
. The Mandés founded the empire of Kaabu
, comprising twenty small kingdoms
. Some upper-class or urban Mandinkas converted to Islam during the reign of the great Mansa Musa
(1312–1337 AD).
The majority of the Mandinka were still animists at the beginning of the 18th century. Through a series of conflicts, primarily with the Fula
-led Kingdom of Fouta Djallon
and amongst sub-states of the Kaabu, about half of the Senegambian Mandinka were converted to Islam
while as many as a third were sold into slavery to the Americas through capture in conflict. Today, the majority of Mandinka are Muslim. A significant portion of African-Americans in North America are descended from Mandinka people.
In eastern areas (northern Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Southern Mali), Mandinka communities are often built around long distance trade routes. These people, often called Dyula after the Mandé word for "merchant", built communities in trading centers, spaced along trade routes, and near mining and agricultural centers, beginning during the Mali Empire. These merchant networks formed the lynchpin of trade between the desert-side upper Niger River cities (Djenné
and Timbuktu
, for example), highland production areas (the goldfields of Bambouk
or agricultural centre of Kankan
), and the coast. This last link became more important with the advent of Portuguese and other European trading posts in the 17th century, and much of the overland trade connecting the coast and interior (including the African slave trade
) was controlled by Dyula merchants.
farmer
s in the Sahel
who rely on peanut
s, rice
, millet
, maize
and small-scale husbandry for their livelihood. During the wet season
, men plant peanuts as their main cash crop. Women work in the rice fields, tending the plants by hand. This is extremely labour-intensive and physically demanding work. Only about 50% of the rice consumption needs are met by local planting; the rest is imported from Asia and the United States.
The oldest male is the head of the family and marriages are commonly arranged. Small mud houses with conical thatch or tin roofs make up their villages, which are organized on the basis of the clan groups. While farming is the predominant profession among the Mandinka, men also work as tailors, butchers, taxi drivers, woodworkers, metalworkers, soldiers, nurses, and extension workers for aid agencies. However, most women, probably 95%, remain in the home as wives and mothers.
Mandinka culture is rich in tradition, music, and spiritual ritual. Mandinkas continue a long oral history tradition through stories, songs and proverbs. In rural areas, western education's impact is minimal; the literacy rate in Roman script among these Mandinka is quite low. However, more than half the adult population can read the local Arabic script (including Mandinka Ajami
); small Qur'an
ic schools for children where this is taught are quite more common. Mandinka children are given their name on the eighth day after their birth, and their children are almost always named after a very important person in their family.
The Mandinka have a rich oral history that is passed down through griot
s. This passing down of oral history through music has made music one of the most distinctive traits of the Mandinka. They have long been known for their drumming and also for their unique musical instrument, the kora
. The kora is a twenty-one-stringed guitar-like instrument made out of a halved, dried, hollowed-out gourd covered with cow or goat skin. The strings are made of fishing line (these were originally made from muscles of cow). It is played to accompany a griot's singing or simply on its own.
A Mandinka religious and cultural site under consideration for World Heritage status is located in Guinea
at Gberedou/Hamana.
or groom. This practice is particularly prevalent in the rural areas. Kola nuts, a bitter nut from a tree, are formally sent by the suitor's family to the male elders of the bride-to-be, and if accepted, the courtship begins.
Polygamy
has been practiced among the Mandinka since pre-Islamic days. A Mandinka man is legally allowed to have up to four wives, as long as he is able to care for each of them equally. Mandinka believe the crowning glory of any woman is the ability to produce children, especially sons. The first wife has authority over any subsequent wives. The husband has complete control over his wives and is responsible for feeding and clothing them. He also helps the wives' parents when necessary. Wives are expected to live together in harmony
, at least superficially. They share work responsibilities of the compound, cooking, laundry, etc.
and female genital cutting
), in separate groups according to their sex. In years past, the children spent up to a year in the bush, but that has been reduced now to coincide with their physical healing time, between three and four weeks.
During this time, they learn about their adult social responsibilities and rules of behavior.
Preparation is made in the village or compound for the return of the children. A celebration marks the return of these new adults to their families.
As a result of these traditional teachings, in marriage a woman's loyalty remains to her parents and her family; a man's to his.
.
Mandinkas will recite chapters of the Qu'ran in Arabic. Most Mandinka practice a mix of Islam and traditional African religions, which includes a belief in the existence of spirits. These spirits can be controlled mainly through the power of a marabout, who knows the protective formulas. In most cases, no important decision is made without first consulting a marabout
. Marabouts, who have Islamic training, write Qu'ranic verses on slips of paper and sew them into leather pouches; these are worn as protective amulets by men, women, and children.
has become the hallmark of traditional Mandinka musicians". The kora with its 21 strings is made from half a calabash, covered with cow's hide fastened on by decorative tacks. The kora has sound holes in the side which are used to store coins offered to the praise singers, in appreciation of their performance. The praise singers are called "jalibaa" in Mandinka. According to "The Kora" (2002):
as [the kora] is played, it begins to take on a life of its own and it is believed that the singer and the instrument become one". The kora was traditionally used as "storage for historical facts, to memorize the genealogy of patron families and sing their praises, to act as messengers and intermediaries in disputes between families, to serve as guardians of traditional culture, and to entertain". Today, however, the kora is losing its importance. Although it is a skill passed down from father to son, it is primarily used to entertain people, most especially tourists.
, a main figure in Alex Haley
's book Roots
and a subsequent TV mini-series. Haley claimed he was descended from Kinte, though this familial link has been criticized by many professional historians and at least one genealogist as highly improbable (see D. Wright's The World And A Very Small Place). Martin R. Delany, a 19th century abolitionist, military leader, politician and physician in the United States, was of partial Mandinka descent.
Mr. T
, of American television fame, once claimed that his distinctive hairstyle was modeled after a Mandinka warrior that he saw in National Geographic magazine. In his motivational video Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!
, he states that "My folks came from Africa. They were from the Mandinka tribe. They wore their hair like this. These gold chains I wear symbolize the fact that my ancestors were brought over here as slaves."
Many early works by Malian author Massa Makan Diabaté
are retellings of Mandinka legends, including Janjon, which won the 1971 Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
. His novels The Lieutenant of Kouta
, The Barber of Kouta, and The Butcher of Kouta attempt to capture the proverbs and customs of the Mandinka people in novel
istic form.
