(203) 554-2385 
About the Mandinkas/ Mandingos of West Africa
| A widespread ethnic group throughout Senegal, Gambia, Mali, and Guinea, the Mandinkas (also caled Mandingo and Malinke, a Mende tribe) are a group of Africans that historically encompassed royalty, artisans, and slaves.  |
| It is believed that the conversion to Islam for Mandinkas began among upper classes in the Senegambia region. Today, almost one hundred percent of the Mandinka are Muslim. However, especially in many rural villages, the conversion has been blended with traditional beliefs, preserving many animist beliefs, especially within the artisan class. While the majority of Mandinkas are farmers, there is also a significant number of musicians and mask/craftsmen. Mandinkas are lauded for their use of the 21-string Kora as a means of passing down important historical information orally. Many Mandinka sculptures and masks are crafted from calabash and goatskin, the same components of this famous West African instrument. Mandinkas occasionally embellish their masks or sculptures with cowrie shells. Mandinka mask makers often carve warrior-like depictions of their tribe, as the Mandinka people are known as courageous fighters. Though accounts state that many Mandinkas fought bravely, their skills were no match for foreign invaders associated with the American and European slave trade. Nearly one-third of this prominent West African tribe ended up on the slave ships, headed to new worlds. Because a large population of American slaves brought to America were from the Mandinka tribe, it is estimated that a considerable amount of today’s African-Americans are, at the least, partial Mandinka descendants. Every other year, in the small West African country of The Gambia, a Roots Festival is held to celebrate a homecoming for American and European visitors who wish to reconnect with their roots. |
Over the last century, the Mandinkas have turned out many famous musicians and footballers (soccer players). Perhaps the most famous Mandinka was Kunta Kinte, an icon from which Alex Haley claims to have descended in his famous book Roots. Though known historically as warriors, today’s Mandinka are most commonly associated with their dedication to their religion, culture and music.
Today, most rural Mandinka villages still practice many long-standing cultural traditions and rituals, many of which are celebrated with day- or week-long festivities. For some villages, these practices include arranged marriages, male and female circumcision, polygamy, wrestling, and spiritual healing performed by marabouts.
Many of the African statues and masks created by modern-day craftsmen stem from Mandinka culture, heritage and stories. Visitors to West Africa often pick up handcrafted Mandinka artifacts, such as miniature Kora instruments, wooden weekday masks, and silver rings or leather pouches with Arabic spiritual script sealed inside.
