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A Family United by Heritage
Mamaya North America, the Badenya Family, celebrates, promotes, and preserves the rich culture of the Mandingo people across the United States.
Who We Are
Badenya: Children of One Mother
Our name carries our purpose. Badenya is the Mandé word for the unity of children born of one mother: the bond of family, loyalty, and love. It is the spirit in which we gather and the promise we make to one another.
We are a cultural organization of Mandingo (Mandé / Sierra Leonean) families living throughout North America. Together we host the most prestigious annual Mamaya cultural gathering in the United States, support our communities, and fund the education of young people in Sierra Leone.
Whether you were born in Freetown or far from it, whether you speak Mandingo fluently or are only beginning to learn, there is a place for you in this family.
What Guides Us
Our Mission
To celebrate, promote, and preserve Mandingo heritage in North America, and to open doors of opportunity for our people through education and community.
Our Vision
A thriving, united Mandingo community whose language, music, dress, and customs are honored at home and passed proudly to every generation that follows.
Our Values
Family, Unity, Love, and Togetherness. These four words shape every gathering we host, every scholarship we award, and every hand we extend.
Family
Unity
Love
Togetherness
Who We Are
Who the Mandingo Are
The Mandingo are part of the great Mandé family of West Africa, with deep roots in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mali, and beyond. Ours is a culture of griots and storytellers, of master weavers and musicians, of traders, scholars, and leaders.
We are known for our hospitality, our reverence for elders, and the splendor of our ceremonies: flowing embroidered gowns, gold adornment, and the sound of the balafon and talking drum carrying through the night.
The Board of Directors
Our board is made up of dedicated members who give their time and care to guide the family and steward its mission.
President
Board Member Name
A short line about this leader, their background, and their role in the family.
President
Board Member Name
A short line about this leader, their background, and their role in the family.
President
Board Member Name
A short line about this leader, their background, and their role in the family.
President
Board Member Name
A short line about this leader, their background, and their role in the family.
President
Board Member Name
A short line about this leader, their background, and their role in the family.
President
Board Member Name
A short line about this leader, their background, and their role in the family.
Join Our Family
Become a member, attend our gatherings, or support a scholarship. There are many ways to belong.
Mamaya North America, the Badenya Family. Celebrating, promoting, and preserving Mandingo heritage, and funding scholarships for students in Sierra Leone.
© 2026 Mamaya North America · Badenya Family. All rights reserved.