Alhaji Sekou Bility(late) Former Mandingo tribal chief and former Chairman Of the National Muslim Council of Liberia (NMCL)
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Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
with an estimated population of eleven million (the other 3 major ethnic groups in the region being the non-related Fula
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
, Hausa
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
and Songhai
Songhai
The Songhai are west Africa people who speak Songhai languages, the lingua franca of the Songhai Empire which dominated the western Sahel in the 15th and 16th century. The Songhai are found primarily throughout Mali in the Western sudanic region...
).
They are the descendants of the Mali Empire
Mali Empire
The Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...
, which rose to power under the rule of the great Mandinka king Sundiata Keita
Sundiata Keita
Sundiata Keita, Sundjata Keyita, Mari Djata I or just Sundiata was the founder of the Mali Empire and celebrated as a hero of the Malinke people of West Africa in the semi-historical Epic of Sundiata....
. The Mandinka in turn belong to West Africa's largest ethnolinguistic group, the Mandé, who account for more than twenty million people (including the Dyula, Bozo
Bozo people
The Bozo are a West African ethnic group located predominantly along the Niger River in Mali. The name Bozo is thought to derive from Bambara bo-so, 'Bamboo house'; the people accept it as referring to the whole of the ethnic group but use more specific clan names such as Sorogoye, Hain, and Tieye...
, Bissa and Bambara). Today, over 99% of Mandinka in Africa are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
.
The Mandinka live primarily in West Africa, particularly in The Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, Cote d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Guinea Bissau, Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
and even small communities in the central Africa
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
n nation of Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
. Although widespread, the Mandinka do not form the largest ethnic group in any of the countries in which they live except The Gambia.
Most Mandinkas live in family-related compounds in traditional rural villages. Mandinka villages are fairly autonomous and self-ruled, being led by a chief and group of elders. Mandinkas live in an oral society. Learning is traditionally done through stories, songs and proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
s. Western education's impact is minimal; the literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
rate in Latin script overall among the Mandinka is quite low. However, more than half the adult population can read the local Arabic script; small Quranic schools for children where Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
is taught are more common.
Originally from Mali, the Mandinka gained their independence from previous empires in the thirteenth century, and founded an empire which stretched across West Africa. They migrated west from the Niger River
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
in search of better agricultural lands and more opportunities for conquest. Through a series of conflicts, primarily with the Fula
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
-led Kingdom of Fouta Djallon
Kingdom of Fouta Djallon
The Kingdom of Fouta Djallon was a pre-colonial West African state based in the Fouta Djallon highlands of modern Guinea.-Origin:...
, about half of the Mandinka population converted from indigenous beliefs to Islam. During the 16th, 17th and 18th century as many as a third of the Mandinka population were shipped to the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
as slaves
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
through capture in conflict and therefore a significant portion of the African-Americans in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
are descended from the Mandinka people.
History
The Mandinka migrated west from the Niger RiverNiger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
basin in search of better agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
lands and more opportunities for conquest. During this expansion, they established their rule from modern-day Gambia to Guinea. They were probably one of the original groups that inhabited the ancient city of Jenné-Jeno
Jenné-Jeno
Jenne-Jeno is the original site of Djenné, Mali and considered to be among the oldest urbanized centers in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been the subject of archeological excavations by Susan and Roderick McIntosh and has been dated to the 3rd century BC...
. The Mandés founded the empire of Kaabu
Kaabu
The Kaabu Empire was a Mandinka Kingdom of Senegambia that rose to prominence in the region thanks to its origins as a former province of the Mali Empire...
, comprising twenty small kingdoms
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
. Some upper-class or urban Mandinkas converted to Islam during the reign of the great Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa
Musa I , commonly referred to as Mansa Musa, was the tenth mansa, which translates as "king of kings" or "emperor", of the Malian Empire...
(1312–1337 AD).
The majority of the Mandinka were still animists at the beginning of the 18th century. Through a series of conflicts, primarily with the Fula
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
-led Kingdom of Fouta Djallon
Kingdom of Fouta Djallon
The Kingdom of Fouta Djallon was a pre-colonial West African state based in the Fouta Djallon highlands of modern Guinea.-Origin:...
and amongst sub-states of the Kaabu, about half of the Senegambian Mandinka were converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
while as many as a third were sold into slavery to the Americas through capture in conflict. Today, the majority of Mandinka are Muslim. A significant portion of African-Americans in North America are descended from Mandinka people.
In eastern areas (northern Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Southern Mali), Mandinka communities are often built around long distance trade routes. These people, often called Dyula after the Mandé word for "merchant", built communities in trading centers, spaced along trade routes, and near mining and agricultural centers, beginning during the Mali Empire. These merchant networks formed the lynchpin of trade between the desert-side upper Niger River cities (Djenné
Djenné
Djenné is an Urban Commune and town in the Inland Niger Delta region of central Mali. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 32,944. Administratively it is part of the Mopti Region....
and Timbuktu
Timbuktu
Timbuktu , formerly also spelled Timbuctoo, is a town in the West African nation of Mali situated north of the River Niger on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. The town is the capital of the Timbuktu Region, one of the eight administrative regions of Mali...
, for example), highland production areas (the goldfields of Bambouk
Bambouk
Bambouk is a traditional name for the territory in eastern Senegal and western Mali, encompassing the Bambouk Mountains on its eastern edge, the valley of the Faleme River and the hilly country to the east of the river valley...
or agricultural centre of Kankan
Kankan
Kankan is the largest city in Guinea in land area, and the third largest in population at 207,790 . The city is located on the Milo River in eastern Guinea and lying about 345 miles east of Conakry....
), and the coast. This last link became more important with the advent of Portuguese and other European trading posts in the 17th century, and much of the overland trade connecting the coast and interior (including the African slave trade
African slave trade
Systems of servitude and slavery were common in many parts of Africa, as they were in much of the ancient world. In some African societies, the enslaved people were also indentured servants and fully integrated; in others, they were treated much worse...
) was controlled by Dyula merchants.
Economy
Mandinka are rural subsistenceSubsistence agriculture
Subsistence agriculture is self-sufficiency farming in which the farmers focus on growing enough food to feed their families. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals needed by the family to eat and clothe themselves during the year. Planting decisions are made with an eye...
farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s in the Sahel
Sahel
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
who rely on peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s, rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and small-scale husbandry for their livelihood. During the wet season
Wet season
The the wet season, or rainy season, is the time of year, covering one or more months, when most of the average annual rainfall in a region occurs. The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the...
, men plant peanuts as their main cash crop. Women work in the rice fields, tending the plants by hand. This is extremely labour-intensive and physically demanding work. Only about 50% of the rice consumption needs are met by local planting; the rest is imported from Asia and the United States.
