History of the Mandingos and their contribution to Africa and World developments

By Bamba Mass UK



The Mandingo or Mandinka tribe is a part of one of the largest ethnic groups in the African Sub-continent.
Based in West Africa , the tribe is represented today by approximately between eleven/twenty million people. The history of the Mandingo tribe is as interesting as their culture and belief system...
This tribe migrated from west of the Niger River into the heartland of West Africa . They are believed to have been the original inhabitants of the legendary ancient city of Djenné-Jeno . The main reasons cited in their oral and written traditions were the search of better agricultural lands and the desire for territorial expansion. Their ancestors battled the Fula forces of the Kingdom of Fouta Djallon . The Mandé who account for more than twenty million people (including the Dyula, Bozo, Bissa Jahanke and Bambara) are a much diverged tribe whose contribution on the world stage cannot be ignored. On arrival, the tribe, more than half of them, converted to Islam most to the Fulani persuasions and jihad. They did not show much resistance while giving up their indigenous beliefs and accepting the Islamic beliefs. It should be noted however that some traditions had it that there was stiff resistance from some quarters of the Mandingos notably the Kaabu Nyanchos of kansala.
The Kiang koringos of Jenyeri who suffered Foday Kabba’s blockade of their fortress for years and despite starvations, they still refused to convert telling Foday if he could make a drum out of a toad skin, then they can convert to Islam. It was not until the later part of the 17th century that majority of the Mandingos were converted thus casting much of their traditional beliefs some of which still mingles with their present faith. Some of their traditional beliefs which they kept even after their conversion to Islam includes Naming a child seven days after birth and also during famine to cook food and take it to the outskirt of the village to an idolised tree recommended by the priest of the rain god some would be eaten while the rain tree would be smeared with the remnant food coupled with drumming singing and dancing asking for rain and even after they converted to Islam, they still cook food sing and danced asking God to give rain. It was not until some Mandingo orthodox Islamists tried to cast away those beliefs that most of it died out...
Mandingo culture includes rich musical and spiritual traditions. Village traditions include: Naming a child seven days after birth. Versatile 'praise' singers also called griots plays significant roles in the keeping the traditional history from words of mouth. Exquisite display of drumming and the role of the kora, a twenty-one string instrument is still deep rooted in the Mandingo society. Arranged marriages which are very common and many men lead polygamous lives while most Mandingo women used to be house-wives. Most Mandingos live in family-related compounds in traditional rural villages. Mandingo villages are fairly autonomous and self-ruled, being led by a chief/ locally called Alkalos and group of elders. Mandingos live in an oral society. Learning is traditionally done through stories, songs and proverbs.
Genitalia-modifying rituals at the onset of adulthood. Most male are taken to circumcision as they enter their youthful age into adulthood where they learnt the art of respect and many manhood braveries. Some even stayed months and months in the bush for training.The belief that God's power is in the word and not the understanding of the language is paramount that was why most Mandingo religious scholars and great marabous are partly forgotten after they die unlike the Wolofs and Fulani dwellings along trade routes. Dyoula (as most Mandingo merchants are commonly called meaning traders) have-built trading centres along the routes which later became renown towns and cities. Merchant networks within highland production areas. Supervision of overland trade in conjunction with that along the coast and interior. The Mandingo tribe mainly trade in rice, groundnuts and millet. The society is patriarchal and of the 'clan' culture. After their migration to West Africa , the Mandingos enriched the region with surplus agricultural produce and a labour-intensive economy. Using all their human resources, they contribute towards an agrarian culture. Men are also employed as butchers, tailors, drivers, carpenters, blacksmiths and soldiers thus contributing immensely to the socio economic boast of the African continent through trade and territorial expansion.
They set up home in West Africa and lived harmoniously, till the onslaught of slavery. The need for additional farm hands and the initiation or the Industrial Revolution brought many westerners to West Africa . The hunt was for people
who submitted easily and thus, from the 16th century, right through to the 18th century, more than a third of the Mandingo population was shipped out of Africa . This is the reason behind the presence of the tribe in the United States today.
During the 16th, 17th and 18th century as many as a third of the Mandingo population were shipped to the Americas as slaves through capture in conflict. A significant portion of the African-Americans in the United States are descended
from the Mandingo people. It is therefore no surprise when many of them trace their roots back to nations with Mandingo populations Within Africa .
Western education's impact is minimal then and the literacy rate in Roman script overall among the Mandingo was quite low. However, more than half the adult population can read the local Arabic script; small Qur'anic schools for children
where Arabic is taught are more common after their conversion to Islam. Though the impact of western education was the least on the tribe, more than half of them can now read and write after colonisation and post independence. With the introduction of western education, quite a number of them had western education and rose through the ranks to lead their countries to independence from colonial masters. Quite a number of them have also rose to international prominence up to position of assistant UN secretary
Today, the tribe thrives primarily in West Africa . They inhabit large areas of Gambia , Mali , Guinea , Leone , Senegal , Cote d'Ivoire , Liberia , Burkina Faso , Niger , Chad , Guinea Bissau and Mauritania . The settlements are characteristic
of: Family-centric compounds in rural settings. Preference for an autonomous and self-ruled polity. Leadership offered by a chief and a group of village elders. Oral tradition of learning and the use of stories, proverbs and songs to hand down history have made the Mandingos notable people without who Africa would have been unknown even to this date.Notable Mandinka people from Africa mainland and Country they come from

