Mandé people facts for kids

Mandé (also called Manding) is a historic region located between southern Mali and eastern Guinea in West Africa. It's known as the original homeland of the Manding people, who are a large group of people including the Malinké and Bambara. This area was once famous for its many wild animals and thick forests, making it a popular place for hunting.

The Founding of Mandé

Mandé was founded by skilled hunters from a place called Wagadou (or Ouagadou). These hunters were led by legendary ancestors named Kontron and Sanin. They were important figures for the Malinké and Bambara hunter brotherhoods, which were groups of hunters who shared traditions and skills.

The Camara (or Kamara) family is believed to be the very first family to settle in Mandé. They moved there from Ouallata, a region in present-day Mauritania, because of a severe drought. After arriving, they established the first villages in Mandé, including Kirikoroni, followed by Kirina, Siby, and Kita. Many of the families that form the Manding community today trace their origins back to this region.

Mandé and the Mali Empire

Mandé is especially important because it was the starting point of the powerful Mali Empire. This great empire grew from Mandé under the leadership of its famous founder, Soundiata Keïta. He united different groups and built one of the largest and wealthiest empires in West African history, which controlled important trade routes and spread its culture far and wide.

Images for kids

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  Mandé speaking people in Timbuktu

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  A 13th-century mosque in northern Ghana attributed to the Wangara.