Mandingo people of Sierra Leone
Encyclopedia
The Mandinka people of Sierra Leone (commonly referred to as Mandingo or Mandinka) is a major ethnic group
in Sierra Leone
and they are the descendants of Mandinka
settlers from Guinea
who migrated
to Sierra Leone between 1840 to about 1900. The Mandingo officially constitute 7.8% of Sierra Leone's population and they are members of the Mandinka people
of West Africa
with whom they share the same culture
and language
. The Mandingo are Muslim
at over 99% and Islam
dominates the religious and cultural practices.
The Mandingo people of Sierra Leone are predominantly traders and rural subsistence farmer
. Mandingo children are given their name on the seventh day after their birth, and their children are almost always named after a very important person in their family.
Sierra Leone's third president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
is one of several prominent Sierra Leoneans from the Mandingo ethnic group.
The Mandingo people of Sierra Leone speak the Mandinka language
(also known as the Mandingo language) as their native language to each other. The Mandinka language is spoken by millions of Mandinka people
in Mali
, Senegal
, The Gambia
, Guinea
, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso
, Liberia
, Guinea-Bissau
and Chad
; it is the main language of The Gambia. It belongs to the Manding
branch of Mandé, and is thus fairly similar to Bambara
.
The Mandingo are found in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone, but their population is largely concentrated in Koinadugu District
in the North, particularly in the cities of Kabala
and Falaba
where they form the largest ethnic group. The Mandingo also make up the majority of the population of Yengema
, the second largest city in Kono District
in Eastern Sierra Leone.
In 1875, Samori Ture was able to import breech-loading rifles through British
colony Sierra Leone. By 1876, Samori's Mandinka warrior
s had defeated the Limba
led by Almamy Suluku
and had conquered
a large territory in Limba areas in northern Sierra Leone. The Mandinka warriors then moved into the northeastern part of British colony Sierra Leone where they occupied lands of the local Temne and Loko people
led by Bai Bureh
. Samori forced the local Sierra Leonean people in the area to abandon their animist beliefs and to convert to Islam
or face death
. He took the title of "Almany", chief of all Believers. By late 1876, the Mandinka warriors had occupied a large section in northeastern Sierra Leone.
In 1875, Samori sent thousands of Mandinka people from the Wassoulou empire in central Guinea to Mandinka-occupied northeastern Sierra Leone as traders, farmers, and settlers. By late 1878, the Mandinka population from Guinea had tripled in British controlled Sierra Leone.
By the late 19th and early 20th century, many of Samori's Mandinka traders in Sierra Leone were now second generation Sierra Leonean born and were considered Sierra Leonean citizens by the British. The Mandinka, who were now known as Mandingo by the British, were found in many parts of Sierra Leone, including in the capital Freetown
which was largely dominated by the Krio people.
Today the Mandingo, along with the Fula
and Susu people
, face prejudice
and discrimination
by other Sierra Leonean ethnic groups, particularly by the Temne and Limba who view them as land invaders. This has led to ethnic tensions between these ethnic groups. The Mandingo generally do not get along with the Temne people, and the two ethnic groups are major rivals. In 2004 a major ethnic riot broke out in Koinadugu District between the Mandingo and Limba over land disputes.
of Sierra Leone. The Mandingo have traditionally supported the Sierra Leone People's Party
(SLPP), which ruled the country as recently as 2007. During the SLPP administration of Sierra Leone's third president Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
, who is from the Mandingo ethnic group himself, the Mandingo people enjoy strong influence in the government and the civil service
.The First Chairman and Leader Of The All Peoples Congress (APC) [*Alhaji Chief A.Mucktarru Kallay]] who is from the Mandinka ethnic group.The current Sierra Leone government of president Ernest Bai Koroma
of the All People's Congress
(APC) employ several ethnic Mandingo in some top government positions. Some senior positions in the Sierra Leone government currently held by ethnic Mandingo include the Sierra Leone Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Haja Afsatu Kabba
; Sierra Leone deputy Minister of Trade and industry Mabinty Daramy
; Sierra Leone Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohamed Kemoh Fadika; Sierra Leone Ambassador to Belgium
Fode Dabo
; Sierra leone Ambassador to Guinea
Alhaji Shekuba Saccoh
, Sierra Leone State House Press Secretary Sheka Tarawallie; Sierra Leone Minister of Labor and Employment Minkailu Mansaray
; Sierra Leone Ambassador to Nigeria Mohamed Bayoh; Director of the Sierra Leone Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Neneh Dabo
.
