Mandinka, also known as Mandingo, is the name of a group of west African people. The Mandinka are descendants of the founders of the powerful Mali Empire. Most of the 1 1/2 million Mandinka live in Mali, but many live in Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal. The Malinke are an important Mandinka group. The Mandinka speak a language that belongs to the Mande language group.