The oldest male is the head of the family and marriages are commonly arranged. Small mud houses with conical thatch or tin roofs make up their villages, which are organized on the basis of the clan groups. While farming is the predominant profession among the Mandinka, men also work as tailors, butchers, taxi drivers, woodworkers, metalworkers, soldiers, nurses, and extension workers for aid agencies. However, most women, probably 95%, remain in the home as wives and mothers.
Mandinka culture
Ajami script
The term Ajami , or Ajamiyya , which comes from the Arabic root for "foreign" or "stranger," has been applied to Arabic alphabets used for writing African languages....
); small Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
ic schools for children where this is taught are quite more common. Mandinka children are given their name on the eighth day after their birth, and their children are almost always named after a very important person in their family.
The Mandinka have a rich oral history that is passed down through griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
s. This passing down of oral history through music has made music one of the most distinctive traits of the Mandinka. They have long been known for their drumming and also for their unique musical instrument, the kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
. The kora is a twenty-one-stringed guitar-like instrument made out of a halved, dried, hollowed-out gourd covered with cow or goat skin. The strings are made of fishing line (these were originally made from muscles of cow). It is played to accompany a griot's singing or simply on its own.
A Mandinka religious and cultural site under consideration for World Heritage status is located in Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
at Gberedou/Hamana.
Customs of the Mandinka
Most Mandinkas live in family-related compounds in traditional rural villages. Mandinka villages are fairly autonomous and self-ruled, being led by a council of upper class elders and a chief who functions as a first among equals.Marriage
Marriages are traditionally arranged by family members rather than either the brideBride
A bride is a woman about to be married or newlywed.The word may come from the Proto-Germanic verb root *brū-, meaning 'to cook, brew, or make a broth' which was the role of the daughter-in-law in primitive families...
or groom. This practice is particularly prevalent in the rural areas. Kola nuts, a bitter nut from a tree, are formally sent by the suitor's family to the male elders of the bride-to-be, and if accepted, the courtship begins.
Polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
has been practiced among the Mandinka since pre-Islamic days. A Mandinka man is legally allowed to have up to four wives, as long as he is able to care for each of them equally. Mandinka believe the crowning glory of any woman is the ability to produce children, especially sons. The first wife has authority over any subsequent wives. The husband has complete control over his wives and is responsible for feeding and clothing them. He also helps the wives' parents when necessary. Wives are expected to live together in harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
, at least superficially. They share work responsibilities of the compound, cooking, laundry, etc.
Passage into adulthood
The Mandinka practise a rite of passage which marks the beginning of adulthood for their children. At an age between four and fourteen, the youngsters have their genitalia ritually cut (see articles on maleCircumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
and female genital cutting
Female genital cutting
Female genital mutilation , also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is defined by the World Health Organization as "all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons."FGM...
), in separate groups according to their sex. In years past, the children spent up to a year in the bush, but that has been reduced now to coincide with their physical healing time, between three and four weeks.
During this time, they learn about their adult social responsibilities and rules of behavior.
Preparation is made in the village or compound for the return of the children. A celebration marks the return of these new adults to their families.
As a result of these traditional teachings, in marriage a woman's loyalty remains to her parents and her family; a man's to his.
Religious and spiritual beliefs
Today, over 99% of Mandinka are MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
.
Mandinkas will recite chapters of the Qu'ran in Arabic. Most Mandinka practice a mix of Islam and traditional African religions, which includes a belief in the existence of spirits. These spirits can be controlled mainly through the power of a marabout, who knows the protective formulas. In most cases, no important decision is made without first consulting a marabout
Marabout
A marabout is a Muslim religious leader and teacher in West Africa, and in the Maghreb. The marabout is often a scholar of the Qur'an, or religious teacher. Others may be wandering holy men who survive on alms, Sufi Murshids , or leaders of religious communities...
. Marabouts, who have Islamic training, write Qu'ranic verses on slips of paper and sew them into leather pouches; these are worn as protective amulets by men, women, and children.
The Kora
The KoraKora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
has become the hallmark of traditional Mandinka musicians". The kora with its 21 strings is made from half a calabash, covered with cow's hide fastened on by decorative tacks. The kora has sound holes in the side which are used to store coins offered to the praise singers, in appreciation of their performance. The praise singers are called "jalibaa" in Mandinka. According to "The Kora" (2002):
as [the kora] is played, it begins to take on a life of its own and it is believed that the singer and the instrument become one". The kora was traditionally used as "storage for historical facts, to memorize the genealogy of patron families and sing their praises, to act as messengers and intermediaries in disputes between families, to serve as guardians of traditional culture, and to entertain". Today, however, the kora is losing its importance. Although it is a skill passed down from father to son, it is primarily used to entertain people, most especially tourists.
Mandinka in literature and other media
One Mandinka outside Africa is Kunta KinteKunta Kinte
Kunta Kinte is the central character of the novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family by American author Alex Haley, and of the television miniseries Roots, based on the book. Haley described his book as faction - a mixture of fact and fiction...
, a main figure in Alex Haley
Alex Haley
Alexander Murray Palmer Haley was an African-American writer. He is best known as the author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family and the coauthor of The Autobiography of Malcolm X.-Early life:...
's book Roots
Roots: The Saga of an American Family
Roots: The Saga of an American Family is a novel written by Alex Haley and first published in 1976. It tells the story of Kunta Kinte, an 18th-century African, captured as an adolescent and sold into slavery in the United States, and follows his life and the lives of his descendants in the U.S....
and a subsequent TV mini-series. Haley claimed he was descended from Kinte, though this familial link has been criticized by many professional historians and at least one genealogist as highly improbable (see D. Wright's The World And A Very Small Place). Martin R. Delany, a 19th century abolitionist, military leader, politician and physician in the United States, was of partial Mandinka descent.
Mr. T
Mr. T
Mr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
, of American television fame, once claimed that his distinctive hairstyle was modeled after a Mandinka warrior that he saw in National Geographic magazine. In his motivational video Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!
Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!
Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool! is a 1984 motivational video hosted by Mr. T and distributed by MCA Home Video. The production drew strongly on new wave and R&B culture of the mid-1980s to appeal to children to respect elders, avoid peer pressure, and build self-confidence...
, he states that "My folks came from Africa. They were from the Mandinka tribe. They wore their hair like this. These gold chains I wear symbolize the fact that my ancestors were brought over here as slaves."