ic schools for children where this is taught are quite more common. Mandinka children are given their name on the seventh day after their birth.
The Mandingoa have a rich oral history that is passed down through griot
s. This passing down of oral history through music has made music one of the most distinctive traits of the Mandinka. They have long been known for their drumming and also for their unique musical instrument, the kora
. The kora is a twenty-one-stringed guitar-like instrument made out of a halved, dried, hollowed-out gourd covered with cow or goat skin. The strings are made of fishing line. It is played to accompany a person into the meaning of death so the first reconig ca go in peace to the fantom place.
A Mandinka religious and cultural site under consideration for World Heritage status is located in Guinea
at Gberedou/Hamana.
or groom. This practice is particularly prevalent in the rural areas. Kola nuts, a bitter nut from a tree, are formally sent by the suitor's family to the male elders of the bride-to-be, and if accepted, the courtship begins.
Polygamy
has been practiced among the Mandinka since pre-Islamic days. A Mandinka man is legally allowed to have up to four wives, as long as he is able to care for each of them equally. Mandinka believe the crowning glory of any woman is the ability to produce children, especially sons. The first wife has authority over any subsequent wives. The husband has complete control over his wives and is responsible for feeding and clothing them. He also helps the wives' parents when necessary. Wives are expected to live together in harmony
, at least superficially. They share work responsibilities of the compound, cooking, laundry, etc.
and female genital cutting
), in separate groups according to their sex. In years past, the children spent up to a year in the bush, but that has been reduced now to coincide with their physical healing time, between three and four weeks. This group of children form a special, internal bond, one which remains throughout life.
During this time, they learn about their adult social responsibilities and rules of behaviour. They learn secret songs which teach them what it is to be a Mandinka. These songs teach them how they are to relate to members of the opposite sex, including their parents, their siblings, their relatives, and eventually their vaginas spouses, as well as their elders and their peers. They are cared for and taught by elders of the same sex; these persons become their life-long sponsors, a very special relationship.
Great preparation is made in the village or compound for the return of the children. A huge celebration marks the return of these new adults to their families. The children are given new clothes and treated with new respect by their elders. Boys and girls are honoured with a dance.
As a result of these traditional teachings, in marriage a woman's loyalty remains to her parents and her family; a man's to his.
. .
Mandinkas will recite chapters of the Qu'ran in Arabic.
Most Mandinka practice a mix of Islam and traditional superstitious practices. These spirits can be controlled only through the power of a marabout, who knows the protective formulas.
No important decision is made without first consulting the marabout. Marabouts, who have Islamic training, write Qu'ranic verses on slips of paper and sew them into leather pouches; these are then sold and worn as protective amulets by men, women, and children.
The few Mandinkas who convert to Christianity
are viewed as traitors to Mandinka society. Often they are driven from their compounds and villages, rejected by their families.
s who rely on groundnuts, rice, millet, and small-scale husbandry for their livelihood. The oldest male is the head of the family and marriages are commonly arranged. Small mud houses with conical thatch or tin roofs make up their villages, which are organized on the basis of the clan groups.
During the rainy season men plant peanuts as their main cash crop; peanuts are also a staple of the Mandinka diet. Men also plant millet and corn, mostly for family consumption.
Women work in the rice fields, tending the plants by hand. This is extremely labour-intensive and physically demanding work. Only about 50% of the rice consumption needs are met by local planting; the rest is imported from Asia and the United States.
