The Mandinka are an ethnic group that live in West Africa, primarily Senegal, Gambia, and Guinee, but some also live in Berkina Faso, Mali, and CotedÕ Ivoir. Their culture is rich in tradition, music, and spiritual ritual. Many Mandinka are rural subsistence farmers who rely on peanuts, rice, millets, and some goats for their livelihood. Because the Mandinka rely on their crops for food, little profit is made from them. This causes many men to take part time work in small businesses. However, even with a part time job, the average annual income is only $130. The oldest male is the head of the family and marriages are commonly arranged. Small mud houses with thatch or tin roofs make up their villages which are organized on the basis of the clan groups.
During the 1800’s, Islam was introduced to the Mandinka people. Today the Mandinka still practice Islam but have infused much of their own culture into the religion. For example, a Mandinka may practice salat, Islamic prayer five times a day to Allah, but may also recognize and even sacrifice to a village god or spirit.
Only 10% of the Mandinka are literate. Because of this, the Mandinka have a rich oral history that is passed down through praise singers or griots. 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 string harp-like instrument made out of a gourd covered with cow skin. The strings are made of fishing line. It is played to accompany a groitÕs singing or simply on its own.
References:
Joshua Project 2000 - Unreached People Profile Mandinka http://www.ad2000.org/peoples/jpl1163.htm
Mandinka http://www.christusrex.org/www1/pater/JPN-mandinka.html
Cora Connections: land and its people http://www.coraconnection.com/pages/geo.html
Written by Kathy Gfeller