Many early works by Malian author Massa Makan Diabaté
Massa Makan Diabaté
Massa Makan Diabaté was a Malian historian, author, and playwright.-Biography:Born in 1938 in Kita, Massa Makan Diabaté was the descendant of a long line of West African poets ....
are retellings of Mandinka legends, including Janjon, which won the 1971 Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
The Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire is a literary prize presented every year by the ADELF, the Association of French Language Writers for a French original text from Sub-Saharan Africa....
. His novels The Lieutenant of Kouta
Le lieutenant de Kouta
Le lieutenant de Kouta is a 1979 novel by prize-winning Malian author Massa Makan Diabaté. Loosely based on the author's hometown of Kita, Mali, the novel tells the story of a recently-returned lieutenant from the French Colonial Army, Siriman Keita, and his struggle to adjust to his village's...
, The Barber of Kouta, and The Butcher of Kouta attempt to capture the proverbs and customs of the Mandinka people in novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
istic form.
Sierra Leone
- Alhaji Ahmad Tejan KabbahAhmad Tejan KabbahAlhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992...
, President of Sierra Leone from 1996–2007 - Haja Afsatu KabbaHaja Afsatu KabbaA controversial political figure to be investigated for alleged corruption by the conntry's Anti Corruption Commission. Only last week her 'corrupt' practices in offices were openly criticised by no less a person than her own deputy in the Marine Resources ministry, Oya Sankoh.Haja Afsatu Kabba is...
, Former Sierra Leone's Minister of Marine Resources and Fisheries - Alhaji Mohamed Kemoh Fadika, current Sierra Leone's ambassador to Iran
- Mabinty DaramyMabinty DaramyMabinty Daramy is a Sierra Leonean politician who is currently Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry. She is a member of the Mandingo ethnic group.She has 3 children Hassan 16, Ibrahim 15, and Sahid 8.-External links:...
, current Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry - Fode DaboFode DaboFode Dabo is a Sierra Leonean diplomat who is currently Sierra Leone's ambassador to Belgium. He is also Sierra Leone's ambassador to France, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, and the Holy See. Dabo is a Muslim and hails from the Mandingo ethnic group....
, current Sierra Leone Ambassador to Belgium; he is also Sierra Leone's permanent representative to France, Netherlands, Luxemburg and Italy - Alhaji Shekuba SaccohAlhaji Shekuba SaccohAlhaji Shekuba Saccoh is a Sierra Leonean diplomat and the current Sierra Leone's ambassador to Guinea. He was appointed to the position by president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah...
, current Sierra Leone's ambassador to Guinea - Ibrahim Jaffa CondehIbrahim Jaffa CondehIbrahim Jaffa Condeh is a Sierra Leonean journalist and news anchor. He is the senior journalist for the Freetown based Concord Times newspaper. Although Condeh is primarily based in Freetown, he often report on location for breaking news stories throughout Sierra Leone. He is a graduate of Fourah...
, Sierra Leonean journalist and news anchor - Neneh DaboNeneh DaboNeneh Dabo is a Sierra Leonean civil servant. She is the Director of Corruption Prevention and Community Relations of the Sierra Leone Anti-corruption Commission ....
, Director of the Sierra Leone Anti Corruption Commission (ACC). - Mohamed KakayMohamed KakayAlhaji Mohamed Kakay is a Sierra Leonean politician who is currently a member of parliament of Sierra Leone representing his hometown of Koinadugu District, one of the five districts that make up the Northern Province. Kakay is from the Mandingo ethnic group....
, member of parliament of Sierra Leone from Koinadugu District (SLPP) - Mohamed B. DaramyMohamed B. DaramyAlhaji Mohamed B. Daramy is a Sierra Leonean politician. Daramy has many years of experience in industry, the private sector and in government having served as minister of Labour, minister of Trade, minister of Transportation, minister of Finance and recently minister of Development and Economic...
, Sierra Leone minister of Development and Economic Planning from 2002–2007 - Alhaji A. B. SheriffAlhaji A. B. SheriffAlhaji A. B. Sheriff is a Sierra Leonean politician. He is a member of the Sierra Leone People's Party and is one of the representatives in the Parliament of Sierra Leone for Koinadugu District, elected in 2002.-References:...
, member of Parliament from Koinadugu District (SLPP) - Sidique Janneh, former financial secretary of the PMDC political party and current SLPP vice chairman for the southern province.
- Tejan Amadu MansarayTejan Amadu MansarayTejan Amadu Mansaray is a Sierra Leonean politician. He is a member of the All People's Congress party and is one of the representatives in the Parliament of Sierra Leone for Koinadugu District, elected in 2002.-References:...
, member of parliamt of Sierra Leone representing Koinadugu District (APC) - Kadijatu KebbayKadijatu KebbayKadijatu Kebbay is a Sierra Leonean model and beauty queen who won Miss University Sierra Leone 2006 beauty contest and later represented Sierra Leone at the Miss World 2006. She is currently enroled at the Institute of Public Administration & Management in Freetown...
, Sierra Leonean model; Miss University Sierra Leone 2006 winner and represent Sierra Leone at the Miss World 2006 contest. - Sheka Tarawallie, Sierra Leonean journalist and the current Sierra Leone State House Press Secretary to president Koroma
- Alhaji Bomba JawaraBomba JawaraAlhaji Bomba Jawara is a Sierra Leonean politician from the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party and he is currently a member of parliament representing Koinadugu District. He is from the Mandingo ethnic group.-External links:...
, member of parliament of Sierra Leone from Koinadugu District (SLPP) - Harietu Turay, Deputy Sierra Leone National Women's Leader of the SLPP
- Isata Jabbie Kabbah, Sierra Leonean National Women’s Leader of the SLPP and wife of former Sierra Leone president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
- Kanji DaramyKanji DaramyKanji Daramy is a Sierra Leonean journalist and was the spokesman for former Sierra Leone's president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah during his second term as president from 2002-2007. Daramy was the Chairman of Sierra Leone National Telecommunications Commission until 2007 when he was sacked by Sierra Leone's...
, Sierra Leonean journalist and spokesman for former Sierra Leone's president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. He is also the former Chairman of Sierra Leone National Telecommunications Commission. - Brima Dawson KuyatehBrima Dawson KuyatehBrima Dawson Kuyateh is a Sierra Leonean journalist and the current president of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union. Kuyateh belongs to the Mandingo ethnic group.-External links:*http://news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_20055667.shtml...
, Sierra Leonean journalist and the current president of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union - Karamoh KabbaKaramoh KabbaKaramoh Kabba is a Sierra Leonean author, writer, novelist and journalist. He has written several historic account about the Sierra Leone civil war, such as A Mother’s Saga: An Account of the Rebel War in Sierra Leone and the self-published works Lion Mountain and Morquee: A Political Drama of...