While farming is the predominant profession among the Mandinka, men also work as tailors, butchers, taxi drivers, woodworkers, metalworkers, soldiers, nurses, and extenion workers for aid agencies. However, most women, probably 95%, remain in the home as wives and mothers.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
and they are the descendants of Mandinka
Mandinka people
The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....
settlers from Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
who migrated
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
to Sierra Leone between 1840 to about 1900. The Mandingo officially constitute 7.8% of Sierra Leone's population and they are members of the Mandinka people
Mandinka people
The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....
of West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
with whom they share the same culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
and language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
. The Mandingo are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
at over 99% and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
dominates the religious and cultural practices.
The Mandingo people of Sierra Leone are predominantly traders and rural subsistence farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
. Mandingo children are given their name on the seventh day after their birth, and their children are almost always named after a very important person in their family.
Sierra Leone's third president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992...
is one of several prominent Sierra Leoneans from the Mandingo ethnic group.
The Mandingo people of Sierra Leone speak the Mandinka language
Mandinka language
The Mandinka language is a Mandé language spoken by millions of Mandinka people in Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau and Chad; it is the main language of The Gambia. It belongs to the Manding branch of Mandé, and is thus fairly...
(also known as the Mandingo language) as their native language to each other. The Mandinka language is spoken by millions of Mandinka people
Mandinka people
The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....
in Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, The Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
and Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
; it is the main language of The Gambia. It belongs to the Manding
Manding languages
The Manding languages are a fairly mutually intelligible group of dialects or languages in West Africa, belonging to the Mande languages. Their best-known members are Bambara, the most widely spoken language in Mali; Mandinka, the main language of Gambia; Maninka or Malinké, a major language of...
branch of Mandé, and is thus fairly similar to Bambara
Bambara language
Bambara, more correctly known as Bamanankan , its designation in the language itself , is a language spoken in Mali by as many as six million people...
.
The Mandingo are found in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone, but their population is largely concentrated in Koinadugu District
Koinadugu District
Koinadugu District Is a District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. It is by far the largest District in Sierra Leone in geographical area. Its capital and largest city is Kabala, which is also one of the main cities in Northern Sierra Leone...
in the North, particularly in the cities of Kabala
Kabala, Sierra Leone
Kabala is the capital and largest town of Koinadugu District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone, with a population of 14,108 in the 2004 census, and a current estimate of 18,770 Kabala is one of the main cities in northern Sierra Leone and is set in a rural landscape...
and Falaba
Falaba
Falaba is a former town in the Solima area, Koinadugu District of the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. The population of Falaba is largely from the Mandingo and Kuranko ethnic groups. The village is largely muslim.-History:...
where they form the largest ethnic group. The Mandingo also make up the majority of the population of Yengema
Yengema
Yengema is the second largest town in Kono District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, lying about 18 miles west of Koidu Town , and about 264 miles east of Freetown. The major industry in Yengema is diamond mining. The town had a population of 3,621 in the 2004 census, with a 2007 estimate...
, the second largest city in Kono District
Kono District
Kono District is a district in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is Koidu Town. The other major towns in the district include Yengema, Tombodu, Motema, Jaiama-Nimokoro and Sewafe. Kono District is the largest diamond producer in Sierra Leone.The population of Kono...
in Eastern Sierra Leone.