Sierra Leone

Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, President of Sierra Leone from 1996-2007

Ernest Bekai Koroma president of Sierra Leone is from the Mendes

Haidara Kontorfilli, Sierra Leonean Islamic religious reformer and an anti-colonialist

Haja Afsatu Kabba, Sierra Leone 's minister of Energy and Power

Alhaji Kemoh Fadika, Sierra Leone 's ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Minkailu Mansaray, Sierra Leone's Minister of Labour

Mabinty Daramy, Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry

Alhaji Shekuba Saccoh, Sierra Leone 's ambassador to Guinea

Neneh Dabo, Director of the Sierra Leone Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).

Mohamed B. Daramy, Sierra Leone minister of Development and Economic Planning from 2002-2007.

Kadijatu Kebbay, Miss University Sierra Leone 2006 winner and represent Sierra Leone at the Miss World 2006 contest.


Kanji Daramy, Sierra Leonean journalist and spokesman for former Sierra Leone 's President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah

Karamoh Kabba, Sierra Leonean author, writer and journalist
Brima Dawson Kuyateh, Sierra Leonean journalist and the current president of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union

Sidique Mansaray, Sierra Leonean football star

Lansana Baryoh, Sierra Leonean football star

Brima Keita, Sierra Leonean football manager

Guinea Conakry

Almame Samory Touré, founder of the Wassoulou Empire, an Islamic military state that resisted French rule in West Africa

Ahmed Sekou Touré, President of Guinea from 1958-1984; was also the grandson of the famous Samory Touré

Colonel Saikouba Konateh military ruler after Dadis Camara,

Professor Alpha Condé, Guinean politician and present President of the country

Lansana Kouyaté, former prime minister of Guinea

Sidya Touré, Prime Minister of Guinee from 1996-1999

Mamady Condé Guinean foreign minister from 2004-2007

Sekouba Bambino, Guinean Musician

Fode Mansare, Guinean football star

Daouda Jabi, Guinean football star

Mamadi Kaba, Guinean football star

Kaba Diawara, Guinean football star

Mory Kanté, Guinean musician

Alhassane Keita, Guinean football star

Mali

Nare Maghan Konateh founder of Manding kingdom

Sundiatta Keita great Mansa of the Manding Empire and son of Nare Maghan

Mansa Musa, The most famous and celebrated of all the Manding kings

Modibo Keita First Malian President that led the country to independence from France from 1960-1968

Yoro Diakité, former Malian Prime Minister

Musa Trawalleh, Malian president

Amadou Toumani Touray current Malian President

Modibo Sidibé, current Prime Minister of Mali

Salif Keita, Malian musician

Massa Makan Diabate, Malian historian, writer and playwright

Saidu Keita, Malian football star

Baba Sissoko, Malian musician

Aoua Kéita, Malian politician and activist

Kandia Kuyateh Malian renoun musician

Mamady Sidibe, Malian football star

Mohamed Sissoko, Malian football star

Soumaila Coulibaly, Malian football star

Ivory Coast

Alassane Dramane Ouattara, Ivorian politician who was Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire from November 1990 to December 1993

Henrietta Diabaté, Ivorian politician and writer

Guillaume Kigbafori Soro prime minister of Ivory Coast

Kolo Toure, Ivorian football star

Salomon Kalou, Ivorian football star

Arouna Koné, Ivorian football star

Abdul Kader Keïta, Ivorian football star

Bakari Koné, Ivorian football star

Bonaventure Kalou, Ivorian football star

Yaya Tou ré, Ivorian football star

Alpha Blondy, (Saidou Kone) Ivorian (Reggae king) musician

Gambia

Burangai Sonko, king of Nuimi and then owner of Banjul who gave/sold it to the British

Mansa Jalang Waali, of Wuli

Mansa Jalang Konko, king of Niani

Mansa Sankalang Marong king of Badibu

Mansa Seneke Jammeh. king of nuimi

Mansa Jassey Bannah King of Jarra

Mansa Jifayong Koto king of Kiang

Mansa Tumani Bojang king of kombo

Foday Kaba Dumbuya, warlord and nationalist leader.