, Sierra Leonean author, writer and journalist - SheikhSheikhNot to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Alhaji Fomba Abu Bakarr Swarray, Prominent Sierra Leonean Imam - Mohamed Bayoh, current Sierra Leonean ambassador to Nigeria
- Sitta Umaru TuraySitta Umaru TuraySitta Umaru Turay is a Sierra Leonean journalist and current member of the editorial Board of the Freetown-based Sierra Express newspaper.-External links:*http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/id501.html...
, Sierra Leonean journalist - K-ManK-ManMohamed Saccoh better known by his stage name K-Man is a Sierra Leonean rapper and one of the most famous musician from Sierra Leone. K-Man is known for his soft rap tone...
(born Mohamed Saccoh), Sierra Leonean musician - Alhaji Lansana FadikaLansana FadikaLansana Fadika is a Sierra Leonean international businessman, youth activist and politician. He is the current Sierra Leone People's Party chairman for the Western Area region of Sierra Leone. He won the SLPP Chairman for the Western Area at the party's national convention held in Kenema on March...
, Sierra Leonean businessman and the SLPP current chairman for the Western Area. He is the younger brother of Kemoh Fadika. - Sidique MansaraySidique MansaraySidique Mansaray is a Sierra Leonean footballer, who currently plays as a striker for East End Lions in Sierra Leone National Premier League. He is also a regular member of the Leone Stars, Sierra Leone national football team...
, Sierra Leonean footballer - Lansana BaryohLansana BaryohLansana Baryoh is a Sierra Leonean international footballer who is a midfielder and currently plays for Mighty Blackpool, one of the top clubs in the Sierra Leone National Premier League. He is a member of the Sierra Leone national football team...
, Sierra Leonean footballer - Brima KeitaBrima KeitaBrima Keita is a Sierra Leonean football manager; and he is currently the manager of Sierra Leone National Premier League club, Old Edwardians F.C..-External links:...
, Sierra Leonean football manager - Habib A. Saccoh, U.S GOV-DHS/FEMA: Hydrogeologist/ENV-SPC.
- Mohammed Ali Sesay, Sierra Leonean Hajj manager
Guinea
- Samory ToureSamoriSamory Toure was the founder of the Wassoulou Empire, an Islamic state that resisted French rule in West Africa from 1882 until his capture in 1898.-Early life and career:...
, founder of the Wassoulou Empire, an Islamic military state that resisted French rule in West Africa - Sekou Toure, President of Guinea from 1958–1984; was also the grandson of Samory Toure
- Alpha CondeAlpha CondéAlpha Condé is a Guinean politician who has been President of Guinea since December 2010. He was a political science professor at the University of Paris and spent decades in opposition to a succession of regimes in Guinea, unsuccessfully running against President Lansana Conté in the 1993 and...
, current Guinean President - Sekouba KonateSékouba KonatéBrigadier General Sékouba Konaté is an officer of the Guinean army and formerly served as the Vice President of its military junta, the National Council for Democracy and Development. After attending military academy, he received the nickname "El Tigre" for his action in battle, and gained such...
, Guinean Military leader - Lansana KouyateLansana KouyateLansana Kouyaté is a Guinean diplomat and political figure who served as Prime Minister of Guinea from 2007 to 2008.-Background and earlier career:...
, former prime minister of Guinea - Kabine KomaraKabiné KomaraKabiné Komara was Prime Minister of Guinea from 30 December 2008 to 21 January 2010...
, current Prime Minister of Guinea - Sekouba BambinoSekouba BambinoSekouba "Bambino" Diabaté is the stage name of Sekouba Diabaté, a singer and musician born in Guinea, West Africa in 1964.Bambino was born and raised in the village of Kintinya, some 25 kilometers from the town of Siguiri, close to the border with Mali...
, Guinean musician - Sona Tata CondeSona Tata CondéSona Tata Condé is an internationally recognised Guinean musician. Sona Tata is a member of the Mandinka ethnic group. Sona Tata is widely popular in Guinea, especially in the capital Conakry. Sona Tata Condé recorded her afro-pop album Simbo which is named after her husband, in 2007...
, Guinean musician - Fode MansareFodé MansareFodé Mansaré is a Guinean football winger who is currently playing for French Ligue 1 side Toulouse.Mansaré is highly rated in France and is well known for he tricks and skills, dribbling and play-making abilities...
, Guinean footballer - Daouda JabiDaouda JabiDaouda Jabi is a Guinean footballer. He currently plays for Trabzonspor. A defender, he had played for RC Lens his entire career before moving to AC Ajaccio in the summer of 2005.- External links :**...
, Guinean footballer - Mamadi KabaMamadi Kaba-Club career:At the club level, Kaba currently plays for FC Gueugnon in France. He previously played for AS Kaloum Star.-International career:Kaba was also part of the Guinean 2004 African Nations Cup team, which finished second in its group in the first round of competition, before losing in the...
, Guinean footballer - N'Faly KouyateN'Faly KouyateN'Faly Kouyate is a Guinean musician. He is a member of the Mandinka ethnic group of West Africa. His father was the griot Konkoba Kabinet Kouyate, who lived in Siguiri, Guinea....
, Guinean musician - Kaba DiawaraKaba DiawaraKaba Diawara is a French-born Guinean footballer.- Career :His club career has been quite unstable, having played briefly for three English clubs as well as in Spain and Qatar. Diawara only scored once in English football, despite having three spells there...
, Guinean footballer - Mamady KeïtaMamady KeïtaMamady Keïta is a master drummer from the West African nation of Guinea. He specializes in the goblet-shaped hand drum called djembe. He is also the founder of the Tam Tam Mandingue school of drumming...
, Guinean musician - Mory KanteMory KantéMory Kanté is a vocalist and player of the kora harp. He was born into one of Guinea's best known families of griot musicians...
, Guinean kora musician - Mamady CondeMamady CondéMamady Condé is a Guinean politician and diplomat. Condé was first appointed to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs in March 2004. Being replaced by Fatoumata Kaba on March 8, 2005, Condé was appointed once again as Foreign Minister in 2006, retaining the post until March 2007.-References:...
, Guinean foreign minister from 2004–2007 - Alhassane KeitaAlhassane KeitaAlhassane Keita Otchico , known as Keita, is a Guinean footballer who plays for Al-Shabab Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, as a striker.-Club career:...