History of the Sierra Leonean Mandingo people
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colony Sierra Leone. By 1876, Samori's Mandinka warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
s had defeated the Limba
Limba people (Sierra Leone)
The Limba people is a major ethnic group in the Republic of Sierra Leone. They form the third largest ethnic group in the country, about 8.5% of Sierra Leone's total population ....
led by Almamy Suluku
Almamy Suluku
Almamy Suluku was a powerful Limba ruler from Sierra Leone who maintained his independence as long as possible through brilliant political strategy.-Early life:...
and had conquered
Conquest (military)
Conquest is the act of military subjugation of an enemy by force of arms. One example is the Norman conquest of England, which provided the subjugation of the Kingdom of England and the acquisition of the English crown by William the Conqueror in 1066...
a large territory in Limba areas in northern Sierra Leone. The Mandinka warriors then moved into the northeastern part of British colony Sierra Leone where they occupied lands of the local Temne and Loko people
Loko people
The Loko are one of the indigenous ethnic groups in Sierra Leone. They speak a Mande language that is also called Loko. The majority of the Loko people live in or around the capital city of Freetown and in the Northern Province of the country, particularly in Port Loko District. The Loko were among...
led by Bai Bureh
Bai Bureh
Bai Bureh was a Sierra Leonean ruler and military strategist who led the Temne and Loko uprising against British rule in 1898 in Northern Sierra Leone.-Early life:...
. Samori forced the local Sierra Leonean people in the area to abandon their animist beliefs and to convert to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
or face death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. He took the title of "Almany", chief of all Believers. By late 1876, the Mandinka warriors had occupied a large section in northeastern Sierra Leone.
In 1875, Samori sent thousands of Mandinka people from the Wassoulou empire in central Guinea to Mandinka-occupied northeastern Sierra Leone as traders, farmers, and settlers. By late 1878, the Mandinka population from Guinea had tripled in British controlled Sierra Leone.
By the late 19th and early 20th century, many of Samori's Mandinka traders in Sierra Leone were now second generation Sierra Leonean born and were considered Sierra Leonean citizens by the British. The Mandinka, who were now known as Mandingo by the British, were found in many parts of Sierra Leone, including in the capital Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
which was largely dominated by the Krio people.
Today the Mandingo, along with the Fula
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
and Susu people
Susu people
The Soso are a major Mande ethnic group living primarily in Guinea. Smaller communities are also located in the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone, Senegal and Mali. The Susu are descendants of the thirteenth century Mali Empire...
, face prejudice
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
and discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
by other Sierra Leonean ethnic groups, particularly by the Temne and Limba who view them as land invaders. This has led to ethnic tensions between these ethnic groups. The Mandingo generally do not get along with the Temne people, and the two ethnic groups are major rivals. In 2004 a major ethnic riot broke out in Koinadugu District between the Mandingo and Limba over land disputes.
Politics
The Mandingo have played an important role in the politicsPolitics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
of Sierra Leone. The Mandingo have traditionally supported the Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:...
(SLPP), which ruled the country as recently as 2007. During the SLPP administration of Sierra Leone's third president Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992...
, who is from the Mandingo ethnic group himself, the Mandingo people enjoy strong influence in the government and the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
.The First Chairman and Leader Of The All Peoples Congress (APC) [*Alhaji Chief A.Mucktarru Kallay]] who is from the Mandinka ethnic group.The current Sierra Leone government of president Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma is the fourth and current President of Sierra Leone. He was sworn in as President on 17 September 2007 at the State House in the capital Freetown, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off in the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential election with 54.6% of the vote over...
of the All People's Congress
All People's Congress
The All People's Congress is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, the other is the Sierra Leone People's Party . The party was founded in 1960 by Pa Mucktarru Kallay, Allieu Badarr Koroma,Alhaji Sheik Gibril Sesay C A Kamara-Taylor, S A T Koroma and Abu Bakarr S Bangura...
(APC) employ several ethnic Mandingo in some top government positions. Some senior positions in the Sierra Leone government currently held by ethnic Mandingo include the Sierra Leone Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Haja Afsatu Kabba
Haja Afsatu Kabba
A controversial political figure to be investigated for alleged corruption by the conntry's Anti Corruption Commission. Only last week her 'corrupt' practices in offices were openly criticised by no less a person than her own deputy in the Marine Resources ministry, Oya Sankoh.Haja Afsatu Kabba is...
