Mandinka Tribe Facts
Mandinka Tribe Facts You Didn’t Know. Mandinka, which is also called Mandingo, is the language of the West African Mandinka people. That being said, only 1.3 million people speak it, and it’s not even usually thought of when people talk about the main African languages. It doesn’t change the fact that Mandinka is a powerful and important language, though. Five things about this language that everyone should know:
1. It is native to ten different nations.
Because the native people who speak Mandinka, who share the same name as the language, are from West Africa, the majority of the countries where native speakers of Mandinka can be found are in this part of Africa.
Native Mandinka speakers can be found in Mali, Chad, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and six other countries, and it is a recognized minority language in Senegal. Because it is spoken in so many different nations, there are numerous dialects of Mandinka, some of which are as distinct as Spanish and Portuguese.
2. Mandinka is written using three separate writing systems.
Despite the fact that it has three separate writing systems: a Latin system, an Arabic system, and the N’Ko system (also used for other Mande family languages), it’s fairly rare for a native Mandinka speaker to be unable to write.
The Mandinka people have been using the Arabic-based writing system most frequently for the longest time. The N’Ko system is actually quite new, having been developed in 1949.
3. The Mandinka people have a fascinating history.
The Mandinka people are originally from West Africa, and their forefathers were part of the Mali Empire. Later, the Mandinka established their own empire to the west of the Niger River, which was an ideal location for farming at the time. Mandinka people and their language are now considered minorities in all countries except Gambia, where they are the majority ethnic group.
4. In Mandinka culture, oral tradition is extremely significant.
The Mandinka people have an extremely rich culture that places a significant focus on music and storytelling. Songs and stories help children learn about their heritage. Although storytelling is popular, most Mandinka prefer to hear their stories told through music. Griots are those who sing this form of music, and their singing is accompanied by the kora, a traditional Mandinka instrument.
5. Mandinka reached the U.S.
Many West Africans were captured and sold into slavery in the New World during the height of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Many of these people were original Mandinka speakers who observed their native tongue evolve into various pidgins and creoles.
Terms like “mumbo jumbo” that African Americans frequently use still reflect Mandinka’s influence. Furthermore, some Mandinka native speakers can be found in the United States, as they continue to move from West Africa to the United States and other nations across the world.
Also Read: 15 Interesting Facts About Ethiopia