, Guinean footballer - Demba Camara, Lengendary lead singer in Bembeya Jazz till 1973
- Sori Kandia, Guinean musician
- Sekou Diabate, Bembeya, Legendary (Guitarist) musician
- Djeli Moussa DiawaraDjeli Moussa DiawaraDjeli Moussa Diawara, [born 1962 in Kankan, Guinea] is a Kora player , a composer, and singer.- Short Biography :Djeli Moussa Diawara was born to a family of the Griot tribe. His father was a balafon player, and his mother a singer...
, Guinean musician (also known as Jali Musa Jawara - 32-stringed KoraKora (instrument)The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
player)
Liberia
- King Sao Bosso Kamara, King Of Kings, one of the founders of Liberia.
- Sekou ConnehSekou ConnehSekou Damate Conneh, Jr. is a Liberian politician and former rebel leader.Born in the Liberian town of Gbarnga to an ethnic Mandingo Muslim family, Conneh attended St. Martin's Cathedral School from 1966 to 1973...
, Liberian politician. - Momolu DukulyMomolu DukulyMomolu Dukuly was a politician in Liberia. He was the second foreign minister under William V.S. Tubman . Dukuly was the first "Native" Liberian to be appointed foreign minister. Dukuly was of Mandingo descent. He was a Muslim in his early life...
, former Liberian foreign minister. - Mohamed Salia Dukuly,Community activist, former Chairperson of Australia Mandingo Association.Hails from Big Geweh Town, Suehn-Mecca District, Bomi County.
- Fomba Kanneh, Current Liberian Senator from Lofa County.
- Amara Konneh, Current Liberian Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs.
- Sheik Kafumba Konneh, Liberia Islamic Scholar and Member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- Loseni Dunzo, Former Liberia Minister Public Works and current adviser to the president for infrastructure.
- Losene Kamara, Former Liberia Finace Minister.
- Molian Jallabah, Current Member of Liberian Parliament representing Voinjama and Quardu-Gboni Districts, Lofa County.
- Musa Bility, Liberia permanent businessman, current president of the Liberia Football Association.
- Professor Alhaji G.V. kromah, journalist, lawyer, politician and currently a professor of mass communication and an instructor at Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia.
- Karmoh soko sackor former associate justice of the supreme court of Liberia
- Abdul Karim Kanneh, Liberian businessman
- Honorable Morris Manjue Kromah, First National Secretary General of the Federation of Liberian Mandingo Associations in the United States of America (FELMAUSA), Founding member of Felmausa, Current President of the Wisconsin Mandingo Association of Milwaukee (WIMAM), Community organizer, Member of the FELMAUSA Medical Mission Trip to Liberia in 2011. Healthcare Practitioner and community activist.
- Sheich Aboubakar Sumaworo, Grand Mufti Of Liberia, Grand Imam Of GurLey Street Mosque.
- Sekou W. Konneh. Professor, head of the Sociology Dept At University Of Liberia.
- Kabineh Ja'neh, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
- Ibrahima Kaba, Former Minister of Commerce, and Transport,
- Ansumana F. Kromah, former Member of National Election Commission and former government Minister,
- Edward Beyan KessellyEdward KessellyEdward Kesselly was a minister in the Cabinet of William R. Tolbert, Jr. in Liberia. During the late 1970s, he headed the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications; President Tolbert appointed him to the ministry on February 3, 1978. His predecessor as head of Posts and Telecommunications, J...
, former government Minister and Politician, - Sekou Kromah, Deputy Minister of Post and Telecommunication.
- Late Major General Beyan Konneh Kesselly, former Commanding General of the Liberian Armed Forces
- Abass Dolleh, Liberian Journalist
- Abraham Bernand Waritay,Liberian Journalist
- Ansu S.Konneh,Liberia Journalist
- Late Chief Musa Gboni Kamara, former Member of Liberian Parliament and Paramount Chief of Quardu Gboni Chiefdom (Now named Quardu Gboni District)
Alhaji Sekou Bility(late) Former Mandingo tribal chief and former Chairman Of the National Muslim Council of Liberia (NMCL)
- Alhaji Ansumana Ayoubah Dukuly (Late) and Most Revered Islamic scholar from Quardu Gboni District, Lofa County.
- King Varflay Kolleh Kamara, King of Upper Green Coast, before the partition of Liberia.
- Sekou Jabateh Oliseh,Footballer,CSKA Moscow,Lone Star
- Nuoho S.M.Kenneth,Prominent Youth Avocate,
- Siaka A.Turay,Prominent Business man,
- Lossenie B. Sheriff, Veteran Liberian Journalist, Sociologist and Politician,
- Morris M. Dukuly, Former Liberian Presidential Affairs Minister and Former Speaker of Liberian Parliament.
- Ahmed K. Sirleaf II,award winning international human rights advocate, public international law, crisis management, and conflict resolution professional.
- Ltg. K. Abe Kromah, former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Of Liberia, former Deputy Director of Police for CID Affairs, and former Deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Maritine of the republic of Liberia
- Anthony Kessely-President of the Union of Liberian Association in the AMERICAS ULAA.
- Honorable Foday Mohamed Kabineh Sirleaf I,revered Islamic scholar, teacher and promiment member of the House of Sirleaf, Bopolu Medina, Gbarpolu County, Republic of Liberia.
- Mohammed Richard Konneh, First Elected President of the federation of Liberian Mandingo Associations in the United States of America.
- Ousman OBE Bamba, Activist, Founder of Movement for Mandingo Justice (MOMAJ).
- Manyou MAS Bility- A youth activist
Gambia
- Alhajj Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, The First President of The Gambia.
- Sheriff Mustapha DibbaSheriff Mustapha DibbaSheriff Mustapha Dibba was a veteran Gambian politician who served as the country's National Assembly speaker from 2002 to 2006. He was also leader of the National Convention Party .-Life:...
, Veteran politician and the First vice President of the Gambia. - Sheriff Saikouba Sisay, Former Governor of The Central Bank of The Gambia & Minister of Finance of The First Republic of The GambiaMinister of Finance (The Gambia)The Minister of Finance is a minister in the Gambian Cabinet who is responsible for the financial management of government affairs, drawing up the budget, and developing economic policy. In 1985, Minister of Finance Saikouba Sisay designed and implemented an Economic Recovery Programme...
- Alhajj Sir Farimang Mamadi Singateh, the second and last Governor General of The Gambia.
- Bakary Bunja Dabo, Former vice president and finance minister from 1987-1994.
- Seni Singhateh, First Dean of the then Gambia school for the blind and disable.
- Ousainou DarboeOusainou DarboeOusainou Darboe is a Gambian human rights lawyer and politician. He is leader of the country's main opposition party, the United Democratic Party ....
