Mandinka

Mandinka, also known as Malinke or Mandingo, is a West African ethnic group and one of the principal subdivisions of the Mande peoples. They are concentrated in The Gambia, Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Ivory Coast, with smaller communities in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The Mandinka are among the region's significant populations, though exact numbers vary by source.

Mandinka language, also called Mandingo or Malinke, is part of the Mande branch of the Niger-Congo language family. It has several dialects corresponding to geographic areas. It is commonly spoken across Mandinka communities and is used in education and media in some countries; written forms typically employ Latin script, with Arabic script used historically in religious contexts.

Historically, Mandinka identity is linked to the rise of the Mali Empire in the 13th century, and to other states in the region. The Mandinka have produced noted rulers, merchants, scholars, and griots who maintain oral histories. The jeli (griot) tradition preserves genealogies, histories, and praise poetry through generations.

Musical culture is notable for instruments such as the kora and balafon, and for the griot tradition. Social organization centers on extended family networks and lineage. Initiation rites, marriage customs, and religious practices reflect a synthesis of Islam and indigenous beliefs; Sufi orders are important in many communities.

Today, Mandinka communities are present primarily in The Gambia, Mali, Guinea, and neighboring countries. They are predominantly Muslim, with varied rites and local customs. The Mandinka have contributed to West African music, art, and trade, and diaspora communities maintain linguistic and cultural ties to the Mandinka homeland.