; Sierra Leone deputy Minister of Trade and industry Mabinty Daramy
Mabinty Daramy
Mabinty Daramy is a Sierra Leonean politician who is currently Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry. She is a member of the Mandingo ethnic group.She has 3 children Hassan 16, Ibrahim 15, and Sahid 8.-External links:...
; Sierra Leone Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohamed Kemoh Fadika; Sierra Leone Ambassador to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Fode Dabo
Fode Dabo
Fode Dabo is a Sierra Leonean diplomat who is currently Sierra Leone's ambassador to Belgium. He is also Sierra Leone's ambassador to France, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, and the Holy See. Dabo is a Muslim and hails from the Mandingo ethnic group....
; Sierra leone Ambassador to Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
Alhaji Shekuba Saccoh
Alhaji Shekuba Saccoh
Alhaji Shekuba Saccoh is a Sierra Leonean diplomat and the current Sierra Leone's ambassador to Guinea. He was appointed to the position by president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah...
, Sierra Leone State House Press Secretary Sheka Tarawallie; Sierra Leone Minister of Labor and Employment Minkailu Mansaray
Minkailu Mansaray
Minkailu Mansaray is a Sierra Leonean politician and the country's Minister of Labour, Employment and Social security. Mansaray had served as a member of the Parliament of Sierra Leone representing the Western Area Rural District in 2002-2005. He is a member of the Mandingo ethnic group.-External...
; Sierra Leone Ambassador to Nigeria Mohamed Bayoh; Director of the Sierra Leone Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Neneh Dabo
Neneh Dabo
Neneh Dabo is a Sierra Leonean civil servant. She is the Director of Corruption Prevention and Community Relations of the Sierra Leone Anti-corruption Commission ....
.
Mandingo culture
Mandingo culture is rich in tradition, music, and spiritual ritual. Mandingo continue a long oral history tradition through stories, songs and proverbs. In rural areas, western education's impact is minimal; the literacy rate in Roman script among these Mandinka is quite low. However, more than half the adult population can read the local Arabic script; small Qur'anQur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
ic schools for children where this is taught are quite more common. Mandinka children are given their name on the seventh day after their birth.
The Mandingoa have a rich oral history that is passed down through griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
s. This passing down of oral history through music has made music one of the most distinctive traits of the Mandinka. They have long been known for their drumming and also for their unique musical instrument, the kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
. The kora is a twenty-one-stringed guitar-like instrument made out of a halved, dried, hollowed-out gourd covered with cow or goat skin. The strings are made of fishing line. It is played to accompany a person into the meaning of death so the first reconig ca go in peace to the fantom place.
A Mandinka religious and cultural site under consideration for World Heritage status is located in Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
at Gberedou/Hamana.
Customs of the Mandingo
Most Mandinkas live in family-related compounds in traditional rural villages. Mandinka villages are fairly autonomous and self-ruled, being led by a council of upper class elders and a chief who functions as a first among equals.Marriage
Marriages are traditionally arranged by family members rather than either the brideBride
A bride is a woman about to be married or newlywed.The word may come from the Proto-Germanic verb root *brū-, meaning 'to cook, brew, or make a broth' which was the role of the daughter-in-law in primitive families...
or groom. This practice is particularly prevalent in the rural areas. Kola nuts, a bitter nut from a tree, are formally sent by the suitor's family to the male elders of the bride-to-be, and if accepted, the courtship begins.
Polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
has been practiced among the Mandinka since pre-Islamic days. A Mandinka man is legally allowed to have up to four wives, as long as he is able to care for each of them equally. Mandinka believe the crowning glory of any woman is the ability to produce children, especially sons. The first wife has authority over any subsequent wives. The husband has complete control over his wives and is responsible for feeding and clothing them. He also helps the wives' parents when necessary. Wives are expected to live together in harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
, at least superficially. They share work responsibilities of the compound, cooking, laundry, etc.
