Mandinka people
Mandinka people are an ethnic group indigenous to West Africa, primarily residing in the countries of Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau. They are the largest ethnic group in Gambia and have a significant presence in other West African nations. The Mandinka people are part of the larger Mande ethnic group, which also includes the Bambara and Malinke peoples.
History[edit | edit source]
The Mandinka people trace their origins back to the Mali Empire, one of the most powerful empires in West African history. The empire was founded in the 13th century by Sundiata Keita, a Mandinka prince. The Mali Empire was known for its wealth and influence, particularly during the reign of Mansa Musa, who made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca in the 14th century.
Culture[edit | edit source]
The Mandinka people have a rich cultural heritage, with traditions in music, dance, and storytelling. The griot is a key figure in Mandinka culture, serving as a historian, storyteller, praise singer, and advisor to the community. Griots are known for their mastery of the kora, a 21-string lute-bridge-harp used extensively in West African music.
Mandinka society is traditionally organized into castes, with distinct roles for nobles, tradesmen, and griots. This social structure has been largely maintained, despite the influence of Islam and Western culture.
Religion[edit | edit source]
The majority of Mandinka people are Muslim, with Islam playing a significant role in their cultural and social life. However, traditional African religions and beliefs continue to influence their worldview, with many Mandinka people practicing a syncretic form of Islam that incorporates elements of traditional African spirituality.
Language[edit | edit source]
The Mandinka people speak Mandinka, a Mande language that is part of the larger Niger-Congo language family. Mandinka is spoken by millions of people across West Africa and has several dialects.
Cuisine[edit | edit source]
Mandinka cuisine is based on staple foods like rice, millet, and peanuts, with dishes often featuring meat, fish, and vegetables. A popular Mandinka dish is Domoda, a peanut stew served with rice.
This African ethnic group related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
