The Mandinka

The Mandinka, also known as the Malinke, are a prominent ethnic group in West Africa, primarily found in countries such as Mali, The Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau. With a population of approximately 11 million, they are the largest subgroup of the Mandé people, one of the most significant ethnolinguistic groups in the region. The Mandinka speak various Manding languages, which are part of the larger Mande language family, and these languages serve as a lingua franca in much of West Africa.

Historically, the Mandinka are descendants of the Mali Empire, one of the most powerful empires in African history, which flourished between the 13th and 16th centuries. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita, whose rule helped establish the Mandinka as a dominant force in West Africa. The Mandinka people migrated westward from the Niger River, seeking fertile lands and opportunities for conquest, eventually settling across a broad region of West Africa. Today, the Mandinka are most concentrated in Mali, Guinea, and The Gambia, though they also live in parts of Senegal and Guinea-Bissau.

The Mandinka are predominantly Sunni Muslims, with almost the entire population adhering to Islam, practicing it according to the Maliki school of jurisprudence. Their religious practices are deeply embedded in their cultural traditions. As a primarily rural group, most Mandinka people are subsistence farmers, growing crops such as millet, rice, and maize. Their communities typically live in family-based compounds, where social organization is structured around a chief and a council of elders.

Traditionally, the Mandinka have a strong oral culture. Griots, or storytellers, play a vital role in preserving the history, genealogies, and myths of the people. Mandinka culture, including their music and folklore, has had a lasting impact on the African diaspora, particularly influencing communities in the Americas due to the transatlantic slave trade.