Passage into adulthood
The Mandinka practise a rite of passage which marks the beginning of adulthood for their children. At an age between four and fourteen, the youngsters have their genitalia ritually cut (see articles on maleCircumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
and female genital cutting
Female genital cutting
Female genital mutilation , also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is defined by the World Health Organization as "all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons."FGM...
), in separate groups according to their sex. In years past, the children spent up to a year in the bush, but that has been reduced now to coincide with their physical healing time, between three and four weeks. This group of children form a special, internal bond, one which remains throughout life.
During this time, they learn about their adult social responsibilities and rules of behaviour. They learn secret songs which teach them what it is to be a Mandinka. These songs teach them how they are to relate to members of the opposite sex, including their parents, their siblings, their relatives, and eventually their vaginas spouses, as well as their elders and their peers. They are cared for and taught by elders of the same sex; these persons become their life-long sponsors, a very special relationship.
Great preparation is made in the village or compound for the return of the children. A huge celebration marks the return of these new adults to their families. The children are given new clothes and treated with new respect by their elders. Boys and girls are honoured with a dance.
As a result of these traditional teachings, in marriage a woman's loyalty remains to her parents and her family; a man's to his.
Religious and spiritual beliefs
Today, over 99% of Mandinka are MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. .
Mandinkas will recite chapters of the Qu'ran in Arabic.
Most Mandinka practice a mix of Islam and traditional superstitious practices. These spirits can be controlled only through the power of a marabout, who knows the protective formulas.
No important decision is made without first consulting the marabout. Marabouts, who have Islamic training, write Qu'ranic verses on slips of paper and sew them into leather pouches; these are then sold and worn as protective amulets by men, women, and children.
The few Mandinkas who convert to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
are viewed as traitors to Mandinka society. Often they are driven from their compounds and villages, rejected by their families.
Economy
Mandinka are rural subsistence farmerFarmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s who rely on groundnuts, rice, millet, and small-scale husbandry for their livelihood. The oldest male is the head of the family and marriages are commonly arranged. Small mud houses with conical thatch or tin roofs make up their villages, which are organized on the basis of the clan groups.
During the rainy season men plant peanuts as their main cash crop; peanuts are also a staple of the Mandinka diet. Men also plant millet and corn, mostly for family consumption.
Women work in the rice fields, tending the plants by hand. This is extremely labour-intensive and physically demanding work. Only about 50% of the rice consumption needs are met by local planting; the rest is imported from Asia and the United States.
While farming is the predominant profession among the Mandinka, men also work as tailors, butchers, taxi drivers, woodworkers, metalworkers, soldiers, nurses, and extenion workers for aid agencies. However, most women, probably 95%, remain in the home as wives and mothers.
Politicians
- Alhaji Ahmad Tejan KabbahAhmad Tejan KabbahAlhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992...
, President of Sierra Leone from 1996–2007 - Sorie Ibrahim KoromaSorie Ibrahim KoromaSorie Ibrahim Koroma commonly known as S.I. Koroma is a former Sierra Leonean politician, labor activist and one of the founding members of the All People's Congress , one of Sierra Leone's most dominant political party...
, Vice president of Sierra Leone from 1971 to 1985 - [Alhaji Chief A.MucktarruKallay,Chairman and Leader Of The All Peoples Congress(APC)Mar-Oct1960
- Haja Afsatu KabbaHaja Afsatu KabbaA controversial political figure to be investigated for alleged corruption by the conntry's Anti Corruption Commission. Only last week her 'corrupt' practices in offices were openly criticised by no less a person than her own deputy in the Marine Resources ministry, Oya Sankoh.Haja Afsatu Kabba is...
, current Sierra Leone's Minister of Marine Resources and Fisheries - Mohamed Kemoh Fadika, current Sierra Leone's ambassador to Iran
- Mabinty DaramyMabinty DaramyMabinty Daramy is a Sierra Leonean politician who is currently Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry. She is a member of the Mandingo ethnic group.She has 3 children Hassan 16, Ibrahim 15, and Sahid 8.-External links:...