, Gambian opposition leader. - Sidia JattaSidia JattaSidia Jatta is a Gambian politician, academic, and writer. Jatta founded the People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism in 1986. He is the editor of the party's newspaper, FOROYAA. He is also a member of the national assembly from Wuli West...
, opposition politician. - Jatto CeesayJatto CeesayJatto Ceesay is a Gambian football striker who currently plays for Cypriot club Othellos Athienou.Ceesay has also played for Wallidan Sens , Willem II Tilburg , Al-Hilal , AEK Larnaca , FC Omniworld and AEP Paphos .-Career:Ceesay started to play football as a small boy with the Gambian...
, Footballer - Foday Musa SusoFoday Musa SusoFoday Musa Suso is a musician and composer from the West African nation of Gambia. He is a member of the Mandinka ethnic group, and is a jali...
, international musician. - Demba Sanyang, Paramount Chief.
- Lalo Kebba Drammeh, Legendary Kora musician till 1973.
- Omar Faderah, Bun Jeng, Muslim scholar and preacher.
- Jali-Kemo Kuyateh, Griot, orator and language expert in Mandinka.
- Bakary kebbaring kamara, Oral historian,orator and language expart in mandinka.
- Kang Kaleefa Jaabi, Renowned Muslim scholar and Qur'anic Translator in Mandinka.
- Wandifeng Jobarteh, Legendary Kora musician and songwriter/composer.
- Foday Kabbah Dumbuya, Warlord and regional chief.
- Mama Tamba Jammeh, Regional chief.
- Sanjally Bojang, Regional chief
- Jaliba kuyateh, famous Gambian musician.
- Edward Singateh, former vice president.
- Hatab Bojang, Gambian Muslim scholar.
- Kunta KinteKunta KinteKunta Kinte is the central character of the novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family by American author Alex Haley, and of the television miniseries Roots, based on the book. Haley described his book as faction - a mixture of fact and fiction...
, one of the most famous first-generation African slaves. - Ba-Kausu Fofana, Muslim scholar and preacher.
- Fah Ceesay, Alkalo of Mandinari.
Mali
- Mansa MusaMansa MusaMusa I , commonly referred to as Mansa Musa, was the tenth mansa, which translates as "king of kings" or "emperor", of the Malian Empire...
, The most famous and celebrated of all the Malian emperors - Sundiata KeitaSundiata KeitaSundiata Keita, Sundjata Keyita, Mari Djata I or just Sundiata was the founder of the Mali Empire and celebrated as a hero of the Malinke people of West Africa in the semi-historical Epic of Sundiata....
, founder of the Mali Empire - Modibo SidibéModibo SidibéModibo Sidibé is a Malian politician who was Prime Minister of Mali from September 2007 to April 2011.-Career:Sidibé, who was born in Bamako, was a police chief before serving as a technical adviser to the Ministry delegated to National Defense from 1986 to 1989; he was then the chief of staff of...
, current Prime Minister of Mali - Modibo KeitaModibo KeïtaModibo Keita ; was the first President of Mali and the Prime Minister of the Mali Federation. He espoused a form of African socialism.-Youth:...
, President of Mali from 1960–1968 - Yoro DiakitéYoro DiakitéYoro Diakité was a Malian politician and military figure. Diakite was the Prime Minister of Mali from 19 November 1968 to 18 September 1969. He died in the Taoudenni prison camp in June 1973.-References:...
, former Malian Prime Minister - Salif KeitaSalif KeitaSalif Keïta is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the Golden Voice of Africa, but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita...
, Malian musician - Daba DiawaraDaba DiawaraDaba Diawara is a Malian politician.Daba Diawara was born in Bamako, son of Gabou Diawara, former minister and political ally of the first president, Modibo Keïta. He pursued his education in public law in Dakar and in Paris, where he received a doctorate at the University of Paris in 1987.After...
, Malian politician - Toumani DiabatéToumani DiabatéToumani Diabaté is a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional music of Mali, he has also been involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles.-Biography:...
, Malian musician - Massa Makan DiabatéMassa Makan DiabatéMassa Makan Diabaté was a Malian historian, author, and playwright.-Biography:Born in 1938 in Kita, Massa Makan Diabaté was the descendant of a long line of West African poets ....
, Malian historian, writer and playwright - Moussa KouyateMoussa KouyateMoussa Kouyate is a kora player from Bamako, Mali. His father, Batrou Sekou Kouyate, was also a prominent kora player.-Biography:In 2003, Moussa Kouate came to Finland to record his album "Finlandiafrica", which was produced by Marco Tikkanen, which has been highly acclaimed in his home country...
, Malian musician - Saidu KeitaSeydou Keita (footballer)Seydou Keita is a Malian footballer who plays for FC Barcelona in Spain and the Malian national team. He also holds a French passport.A versatile midfielder, he can operate as both a central or defensive midfielder.-Marseille:...
, Malian footballer - Baba SissokoBaba SissokoBaba Sissoko is a musician and vocalist. Sissoko is a master of the talking drums...
, Malian musician - Aoua KéitaAoua KéitaAoua Kéita was a Malian independence activist and writer from Mali. She was a member of the African Democratic Rally and has been described as a militant member. In 1950 renounced her French citizenship and in the following year she led to the party's success in elections...
, Malian politician and activist - Mamady SidibeMamady SidibeMamady Sidibe is a Malian footballer who plays for Stoke City as a striker. He has previously played for Swansea City and Gillingham. He has played internationally for Mali, making his debut in 2002.-Early life in France:...
, Malian footballer - Mohamed SissokoMohamed SissokoMohamed Lamine Sissoko Gillan is a French-born Malian footballer who is currently playing for the French Ligue 1 team Paris-Saint Germain and the Malian national team. Although he could have elected to play for France internationally, he chose to play for the country of his descent, Mali...
, Malian footballer - Soumaila CoulibalySoumaila CoulibalySoumaila Coulibaly is a Malian football player who currently plays for Chinese club Yanbian FC.- Career :On 8 July 2009, he signed a one year contract for FSV Frankfurt after being released by Borussia Mönchengladbach...
, Malian footballer - Amadou Toumani ToureAmadou Toumani TouréAmadou Toumani Touré is the president of Mali. He overthrew a military ruler, Moussa Traoré in 1991, then handed power to civilian authorities the next year...
, current President of Mali
Ivory Coast
- Alassane Dramane Ouattara, Current Ivorian President, Former Prime Minister and Former World Bank Executive.
