Mandaadid

Mandaadid is a traditional ceremonial practice of the Mandaa people, described as a seasonal festival that blends music, dance, and storytelling. The central element is the mandaadid mask, a carved wooden mask decorated with natural pigments and fibers, believed to channel ancestral voices during the performance. Masks are worn by a lead dancer who interacts with a chorus of participants, guiding the narrative of the ritual.

The term mandaadid is thought to originate from the Mandaa language, with a meaning loosely interpreted as “voice of the people” or “memory awakening.” The practice typically unfolds in a village plaza or communal clearing, beginning with the preparation of masks and drums by elder artisans and followed by a procession lit by oil lamps. The accompanying chants are performed in a call-and-response style, recounting local history, moral teachings, and genealogies.

Historically, mandaadid is said to date back several centuries and exhibits regional variations in choreography, mask design, and musical accompaniment. In modern times, the festival has faced pressures from urban migration and shifting cultural norms, but preservation efforts by communities and cultural organizations have supported its continuation through workshops, public performances, and intergenerational teaching.

Today, mandaadid remains an important mechanism for intergenerational knowledge transfer and communal identity, linking younger generations with traditional memory, language, and ceremonial practice while adapting to contemporary cultural contexts.