[Representation of illness in Mandingo society]

The Mandingo people are a 10-million strong ethnic group spread over several countries in West Africa but sharing a common culture. In Mandingo society that is permeated by a notion of sacredness, illness is represented in a much different way from contemporary European society. Because health is integrated into the social and religious structure, illness is associated with interpretations and preventive rules of conduct. For Western medical teams working in Mandingo communities, knowledge of these cultural implications is essential to establishing a good relationship with patients and to ensuring quality of care.