- Henriette DiabatéHenriette DiabatéHenriette Diabaté is an Ivorian politician and writer. A member of the Rally of the Republicans , Diabaté was Minister of Culture from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2000; later, she was Minister of Justice from 2003 to 2005. She has been the Secretary-General of the RDR since 1999.Diabaté was born in...
, Husband Ivorian politician, former government Minister - Kolo TouréKolo TouréKolo Habib Touré is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Manchester City and Ivory Coast. Touré is a central defender. He is the elder brother of Manchester City team-mate Yaya Touré and Makasa's Ibrahim Touré.-Arsenal:...
, Ivorian footballer - Salomon KalouSalomon KalouSalomon Armand Magloire Kalou is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a striker for Chelsea in the Premier League.He is often used on the wings at Chelsea. He has a preference for playing on the left wing as this gives him opportunities to cut inside and take shots with his favoured right foot...
, Ivorian footballer - Arouna KonéArouna KonéArouna Koné is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Levante UD on loan from Sevilla FC in Spain, as a striker.-Early years:Born in Anyama, Koné started his football career with Rio Sport d'Anyama, a club based in his hometown...
, Ivorian footballer - Abdul Kader KeïtaAbdul Kader KeïtaAbdel-Kader Keïta is an Ivorian professional football player. Keïta plays as a winger for Al-Sadd in the Qatar Stars League and the Cote d'Ivoire national football team....
, Ivorian footballer - Bakari KonéBakari KonéBakari Koné is an Ivorian football striker who plays for Qatar League side Lekhwiya.-Early career:Like many other Ivorian stars, he began his career at the famed youth academy at ASEC Mimosas, run by Frenchman Jean-Marc Guillou in his home country. Guillou recalls: "One day, when I was passing...
, Ivorian footballer - Bonaventure Kalou, Ivorian footballer
- Muhammeh Jah, The Gambian Businessman of The Year for many years
- Alpha BlondyAlpha BlondyAlpha Blondy is a reggae singer and international recording artist. Alpha Blondy was born Seydou Koné in Dimbokro, Côte d'Ivoire. He sings mainly in his native language of Dioula, in French and English, and sometimes in Arabic or Hebrew...
, Ivorian (Reggae) musician. - Aicha Kone, Ivorian (Lead singer) musician.
- Yaya ToureYaya TouréGnégnéri Yaya Touré , commonly known as Yaya Touré, is an Ivorian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Côte d'Ivoire national side...
, Ivorian footballer - Douk Saga, Ivorian musician
- Late Dr. Balla Keita, Former Ivorian Minister of Higher Education and Politician
Senegal
- Seckou KeitaSeckou KeitaSeckou Keita is a kora player and drummer from Senegal. He is a charismatic live performer and one of the few champions of the less-known and rhythmically rocking kora repertoire from Casamance in southern Senegal....
, Senegalese musician - Souleymane DiawaraSouleymane DiawaraSouleymane Diawara is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a central defender for Olympique Marseille and the Senegal national team.-Career:...
, Senegalese footballer - Alhajj Sidia Jaabi, Muslim scholar in Cassamance.
- Ansumana Manneh (Nghansu Masing), Warlord and regional chief in Cassamance.
- Babou Jobarteh, Lengendary Kora musician in Cassamance
Burkina Faso
- Amadou CoulibalyAmadou CoulibalyAmadou Tinder Coulibaly is a Burkinabé football player who currently plays for He plays as a right back.-Club career:...
, Burkinabé footballer - Cheick KongoCheick KongoCheick Guillaume Ouedraogo , more commonly known as Cheick Kongo, is a professional French heavyweight mixed martial artist and kickboxer currently fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
, Burkinabé mixed martial artist - General Lamizana President
- Colonel Saye Zerbo Head of Sate from 1980 to 1982
- General Ali Traore, Chief Defence Force
- General Honoré Traore, Chief Defence Force
- Colonel Mamadou Traore, Chief of Staff of National Gendarmerie
- Late Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Political Leader and Historian
See also
- Mali EmpireMali EmpireThe Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...
- KaabuKaabuThe Kaabu Empire was a Mandinka Kingdom of Senegambia that rose to prominence in the region thanks to its origins as a former province of the Mali Empire...
- MandéMandéMandé or Manden is a large group of related ethnic groups in West Africa who speak any of the many Mande languages spread throughout the region. Various Mandé groups are found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Chad, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,...
- Mande languagesMande languagesThe Mande languages are spoken in several countries in West Africa by the Mandé people and include Mandinka, Soninke, Bambara, Bissa, Dioula, Kagoro, Bozo, Mende, Susu, Yacouba, Vai, and Ligbi...
- Manding languagesManding languagesThe Manding languages are a fairly mutually intelligible group of dialects or languages in West Africa, belonging to the Mande languages. Their best-known members are Bambara, the most widely spoken language in Mali; Mandinka, the main language of Gambia; Maninka or Malinké, a major language of...
- Mandinka languageMandinka languageThe Mandinka language is a Mandé language spoken by millions of Mandinka people in Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau and Chad; it is the main language of The Gambia. It belongs to the Manding branch of Mandé, and is thus fairly...
- DjembeDjembeA djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....
- GriotGriotA griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
- Kora (instrument)Kora (instrument)The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
- Mane, Malian SoldiersMane, Malian SoldiersThe Manneh were in origin Mandé [nyancho jong kende falla] soldiers who invaded the western coast of Africa from the east during the first half of the sixteenth century...
Further reading
- Robert W. Nicholls. The Mocko Jumbie of the U.S. Virgin Islands; History and Antecedents. African Arts, Vol. 32, No. 3 (Autumn, 1999), pp. 48–61+94-96
- Matt Schaffer (Editor). Djinns, Stars and Warriors: Mandinka Legends from Pakao, Senegal (African Sources for African History, 5) (African Sources for African History, 5). Brill Academic Publishers (2003) ISBN 9789004131248
- Matt Schaffer. Bound to Africa: The Mandinka Legacy in The New World. History in Africa 32 (2005) 321-369
- Robert J. Mundt. Historical Dictionary of the Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire). Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ - Kondon (1987) pp. 98–99
- Lucie Gallistel Colvin. Historical Dictionary of Senegal. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ - Kondon (1981) pp. 216–217
- Pascal James Imperato. Historical Dictionary of Mali. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ - Kondon (1986) pp. 190–191
- ETHNOLOGUE Languages of the World- Thirteenth Edition (1996).
External links
- Mandinka
- Malinke
- A website devoted to Mandinka djembe drumming
- A UK based website devoted to playing Malinke djembe rhythms
- The Ethnologue page for this people group
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