Mansa Demba Sonko, ruler of Nuimi

Kombo Silla, warlord and Muslim leader.

Sora Darboe, traditional ruler of Jarra

Mama Tamba Jammeh, Head Chief traditional ruler

Sanjally Bojang, nationalist and Head Chief

Alhagie Sir Farimang Singhateh, Gambian first Governor General.

Alhagie Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, Prime Minister and President of Gambia from 1962-1994;
Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, First vice President of Gambia from 1965-1971

Bakary Bunja Darboe, former Vice President and cabinet minister in the first and second republic of the Gambia

Saikou Sabally, former Gambian Vice President and cabinet Minister.

Sherriff Saikouba Ceesay, former cabinet minister.

Fatou Ceesay-Sonko, Director, Barpong IT Ltd, London , United Kingdom

Ismaila B. Ceesay, Financial Analyst, Works for IMF New York ]

Jaliba kuyateh, King of Kora. A Musician from Gambia

Ousainou Darboe, Gambian Human Rights Lawyer and opposition leader.

Edward Singhateh, former Gambian Vice President and cabinet Minister.

Abdoulie Janneh United Nations Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Lamin Sise, U.N Assistant Sec. Gen.

Dr.Tumani Corrah, medical doctor and Director of MRC.

Dr. Sidat Jobe, former foreign Minister. And carrier diplomat

Jatto Ceesay, Football star.

Kemo Ceesay, football star.

Ebou sillah Captain Gambian scorpion

Bubacarr Jammeh, international Musician

Demba Sanyang, Paramount Chief.

Teneng Ba Jaiteh, Head of Civil Service.

Col. Masaneh Kinteh, military chief.

Kang Kalifa Jabbi Grand Muslim Leader burried at Jarra Barro Kunda who translated the Quran to Mandinka,

Karang Alieu Suwareh/ Karang Sambu Lamin Jabbi/Kang Dembo Jabbi/ Mustapha Sanneh Darboe .All what muslims called wolieu.They each had greatness from God and are both from Jarra.

Kang Malanding Ceesay (mofaa Malango) from Jarra a religious teacher

Kang Sedia Darboe Islamic scholar Medina Bakalar

Alhagie Hatab Bojang, Great Muslim scholar from Gunjur

Omar Faderah, Bun Jeng, Muslim scholar from Kiang Massembwe and burried in kombo Gunjur

Guinea Bissau

The Kaabu Empire

Janke wali Sanneh king of Kaabu Empire

Nfamara Manneh warlord and deputy to Jankey waali

Kelefa Sanneh war lord and general

Nyaling Sonko(Barala Bang nyaling)warlord from Bere kolong and general

Faramba Tamba of Kapentung war lord and general

Kewuleng Sanyang of kumban bulu warlord and general

Kunchumpeh Fatty Grand marabou and religious leader
Malang Bekai Sanyang politician and current President of Guinea Bissau

Late General Ansumana Manneh, former military chief in Guinea Bissau

Late General Yafai Camara military chief during the time of Amirca Cabral

Basiru Darboe former interior minister under the last regime of former president Niño Vieira


Senegal

Ansumana Manneh (Nghansu Masing), Warlord and regional chief in Cassamance.

Karang Madiba Jabbi Muslim scholar and marabout

Arfang Sheriff Sisay hafiz Muslim scholar and marabout

Alieu Suwaneh Marabout and Islamic scholar

Seckou Keita, Senegalese musician

Lalo Kebba Drammeh, iconic Kora player

Deydia kante carrier diplomat

Souleymane Diawara, Senegalese football star

Kalilu Fadiga Senegalese football star

Liberia

Sekou Conneh, Liberian politician

Momolu Dukuly, former Liberian foreign minister

Alahaji GV Kromah, Liberian Politician, Educator, Advocate

Burkina Faso

Amadou Coulibaly, Burkinabe football star

And a host of other nations across the globe. The presence of the Mandingo tribe can today be found as far as the

grest walls of china where there is a one Nusso Darbo and family a combination of Chinese and Mandingo union since 1989. This tribe has now covered the entire globe and any continent you go; Mandingos are there to welcome you.

“Wooto, nying siyoo ya kata bake bake leh”

Thank you
Mr. Bamba Mass