, current Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry - Minkailu MansarayMinkailu MansarayMinkailu Mansaray is a Sierra Leonean politician and the country's Minister of Labour, Employment and Social security. Mansaray had served as a member of the Parliament of Sierra Leone representing the Western Area Rural District in 2002-2005. He is a member of the Mandingo ethnic group.-External...
, current Sierra Leone Minister of Labor and Employment - Alhaji Shekuba SaccohAlhaji Shekuba SaccohAlhaji Shekuba Saccoh is a Sierra Leonean diplomat and the current Sierra Leone's ambassador to Guinea. He was appointed to the position by president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah...
, current Sierra Leone's ambassador to Guinea - Ibrahim Kanja SesayKanja SesayAlhaji Ibrahim Kanja Sesay is the former commissioner of the Sierra Leone National Commission for Social Action . He was sacked as commissioner of the Sierra Leone National Commission for Social Action by Sierra Leone's current president Ernest Bai Koroma in October 2007...
, Sierra Leonean economist and the former commissioner of the Sierra Leone National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) - Mohamed Fode DaboFode DaboFode Dabo is a Sierra Leonean diplomat who is currently Sierra Leone's ambassador to Belgium. He is also Sierra Leone's ambassador to France, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, and the Holy See. Dabo is a Muslim and hails from the Mandingo ethnic group....
, current Sierra Leeone Ambassador to Belgium - Mohamed B. DaramyMohamed B. DaramyAlhaji Mohamed B. Daramy is a Sierra Leonean politician. Daramy has many years of experience in industry, the private sector and in government having served as minister of Labour, minister of Trade, minister of Transportation, minister of Finance and recently minister of Development and Economic...
, Sierra Leone minister of Development and Economic Planning from 2002–2007 - Alhaji Danda Mohamed KondehDanda Mohamed KondehDanda Mohamed Kondeh is a Sierra Leonean economist and politician. He is currently a member of parliament of Sierra Leone from his home district of Koinadugu. He is a member of the ruling All People's Congress ....
, Member of Parliament of Sierra Leone from Koinadugu District (APC) - Alhaji Ansgar Daramy, member of Parliament of Sierra Leone from Port Loko District (APC)
- Kanji DaramyKanji DaramyKanji Daramy is a Sierra Leonean journalist and was the spokesman for former Sierra Leone's president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah during his second term as president from 2002-2007. Daramy was the Chairman of Sierra Leone National Telecommunications Commission until 2007 when he was sacked by Sierra Leone's...
, spokesman for former Sierra Leone's president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah he is also the former Chairman of Sierra Leone National Telecommunications Commission - Neneh DaboNeneh DaboNeneh Dabo is a Sierra Leonean civil servant. She is the Director of Corruption Prevention and Community Relations of the Sierra Leone Anti-corruption Commission ....
, Director of the Sierra Leone Anti Corruption Commission (ACC). - Alhaji Mohamed Turay, member of Parliament of Sierra Leone from Koinadugu District (SLPP)
- Alhaji Mohamed KakayMohamed KakayAlhaji Mohamed Kakay is a Sierra Leonean politician who is currently a member of parliament of Sierra Leone representing his hometown of Koinadugu District, one of the five districts that make up the Northern Province. Kakay is from the Mandingo ethnic group....
, former member of parliament of Sierra Leone from Koinadugu District (SLPP) - Alhaji Lansana FadikaLansana FadikaLansana Fadika is a Sierra Leonean international businessman, youth activist and politician. He is the current Sierra Leone People's Party chairman for the Western Area region of Sierra Leone. He won the SLPP Chairman for the Western Area at the party's national convention held in Kenema on March...
, Sierra Leonean businessman and the SLPP current chairman for the Western Area. He is the younger brother of Kemoh Fadika - Isata Jabbie Kabbah, Sierra Leonean National Women’s Leader of the SLPP and wife of former Sierra Leone's president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
- Harietu Turay, Deputy Sierra Leone National Women's Leader of the SLPP
Journalist
- Ibrahim Jaffa CondehIbrahim Jaffa CondehIbrahim Jaffa Condeh is a Sierra Leonean journalist and news anchor. He is the senior journalist for the Freetown based Concord Times newspaper. Although Condeh is primarily based in Freetown, he often report on location for breaking news stories throughout Sierra Leone. He is a graduate of Fourah...
, Sierra Leonean journalist and news anchor - Sitta Umaru TuraySitta Umaru TuraySitta Umaru Turay is a Sierra Leonean journalist and current member of the editorial Board of the Freetown-based Sierra Express newspaper.-External links:*http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/id501.html...
, Sierra Leonean journalist - Karamoh KabbaKaramoh KabbaKaramoh Kabba is a Sierra Leonean author, writer, novelist and journalist. He has written several historic account about the Sierra Leone civil war, such as A Mother’s Saga: An Account of the Rebel War in Sierra Leone and the self-published works Lion Mountain and Morquee: A Political Drama of...
, Sierra Leonean author, writer and journalist - Sheka Tarawallie, Sierra Leonean journalist and the current Sierra Leone State House Press Secretary to president Koroma
- Brima Dawson KuyatehBrima Dawson KuyatehBrima Dawson Kuyateh is a Sierra Leonean journalist and the current president of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union. Kuyateh belongs to the Mandingo ethnic group.-External links:*http://news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_20055667.shtml...
, Sierra Leonean journalist and the current president of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union
Football Stars and entertainers
- Sidique MansaraySidique MansaraySidique Mansaray is a Sierra Leonean footballer, who currently plays as a striker for East End Lions in Sierra Leone National Premier League. He is also a regular member of the Leone Stars, Sierra Leone national football team...
, Sierra Leonean football star - Khady BlackKhady BlackKhadyja Fofana better known by her stage name Khady Black is a Sierra Leonean rastafarian and Roots reggae musician. She is Sierra Leone's first international female reggae artist...
(born Khadyja Fofana), Sierra Leonean Raggae musician - K-ManK-ManMohamed Saccoh better known by his stage name K-Man is a Sierra Leonean rapper and one of the most famous musician from Sierra Leone. K-Man is known for his soft rap tone...
(born Mohamed Saccoh), Sierra Leonean musician - Steady BongoSteady Bongolansana Sheriff popularly known by his stage name Steady Bongo, is an internationally recognized Sierra Leonean musician and record producer...
, (born Lansana Sheriff), Sierra Leonena musician - Ahmed Janka NabayAhmed Janka NabayAhmed Janka Nabay is a Sierra-Leonean musician who has been a major figure in Bubu Music, a traditionally Muslim music which is played by up to 20 musicians blowing into bamboo pipes of different sizes.. Janka Nabay recorded his album in Forensic Studios in Freetown during the Sierra Leonean Civil...
, Sierra Leonean musician - Kadijatu KebbayKadijatu KebbayKadijatu Kebbay is a Sierra Leonean model and beauty queen who won Miss University Sierra Leone 2006 beauty contest and later represented Sierra Leone at the Miss World 2006. She is currently enroled at the Institute of Public Administration & Management in Freetown...
, Sierra leonean model; Miss University Sierra Leone 2006 winner and represent Sierra Leone at the Miss World 2006 contest. - Lansana BaryohLansana BaryohLansana Baryoh is a Sierra Leonean international footballer who is a midfielder and currently plays for Mighty Blackpool, one of the top clubs in the Sierra Leone National Premier League. He is a member of the Sierra Leone national football team...
, Sierra Leonean football star - Brima KeitaBrima KeitaBrima Keita is a Sierra Leonean football manager; and he is currently the manager of Sierra Leone National Premier League club, Old Edwardians F.C..-External links:...
, Sierra Leonean football manager